Mooring policy and licence implementation
A brief history
In January 2005, Cambridge City Council distributed a 
mooring consultation paper to local groups to seek views on where in Cambridge mooring should take place and whether charges should be made.
After the initial consultation, which reported in March 2005, they revealed their intentions for mooring in Cambridge a 
mooring consultation report.
The following 12 months involved numerous meetings and discussions between Camboaters, the Council and other interested parties to devise a fair mooring policy. Mooring application packs were sent out in February 2006.
Where are we now?
From March 2006 everyone who applied for a permit should have heard whether or not they were successful. There were 91 applications for 70 spaces, and 19 application packs were not returned.
The terms and conditions of the licence caused much debate and have been revised in light of these discussions. The current version (15 March) can be downloaded here: draft mooring licence
How were they chosen?
Applicants without a boat safety certificate (or without good progress towards getting one) were put to the bottom of the pile. Likewise those without a river licence, and those not lived aboard. Apart from that, it seems they were taken in date order of the owners being in Cambridge.
What happens next?
Those who were offered permits have until 31 March 2006 to sign the agreement. The policy comes into force on 1 April 2006.
We are told that those without permits will be given three weeks to leave. After that they will receive a summons, then will be ‘displaced’ within seven days. We do not know where to.
Is there now a waiting list?
Yes. Top of this will be the liveaboard boats with safety certificates and river licences, who only just ‘missed the cut’ in terms of the date they arrived in Cambridge. Then comes those not in Cambridge at all, and those whose boat is not their sole residence.
Space for widebeams
Widebeams can only moor on part of Jesus Green or on Stourbridge, downstream of the Green Dragon bridge. This means that we will have to police ourselves and give widebeams priority there (as we do now). In future the council will monitor new widebeam applications, and if there is no space, they will be refused.
Problems?
We support the scheme and believe the council has been
broadly fair, but if you have a problem, get in touch
with Julie Durrant on 01223 457532. There is also a
procedure for complaints.
Obviously Riverside is the first choice for displaced boats — some boaters there may have got licences and will swap. Also try asking at houses whose gardens have moorings.