The recent changes to the CRT/Bridgewater reciprocal agreement were made as a result of the problems that the Bridgewater Canal enforcement team have encountered over the past 18 months. The overstaying and abuse of the Canal by some boaters is far more widespread than initially envisaged with over 70 statutory enforcement notices served and 7 craft removed from the Canal for failure to comply and therefore we have had to act to protect the Canal.

We are now operating a change and have introduced a no return within 28 day (without a permit) restriction under the current reciprocal agreement with CRT commencing this summer. The reciprocal agreement now reads as;

‘C&RT licensed crafts are permitted upto 7 consecutive days free navigation on the Bridgewater Canal. No return within any 28 day period (without a permit)’.

We very much welcome visiting CRT boats and they will carry on benefiting from 7 consecutive days visit free of charge on the Bridgewater, in a calendar year this is over 70 days free of charge. On both canal networks after 7-days from first arriving on either CRT waters or the Bridgewater Canal a permit has always been required to remain on each canal network.  The change we have brought in means that any return within 28 days from the date of leaving whether leaving after 3 days or 5 days or up to 7 days then a permit will now be required. A 7-day permit is available which applies to Bridgewater craft on CRT waters and CRT craft on Bridgewater Canal or a return permit to transit through for a reduced fee of £20 (3-days) is also available and can be purchased on the Bridgewater Canal website or by telephone or from an enforcement officer.

We have had a positive meeting with CRT and have agreed with them that for 2016 any boaters who are registered to attend any bonafide Festivals will be permitted return navigation on the Bridgewater Canal at no cost subject to their registration details being provided to BCCL by C&RT.

We have agreed to review this policy within 12 months