A move to seasonal moorings and plans to find alternative moorings for boaters are part of a series of recommendations going before Bath & North East Somerset’s cabinet.
The moorings at Mead Lane | Photo © Stephen Sumner
A report before the council’s cabinet, which meets on 8th October, recommends a reduction in the number of total visitor moorings and increasing the open space along Mead Lane, as well as offering no moorings between November and March.
However, it says suitable alternative moorings have to be found and put in place before removing the Mead Lane 14-day moorings and that the cabinet should agree to a long-term aspiration to relocate moorings from Mead Lane.
The report also puts forward that mooring charges should be investigated by the council.
It also recommends an increase in engagement and enforcement along the land, including creating a joint River Warden post between the council and the Canal and Rivers Trust.
Bath & North East Somerset Council owns the land along a stretch of the riverbank at Mead Lane.
Currently, two-thirds of the moorings are for a 14-day maximum and the remainder are for 48 hours.
In 2016 the moorings were put in as a trial to help control the number of boats mooring on the stretch of the river.
They have been subject to a recent consultation and a review including a comprehensive structural survey to establish the stability of the riverbank.
The report before cabinet says civil engineers Atkins found that there are no immediate concerns or signs that mooring is affecting the stability of the riverbank.
Atkins made recommendations for future action both below and above the water and the road in order to protect and enhance the river bank for the future.
Councillor Paul Crossley, cabinet member for Community Services, said: “We want to meet the needs of all communities who value this special stretch of the River Avon and I welcome the recommendations before me.
“It is essential however that we do not remove visitor moorings until suitable alternatives have been found for boaters.
“I am particularly pleased with the comprehensive structural report, which is very clear in its findings as are the recommendations before us.”
The report recommends that the council works with Waterspace partners to find alternative 14-day sites and remove the 48-hour moorings permanently from 1st November this year, so that part of the riverbank can be reallocated as open space for other leisure purposes and agree no 14-day moorings on a seasonal basis between 1st November and February each year.
