'Tis the season for peace and goodwill to all... by being considerate when running boat engines and generators or having a party.
Over the holiday period everyone is probably looking forward to plenty of rest and relaxation, and enjoying the holidays within the constraints of our 2020 coronavirus world. The fridge will hopefully be groaning with Christmas goodies, fairy lights will be twinkling and there should be loads of films and good programmes to watch on TV. Boat batteries will be getting a hammering and engine running might be a daily necessity.
But noise and smoke pollution from running engines and generators is one of the biggest causes of complaints and conflict between boaters and other boaters and also between boaters and land-based residents.
With so many newer boaters on the canal network there appear to be a few who haven’t actually read their boat licence terms and conditions and are blissfully unaware of the 8am–8pm rule and the possible consequences for them as a licence holder for persistent failure to comply, not only in terms of potentially having their boat licence revoked, but also prosecution by Environmental Health officers from the local council. There’s also the wider reputational damage for all of us boaters being tarred with the same inconsiderate brush and land-based residents pushing to reduce online moorings due to noise and smoke pollution from boats.
Last date edited: 22 December 2020
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