BOATERS living near Castle Mill Stream say antisocial behaviour has reduced in the area, despite Network Rail's recent threats of prosecution.

The Oxford Mail has learned that the private company has sent eviction letters to boaters on the stretch of canal it owns near Oxford station, with boaters told they must leave by March 21.

Oxford City Council have linked ‘serious antisocial behaviour’ to the installation of new signs, which warn boaters that they will be prosecuted for mooring in the area.

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Boaters are still moored on the stretch, where warning signs were installed on February 12. The council linked the move to ‘drug use and dealing, discarded needles (and) prostitution'.

In a letter dated February 21, Network Rail’s communications manager Matthew Thompson writes: "Further to the No Mooring signs… we want to confirm that this is private land and… we require you to vacate this site.

“We will require you to vacate this land within one month of the date of this letter.

“At the end of this time we will have no option but to start legal proceedings to clear our land.”

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The letter provides no reason for why the company have ramped up the rhetoric now or reference to antisocial behaviour, but does reference homeless services in case boaters ‘are worried about the possibility of becoming homeless’.

But local boaters Sheila and Mike Key, 58 and 61, who live on the adjacent canal, say antisocial behaviour has declined in recent times.

The pair, who have been in the area for three years and lived on the boat for five, explained: “There have been problems but it has diminished (recently).

“It has never been a problem for us and we don’t see it much at all now."

They continued: “There is a difference between the permanent (boaters) – they are not an issue – it’s the ones that come in and out (that are a problem). You can move them on but where to?”

There are a number of seemingly abandoned boats in the area, one of which was badly burnt in a recent fire.

The area has a history of antisocial behaviour and Network Rail say the move is to 'protect our land and in response to a number of reports of antisocial behaviour in this area'.

But another boater, who has lived near the signs, in Hythe Bridge Arm, for 25 years, added: “I have heard about antisocial behaviour(over the years) but not been affected.

“They have been talking about this for some time."

The man, who asked to remain anonymous, continued: “Moorings are so difficult to come by I can understand why people want to moor there.”

The Mail tried to speak to numerous boaters on Castle Mill Stream, but none appeared to be at home when called upon.