I WOULD like to make some comments regarding John Weller’s letter of the week last week, which is factually incorrect.

Very few marinas have residential moorings. The boat owners who moor their boats in a marina do not live on the vessel but have a separate place of residence. Thus, the community charge is paid on the prime residence, not on the boat.

An older lady live-aboard boater, with health issues, avoided harassment from the Canal and River Trust by taking one of the six residential moorings available at Devizes Marina, in order to avoid being made homeless.

She pays a £3,000 mooring fee and £1,000 community charge. The marina does not contribute towards the payment of the community charge. The move to a residential mooring has come as a cost to society. As a pensioner, she was entitled to housing benefit and the community charge payment. The lady, hitherto, was independent and self-sufficient.

The public must draw its own conclusions regarding CRT’s policy of cleansing the waterways of live-aboard boaters. The consequences will be a drain on the limited housing stock and will hit the local economy that boaters support.

The claim that boaters do not pay taxes is rash, incorrect and highly prejudicial. The vast majority of boaters are in employment and pay taxes and VAT. Many are professional workers, skilled tradesmen, social workers, probation officers, book keepers, engineers, teachers, taxi drivers, artists and writers and many work in the service sector and as carers. Devizes would be hard hit if all the carers that support the flagging care system were not available. It is very offensive to dismiss and marginalise a section of society that contributes so much.

Live-aboard boaters add interest and colour to the canals. Would you walk down a tow path alone without boats moored?

A survey was done several years ago by the Inland Waterways Association. The public were questioned on their use of the towpath. More than 90 per cent said that they would not use the towpath if boats were not moored in the area. They thought boats meant a place of safety if confronted with anti-social behaviour.

I understand that British Waterways gave a small percentage of money from our boat licence towards the community charge. I am not convinced of this because a boat has no roots in a place. In fact, if it is correct then caravan clubs and their touring members must also be liable to pay community charge on their caravan. I will certainly lobby parliament to ensure that they pay their dues if the boaters have to do so.

CAROL KREBS, Kennet and Avon Canal