A bike repair business run from a traditional narrowboat on the Kennet & Avon Canal is under threat of closure.
Ollie working on a bike | Photo © The Bike Boat
The Bike Boat is a popular repair and servicing workshop which owner Ollie has operated for the last two and a half years.
But after being told by the Canal & River Trust that he doesn’t meet licensing requirements, he has started a petition on the change.org website.
He says: “The Canal & River Trust has informed me that I do not meet their licensing requirements.
“Paraphrasing their reasoning, ‘mileage is fine, but spend too much time in towns’; this is despite spending one third of my current licence continuously cruising in the countryside.
“To trade I need to spend most of my time in towns, particularly the only big one on the Kennet and Avon Canal, Bath.
“Therefore I can’t both meet the Canal and River Trust requirements and make a living. When I have traded in rural areas, on most days I take nothing.
“If I was to continue my current trading and movement pattern and not meet their cruising requirements, in time, it would ultimately mean the threat of losing my boat, which is my home.
“I am working on other options to continue bike repairs elsewhere, but unless the Canal and River Trust changes their position, the Bike Boat will be forced to close on 28th February.”
More than 800 people have already signed the petition, which can be found here.
Comments of support include: “I am a strong believer in encouraging cycling in Bath, to reduce pollution from motorised transport and to keep people fit and healthy. Having the Bike Boat just outside the city helps with this objective and does not cause any trouble.
“The Canal and River Trust should be supporting this goal too, and not hindering the Bike Boat’s business.”
Another said: “The canal system needs traders for its character and heritage. These people are the lifeblood of the canals and provide a lifeline to the community.”
In a statement, the Canal & River Trust said: “Boating businesses offer a great service and we are keen to support them where we can, however when someone sets up as a roving trader they are declaring that they will be moving from place to place on a continuous journey throughout the course of their licence.
“The Kennet & Avon Canal is very busy in some places, particularly around towns, and we need to be fair and consistent for all our boaters, providing the same guidance on what’s expected under the terms of their licence.
“We would urge anyone planning on setting up as a roving trader to consider the requirements of the boat licence, and whether they may need to take up a mooring instead.”
