Disabled Moorings

[ditchcrawler]

 

 

eta Found one! "Beatrice" from Hillmorton on the North Oxford...

I dare say there are others too

I have a friend who has hired it a couple of times, up till 5 years ago they had a shared boat, It has given them the opportunity to get back on the water even if for just a week at a time. He really rates it

[Maffi]

I put my blue badge in the boat window when moored on disabled mooring at Thrupp then got told by one of their upthemselves berks that it was for one of their members only ? I stayed BW gave them too much power and CRT condone them taking up the towpath.

The disabled mooring at Thrupp was instigated by the club (with the approval of BW) specifically for a disabled member. For this they had to relinquish a mooring elsewhere, so your information is wrong.

 

The mooring is no longer available having reverted to normal public mooring, following the death of the disabled member, and the relinquished mooring being regained.

 

However I once asked if I could use the disabled mooring for a week or two as I had broken my leg (my own private mooring was too isolated). I was told that there was already someone there who required wheelchair access. I was allowed to moor in front in consultation with BW. For the two weeks I was there I never once saw the 'wheelchair'. Seems bullshit reigns in all walks of life.

[tizzy]

Hi MaggieMay

 

I don't really know any details but when we were out on the LLangollen Canal the other week we passed a place called The Lyneal Trust which said it specialised in canal holidays for disabled people it seemed to have some cottages and 2 adapted boats perhaps they would be able to help you

 

Tizzie

[MaggieMay]

Thank you, Tizzie. It looks as though there may be more than one way for me to have a canal holiday.

[sueb]

MaggieMay I took my disabled husband to the Mon and Brec this year. We hired from Goytre wharf and went to Talybont. We were able to get Roger off the boat into his wheelchair and to a pub every evening. He has poor balance and can't walk very far at all. The pubs were interesting with one having the disabled loo upstairs and a blocked disabled entrance. Having said that the landlord assisted getting the wheelchair in and I stood guard outside the ground floor ladies toilet.

[Geo]

A friend of mine is a disabled boater and seeing this thread I thought I would ask him, what the rules were for getting a Disabled Badge and what the rules were as far as he knew them for the canals.

 

There are three ways to get a disabled badge (Blue Badge)

 

1. To be in receipt of Disabled Living Allowance (DLA) at the highest mobility payment.

 

2. To be in receipt of Personal Independence Payment (PIP) again at the highest mobility payment. This is gradually replacing DLA.

 

In both of the above to get the highest level of mobility payment the furthest that they can walk without walking becoming painful, bring on their chronic illness, breathlessness etc is less than 50 metres and whatever causes the problems must have lasted more than, he thinks, 12 months and be expected to last for 12 months. In both these cases any recipient of DLA or PIP with the higher mobility allowance is automatically entitled to a Blue Badge.

 

3. The third way if not in receipt of DLA or PIP is to undergo a medical to determine their ability to walk etc.

 

The badges are issued by the local authority, county councils, the badge being limited to the period that PIP or DLA has been awarded for or 3 years at the maximum. The badge has to be reapplied for every three years and the whole degrading thing gone through again even if it is know the disability is permanent.

 

The badge is personal to the person, and may be used on any vehicle in which they are travelling whether they are driving or not. That entitles them to park not only in disabled bays but also on single and double yellow lines that are not designated as no loading areas, two or three yellow bars on the curb. They can be fined if they cause an obstruction. The fine for misuse of a badge is a £1000 and the badge is normally taken away. There are some differences in Westminster and a couple of other London Boroughs.

 

CRT management, in writing, told him that disabled moorings are reserved for disabled boaters and should not be used by non-disabled boaters.

 

I asked him if he would ask a boater to move from a disabled mooring. He said no, he has been sworn at etc on the one occasion when he did the boater was apparently not disabled. He did report that incident to CRT, but heard nothing.

 

So it seems as far as CRT management is concerned, well at least one, they are reserved to disabled boaters.

Edited October 29, 2016 by Geo

[magictime]

MaggieMay, my suggestion would be that rather than starting by looking for info on moorings, you start by getting in touch with some hire companies - preferably ones operating accessible boats - and ask them about suggested routes including mooring spots. No need to reinvent the wheel if there are routes being cruised by disabled people week in, week out where all the most accessible mooring spots are well known.

 

Oh, and from what you say about your balance issues, I'd suggest a lifejacket on deck and even on the towpath. That might seem like stating the obvious, but wearing lifejackets somehow doesn't seem to be the done thing among canal boaters and it'd be easy to end up not bothering.

[MaggieMay]

Thank you to sueb, Geo and magictime for your contributions.

 

For the life of me I cannot believe that anyone would put a toilet for disabled people upstairs! Perhaps a case of you don't really think about disability issues until you need them yourself.

 

Good idea to think about where we might like to go, and then contact hire companies for some input. The trouble is that I would like to go to so many areas that it will be hard to choose!

[PeteC]

 

My wife, a wheelchair user, and I have had two Narrowboat holidays this year, both very different. Late April we spent on the North Oxford and a section of the GU having hired NB Beatrice out of Rugby. During this trip we made use of the disabled mooring at Braunston that gave easy access to the village path. We had a great week with just the two of us, very few locks but a great introduction to boating.

In June we hired NB Lillia out of Upton on Severn and cruised the Severn and the S and W as far as Kinver. This trip required a crew of 4 and was a complete contrast as it included some very big river locks and the staircases at Stourport.

Both boats we found very manageable but it was sometimes impossible to find moorings where we could navigate the towpath with the wheelchair.

