The decision on Tuesday 7 March was not about the Canal & River Trust’s internal processes or procedures, or our interpretation of the British Waterways Act 1995. The learned judges also did not criticise the Trust in this or any other enforcement case. Instead, the decision concerned how arguments about the human rights of live-aboard boaters should be considered by the courts. We welcome the clarification provided by the Court, which should provide more certainty to boaters and the Trust in enforcement cases.
We will continue to work with boaters to find ways of keeping them and their boats on the waterways wherever we reasonably can.