Abandoned boats prompt call for waterway shake-up

A town council is calling for the creation of an independent port authority overseeing two rivers to prevent vessels being dumped.

Parts of the Devon rivers of Torridge and Taw are currently unregulated - meaning boat users can moor anywhere, live on their vessels and dump unwanted craft.

Bideford Town Council's proposal involves extending the current Bideford Port to oversee both rivers as a not-for-profit port trust.

Ken Hind, from the town council, said Sir Winston Churchill recreated the port 100 years ago but to protect the waterways "we must look again and recast in the light of changed circumstances".

The proposal involves extending the port to cover Barnstaple, Appledore, Yelland and Fremington.

It would be set up as a trust port which is an independent statutory body controlled by a local board.

The town council called on the district councils in the area to back the idea before the reorganisation of local government in two years as it fears a newly created authority would be based miles away and would not serve the interests of the two rivers.

Councillor Hind said a trust port meant local people controlled commerce, mooring and "the purity of the river" along with the Environment Agency.

"That's the future," he said.

"It was Sir Winston Churchill, then Chancellor of the Exchequer, who gave his approval for the recreation of the Bideford Port," he said.

"One hundred years on we must look again and recast in the light of changed circumstances the need for a fresh approach to regulating our rivers for the benefit of communities living on and around them."

John Puddy, a regular water user and chairman of the Steamship Freshspring Trust in Bideford, said he believed more regulation was required to protect local waters.

"They're totally unregulated [the rivers] and this unfortunately means a lot of wreck-dumping, a lot of activities which are detrimental to wildlife, bearing in mind we are in the north Devon biosphere which is really important to us." he said.

"What really needs to happen is there needs to be some control over the river."

Some boat owners are concerned about the plans because it could mean they would have to pay to moor their vessels, which they have not previously had to do.

There are also old boats moored off the river which people are living in.

One occupant, who did not wish to be identified, said his boat has been there for many years and it would have "grandfather rights" to remain in place if a trust port started regulating the river.

North Devon District Council said in a statement: "We are aware of the motion being put to Bideford Town Council, but we are yet to be formally approached by Bideford Town Council.

"We would be happy to discuss their proposal further with them if they reach out to us, alongside colleagues at neighbouring Torridge District Council."

Torridge District Council was also contacted for comment.

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