BOATERS along the Kennet & Avon Canal made their voices heard in a protest against the Canal & River Trust near its Devizes offices.

Dozens of protesters, both boaters and local residents, gathered by Lock 44 at the top of Caen Hill on Saturday, to express opposition to the CRT's treatment of boaters without a fixed mooring which has seen some of their licenses cut to six months, while others have been forced from their homes.

Pamela Smith, National Bargee Travellers' Association chairman, said that since last May, the CRT began refusing to re-license boaters without a permanent mooring for not moving far enough or often enough under the 1995 British Waterways Act.

But she says this is unlawful and that the trust's interpretation is wrong.

"It was a very encouraging turnout and it was heartening to have a good showing of support from people outside the boating community," she said.

"A lot of people expressed their concern about what the CRT are doing to us as well as saying they were worried that this could make a lot of people homeless.

"We, however, expect them to reject our proposal. They said they will look at it but we are under no illusion that they will agree to it."

This proposal revolves around allowing with boating families who have children that go to school to move less during term times but accepting more movement during holidays.

MP Michelle Donelan has written to chief executive of the Canal & River Trust, Richard Parry, in support of local boaters’ rights to send their children to local schools and offering a compromise proposal to solve the problem.

“It is important that the canals are kept clear from boats being abandoned or waiting on the canal banks indefinitely simply to avoid marina fees," said Ms Donelan, who wrote the proposal following consultations with around 750 boaters.

"I sympathise with the CRT's concerns but it is unacceptable for boaters to be discriminated against simply for trying to give their children a good education in a local school.

"I believe that the compromise I have developed in partnership with the boaters is a sensible solution and hope that is will be acceptable to the Canal and River Trust.”

Mike Grimes, head of boating at Canal & River Trust, said: “We support people’s right to protest. This is obviously a sensitive issue and we have met with local boaters, councils, schools and MPs to talk about the possibility of a more flexible way of making things work – we are waiting to hear back from the boaters involved with their suggestions.

“However we have to manage the busy waterways fairly for all the 32,500 boats and interpret the law so that there isn’t chaos in busy stretches of the Kennet & Avon Canal and elsewhere.”

In response to this, Mrs Smith said: "They say that they have not heard from us but we cannot just send something without a lot of careful consideration and consultation with headteachers.

"What we are putting forward though will solve the school children problem."