THE proposed 200-plus berth marina on the Oxford Canal at Yarnton will do nothing to alleviate the difficulties relating to long-term, live-aboard moorings in the Oxford area.
Apparently there is to be no provision within the development for residential boats and although, in practice, most craft kept in marinas spend the bulk of their time static, the facility would simply draw a greater number to an already restricted and under-maintained part of the country’s canal network.
Unless proper consideration is given to the lack of long-stay (not Agenda 21’s, which in parts are becoming squalid) moorings around the city, the planned marina will be of little benefit, other than potentially financially to the landowner and developers.
Perhaps Oxford’s covert and rather sinister anti-boat movement could, at last, adopt a more constructive attitude to the problems being experienced by local live-aboard boaters and enter into discussions to this end and talk less of ‘illegality’ and ‘crackdowns’?
It would also be interesting to hear this group’s view regarding the salient points raised by Laurence Hughes in his recent letter to your pages (ViewPoints, December 4).
BARRY SLADE, Hawksmoor Road, Oxford
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