Latest News
PLEASE NOTE New ATYC Website Now Live
A new ATYC website is currently being developed and is now live at www.atyc.org.uk The "old site" and content continues to be available here and can be accessed directly at https://www.atyc.org.uk/oldjoomla
This site is no longer being updated but will remain accessible until all relevant content has been transferred to the new site. Any enquiries to the ATYC can now be addressed via the Contact Form on the new website HERE
ATYC AGM Registration and Details
Members of ATYC member clubs can register to attend the AGM on 25th April and download the Agenda and other documents here:
www.atyc.org.uk/newsite321/atyc-agm
ATYC AGM Date Announced
The ATYC AGM will be held on Monday 25th April
TMBA Thames Boaters Survey Outcome
The outcome of the TMBA Motor Boaters Survey is now available on the TMBA website:
http://www.tmba.org.uk/21-december-2021-tmba-survey-outcome/
TMBA Thames Boaters Survey
The EA Charges Consultation, which closed on 16th September, provided little opportunity for boaters to clearly indicate their degree of satisfaction regarding the current level of service delivery on the non tidal Thames. The response from Thames based boaters was disappointing with only 428 submissions from over 13000 EA Thames registered craft, approximately 8000 of which are powered boats.
The TMBA specifically represents individual motor boaters and would like to know your views on current service delivery as it has affected your use of the waterway during 2021.
The TMBA have, therefore, published their own motor boaters satisfaction survey which will be open until 30th November.
Although being conducted by the TMBA the survey is open to all non tidal Thames based boaters. Other Thames based boating organisations, including the ATYC, are also encouraging participation.
We hope you will participate and also encourage your Thames based motor boating friends to do so.
Boaters urged to participate in EA Charges Consultation.
The Environment Agency are currently consulting on their proposals for increased registration charges for 2022-24 as well as many other matters affecting craft registration. All boaters using or visiting the non tidal Thames are urged to participate in this consultation which expires on 16th September. Advice and guidance has been sent to all ATYC member clubs.
ATYC AGM
The ATYC AGM was held via Zoom on Monday 26th April. The meeting was attended by some 60% of member clubs. The meeting approved a new Constitution and re elected the committee for 2021. All proposals on the Agenda were approved unanimously. The minutes will be posted in the library in due course.
The UK Government has announced the outcome of consultation on taxation treatment of supply of red diesel.
In summary, the current arrangements continue and private leisure craft will continue to be able to purchase red diesel whilst declaring the proportion used for propulsion.
“4.6 Following consultation, the government has decided to maintain the entitlement to use red diesel beyond April 2022 for all commercial boat operating industries, including but not limited to the fishing and inland water freight industries.
4.7 The government has therefore decided not to change the treatment of private pleasure craft in Great Britain, where they will continue to be able to use red diesel and pay their fuel supplier the difference between the red diesel rate and the white diesel rate on the proportion they intend to use for propulsion.”
Full Announcement available HERE
EA Q&A Document re Short Stay Moorings
The EA have responded to the concerns raised by us and many other boating organisations regarding the proposed arrangements for managing their short stay moorings. We will be forwarding full details of their response to our member clubs.
They have also produced a Q&A document answering some of teh questions that were raised. Click here to download EA Q&A Document
EA Short Stay Moorings Contract Concerns
After many attempts to get more detailed information regarding the EA’s proposed Moorings management contract with DE, river user representatives finally received draft copy of intended signage on 22nd October and we were given until noon last Monday (26th) to comment..
The ATYC immediately contacted the RYA and sought and obtained legal opinion and support. The RYA instructed solicitors to respond and we, together with other river user groups, have submitted clear statements of our concerns. We await the EA’s response.
Full details have been sent directly to ATYC Member Clubs.
The new arrangements are due to apply from today, Monday, 2nd November, but as far as we are aware no notices have yet been displayed and we have categoric assurance from the EA that no penalty action will be taken before appropriate signage is in place.
IMPORTANT – Hammersmith Bridge Update
Information received from Hammersmith & Fulham Council:
Hammersmith Bridge is closed to pedestrians and cyclists as well as to river traffic as it is unsafe for people to be underneath it. On Thursday 13 August 2020, specialist engineers concluded that the fractures they had been continuously monitoring in critical parts of the 19th Century suspension bridge structure had become a serious threat to public safety. The fractures had significantly increased in size due to the recent heatwave despite the range of measures they had taken to halt that from happening.
The Council’s engineering consultants have highlighted any passage under or over the bridge is unsafe as the bridge is in a vulnerable condition for navigational channels as well as highway use.
The navigational channels on either side of the bridge could be closed for at least 6 weeks. We are making every effort to find a solution to stabilise the bridge as quickly as possible.
We are also in discussions with PLA and our consultants to establish if a one-off passage under the bridge is possible and if a safe passage can be accommodate PLA will be policing any such passage using the traffic control team. Currently we are in discussion with PLA and our consultants developing a procedure for controlled safe one off passage under the bridge. Please note in view of the condition of the bridge, the one-off passage can be aborted just before transition under the bridge takes place as we are relying on data from monitoring equipment and if the sensors are triggered on the day of passage the operation will be aborted.
You will be notified of any one-off controlled passage and in the meanwhile a log of stranded vehicles is being collected and I would appreciate of you could provide the following information held to inform PLA about your vessel to assess the manner of passage under the bridge in a safe way.
Vessel Name
- Length
- Beam
- Draught
- Air Draft
- Contact details of the Master
- Where are they coming from and going to?
