Look who l bumped into yesterday!
While he awaits formal notification from the Canal and River Trust about what licence they might be prepared to grant him, Ollie the boat bike man has managed to find temporary accommodation in what was originally a horse stable on the pathway leading up to the Kennet and Avon Canal from Grosvenor Bridge.
If you’ve been following his story you’ll remember, Ollie is a narrowboat owner who operated a bike repair and servicing business from his various moorings.
Sustainable travel certainly floats Ollie’s boat as, when he’s not been working on the canal bank, he spends part of his week as a member of the ‘Bikeability team’ – a cycling training programme, operated by B&NES, and open to people of all ages.
However, back on the canal, he has been told by the Canal and River Trust that he doesn’t meet licencing requirements.
As his current ‘roving’ licence has expired it could mean, it’s not renewed, Ollie’s cycle business might have to close. It could also mean losing his boat which is his home.
For the time being the business IS back in business – if only on-shore.
Meanwhile the Canal and River Trust have said: “Boating businesses are great and we are keen to support them where we can. However, when someone is a roving trader they are declaring that they will move from place to place on a continuous journey.
The Kennet & Avon Canal is very busy, particularly around towns, and we need to be fair and consistent for all our boaters, providing the same guidance on what’s expected under the terms of their licence.
We would urge anyone planning on setting up as a roving trader to consider the requirements of the boat licence, and whether they may need to take up a permanent mooring where they can stay in one place full time.”
Over one and a half thousand people have signed an online petition asking the CRT to try to reach an agreement with Ollie.
