BOATERS upset about licences and people worried about plans to fell trees on a tow path greeted the chief executive of the Canal & River Trust when he arrived in Devizes to launch a new boat.

Richard Parry was able to tell councillors and others who were worried that 13 trees between Cemetery Road and London Road were to be chopped down that the plan had been changed.

A trust spokesman said: "The tree issue is resolved we have revised the plan and the trees will now just be monitored, as all trees by the canal are. Everyone we spoke to at the meeting seemed satisfied by this."

Carol Krebs from the Kennet & Avon Boaters action group was disappointed that only about 20 people turned up to confront Mr Parry about licences but was pleased to have the chance to put her message across on Thursday.

She said: "Many boaters were working and mothers were on their way to pick children up from school but our message was reinforced."

The action group is unhappy that many live-aboard boaters on the canal have had their licences restricted to six months which she said families were threatened with losing their homes and being pressured to give up their homes.

Mrs Krebs also raised the tree issue with Mr Parry and said: "I'm surprised that the trust did not get a specialist to examine the roots of the trees and any potential damage before they invested tens of thousands of pounds on the hard surfaced towpath.

"The scheme was in response to the cycling lobby and fears that the surface may become damaged reflects their needs."

A trust spokesman said in relation to the boat licences it was looking at the issue again and said: " As any decision will affect all boaters across the 2,000 of canals and rivers we care for, we’re committed to getting it right.

"We’re going to be taking into account the experiences of a wide range of families living on the water as well as others with a wider interest in this issue."

But despite the controversies Mr Parry went ahead with the launch of the new boat named in honour of Royal Navy veteran Sir William O'Brien.

The event was held to celebrate the huge amount of work put in by volunteers to fit out the boat, which will be moored at Caen Hill Locks near Devizes in between its visits to various festivals and events along the historic canal.

Tamsin Phipps, chairman of the Kennet & Avon Waterways Partnership said: “We’re extremely excited to get The Admiral launched, and offer our huge thanks to the volunteers, who put in a massive 3,000 hours of work to get the boat ready to go.

"It’s going to be a fantastic boost for the waterway, offering a place for people to come in and find out more about our wonderful canal."