- How long it will take to reach Hammersmith Bridge
Yours sincerely
Anvar Alizadeh
Highway Structure’s Manager
Email: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
Transport and Highways
Hammersmith & Fulham Council
Tel. 020 87533303
Mobile 07968859310
NEW - EA Lockside Service Statement
EA Notice received 17th August 2020
Attached and below are details of our planned lock working pattern to the end of the season. Please be assured that where possible we will offer assisted passage if we get the opportunity outside the advertised assisted passage hours. Where assisted passage is offered we encourage boaters to stay on their boats during locks, and lock keepers will assist mooring by using their boat hooks in the lock chamber.
We ask boaters to be understanding and bear with our staff as they do their best to help and support boaters.
Lock working patterns 2020 season
Weekdays.
09.00 to 10.00 Hrs. Staff either undertake essential maintenance work at their sole site, or during this period attend their satellite site or sites, to ensure they are free from defect and are operational.
During this period staff will also undertake published site Covid cleaning. Lock staff to thoroughly wash down Pedestals, Beams, Hand Rails and Machinery that the public have used prior to shift commencing assisted passage. If the tasks are finished before 10.00 then assisted passage will start earlier.
10.00 to 13.00 Hrs. Full Assisted Passage. (Exception: weir work, comfort breaks or the need to attend another unstaffed site through breakdown etc)
13.00 to 14.00 Hrs. Meal Break.
14.00 to 16.00 Hrs. Published site Covid cleaning then Full Assisted Passage. (Exception: weir work, comfort breaks or the need to attend another unstaffed site through breakdown etc)
16.00 Hrs. to end of shift. Essential Site Maintenance and/or a return to satellite sites to inspect, close and undertake any necessary weir work. This also gives staff time to protect revenue streams including mooring regulation and providing access to essential services.
Weekends.
For the rest of the boating season every effort shall be made to single staff all sites utilising all available staff at the weekend. At these single staffed sites no maintenance work shall be undertaken and, following site Covid cleaning, the maximum amount of time should be devoted to assisted passage subject to the normal restrictions of meal breaks, weir work and comfort breaks etc.
NEW - HMRC Consultation re Red Diesel
To have your say on the future of red diesel please click here.
The consultation closes at 11.45pm on 1 October 2020.
To read more about the RYA's lobbying developments with red diesel please click here.
NEW - Thames Lock Service Update 10th July 2020
EA Navigation Update 3rd July 2020
The EA are now providing some level of assisted passage at 31 of the 45 Thames locks and work is progressing to provide service at the remaining 14 as soon as necessary safety and Covid 19 specific measures are in place.
During periods of Self Service all locks with hydraulic power are currently able to be operated using Public Power. In the event of a public power failure, it will normally be possible to operate by hand winding.
Passage through Teddington Lock is now available daily between 0700 and 2100 but the lock is closed for navigation between 2100 and 0700.
Latest information re river and service issues is available on the
EA River Conditions webpage
CLICK "News Updates" Button at top right for full EA statement
"ATYC Matters" Issue 2 now available
Download Issue 2 of our "ATYC Matters" - click HERE
News Updates Blog - auto notification by email
Access the News blog by clicking the 'News Updates' button in the header. You can also register for automatic email notification of new postings.
ATYC Rally 2020 Cancelled
Due to the continuing coronavirus pandemic the committee have reluctantly decided that we should cancel the rally which was slated for the August Bank Holiday weekend.
It appears likely that social distancing restrictions will remain in place for some considerable time to come, and the rafting of craft, ferry services, event capacity at Weybridge Mariners clubhouse, and the likely concerns of individual boaters, mean there is no realistic prospect of being able to hold the event this year.
Considerable forward planning had already taken place before the onset of lockdown restrictions and we are grateful to those who participated in our preliminary meetings and so freely offered their support. Our thanks to the Environment Agency, Weybridge Mariners Club, TBS Penton Hook and Nauticalia – we look forward to working together again when more normal times return.
NEW - 28 May 2020 Coronavirus and Thames Boating
Following recent government decisions to ease restrictions, the Environment Agency have largely restored freedom of navigation and most locks can be transited on Self Service using public power. There remain some local issues. Current status can be found at http://riverconditions.environment-agency.gov.uk
Boat Safety Scheme - Renewal suspension extended
The Boat Safety Scheme Office has issued a statement extending the temporary suspension of BSS certificate renewals to 30th April
News Updates Blog now live
You can now access the News blog by clicking the 'News Updates' button at the top of this page. You can also register for automatic email notification of new postings.
"ATYC Matters" Newsletter
The first issue of the new "ATYC Matters" Newsletter can be found in the Newsletter section of the Library.
Dinner Dance - Cancelled
As a result of the Corviod-19 crisis the ATYC Dinner Dance function scheduled for 28 March is cancelled. All monies paid have been refunded.
ATYC March Newsletter
The March newsletter can be found in the Newsletter section of the Library.
Training
Details of Clubs offering RYA training can be found in the Training section.
ATYC Open Meeting Minutes
The minutes of the open meeting can be found in the Meetings - > ATYC -> General section of the Library.
ATYC AGM Minutes March 2019
The AGM minutes can be found in the Meetings - > ATYC -> General section of the Library.
TNUF Meeting Minutes 26th February 2019
The minutes of the TNUF meeting held on 26th February can now be found in the Meetings -> External section of the Library.