[Catnip King]

I noticed a disabled mooring on the Llangollen near some marshes containing raft spiders?

[Pie Eater]

I noticed a disabled mooring on the Llangollen near some marshes containing raft spiders?

That could be the one near the Prees branch junction.

 

Steve

[Catnip King]

That could be the one near the Prees branch junction.

 

Steve

Yes right near a junction so must be it cheers!

[homer2911]

A friend of mine is a disabled boater and seeing this thread I thought I would ask him, what the rules were for getting a Disabled Badge and what the rules were as far as he knew them for the canals.

 

There are three ways to get a disabled badge (Blue Badge)

 

1. To be in receipt of Disabled Living Allowance (DLA) at the highest mobility payment.

 

2. To be in receipt of Personal Independence Payment (PIP) again at the highest mobility payment. This is gradually replacing DLA.

 

In both of the above to get the highest level of mobility payment the furthest that they can walk without walking becoming painful, bring on their chronic illness, breathlessness etc is less than 50 metres and whatever causes the problems must have lasted more than, he thinks, 12 months and be expected to last for 12 months. In both these cases any recipient of DLA or PIP with the higher mobility allowance is automatically entitled to a Blue Badge.

 

3. The third way if not in receipt of DLA or PIP is to undergo a medical to determine their ability to walk etc.

 

Seems that Telford and Wrekin local authority is a bit more relaxed:

 

People who may be issued with a Blue Badge without further assessment are those who are more than two years of age and entitled to one of the following benefits:

• receives the higher rate mobility component of disability living allowance;
• receives a war pensioner's mobility supplement;
• is a registered blind person under the National Assistance Act 1948;
• has been awarded a benefit (giving rise to a lump sum at tariffs 1-8 inclusive) under the Armed Forces Compensation Scheme (AFCS) and has also been certified by the Service Personnel and Veterans agency as having a permanent and substantial disability which causes inability to walk or very considerable difficulty in walking;
• receives 8 points or more under the moving around activity of mobility component of Personal Independence Payment.

You can still apply for a Blue Badge if you do not meet the above criteria but you are more than two years old and fall within one of the following categories:

• have a severe disability in both upper limbs and regularly drive a motor vehicle, but have difficulty operating parking meters;
• have a permanent and substantial disability which means you are unable to walk or have very considerable difficulty in walking. Please note: you may have to attend a mobility assessment to see if you qualify for a badge;
• have a child/children under 3 years of age who, because of a specific medical condition, need to travel with bulky medical equipment or need to be close to a vehicle for emergency medical treatment.'

My 91 year old mother in law is now living with us permanently, so I applied for, and very quickly obtained, a blue badge for her. Following a stroke, she can barely walk, so can only get out by being assisted into the car and taken everywhere in a wheelchair. She also has an inoperable cancer condition. My declarations on the application were accepted at face value, without any medical examination.

 

Just to bring this back to the canal environment, earlier this year we were booked into Salthouse Dock in Liverpool, but along with dozens of other boats, at the last minute we were told we would have to block moor in the adjacent Albert Dock, due to the activities of the excellent Mersey River Festival. We were expecting visits from at least two wheelchair-bound members of the charity we are involved with, and had requested a linear mooring to allow access into the boat at bow and stern. At first we were told by C&RT that this was not possible, because the only such mooring available in the Albert Dock had already been allocated to someone else with a special need. After kicking up an almighty fuss, another linear mooring in the Albert Dock was found, and all was well for our visitors. Only later did we find out that the lucky boater moored on the first linear mooring had been given it because his dog had difficulty exiting the back of his boat! During the arguments with C&RT, one of their protestations was that there was a perfectly adequate trip boat operating in the area called Sefton, for disabled visitors .

[rasputin]

Seems that Telford and Wrekin local authority is a bit more relaxed:

 

People who may be issued with a Blue Badge without further assessment are those who are more than two years of age and entitled to one of the following benefits:

• receives the higher rate mobility component of disability living allowance;
• receives a war pensioner's mobility supplement;
• is a registered blind person under the National Assistance Act 1948;
• has been awarded a benefit (giving rise to a lump sum at tariffs 1-8 inclusive) under the Armed Forces Compensation Scheme (AFCS) and has also been certified by the Service Personnel and Veterans agency as having a permanent and substantial disability which causes inability to walk or very considerable difficulty in walking;
• receives 8 points or more under the moving around activity of mobility component of Personal Independence Payment.

You can still apply for a Blue Badge if you do not meet the above criteria but you are more than two years old and fall within one of the following categories:

• have a severe disability in both upper limbs and regularly drive a motor vehicle, but have difficulty operating parking meters;
• have a permanent and substantial disability which means you are unable to walk or have very considerable difficulty in walking. Please note: you may have to attend a mobility assessment to see if you qualify for a badge;
• have a child/children under 3 years of age who, because of a specific medical condition, need to travel with bulky medical equipment or need to be close to a vehicle for emergency medical treatment.'

My 91 year old mother in law is now living with us permanently, so I applied for, and very quickly obtained, a blue badge for her. Following a stroke, she can barely walk, so can only get out by being assisted into the car and taken everywhere in a wheelchair. She also has an inoperable cancer condition. My declarations on the application were accepted at face value, without any medical examination.

 

Just to bring this back to the canal environment, earlier this year we were booked into Salthouse Dock in Liverpool, but along with dozens of other boats, at the last minute we were told we would have to block moor in the adjacent Albert Dock, due to the activities of the excellent Mersey River Festival. We were expecting visits from at least two wheelchair-bound members of the charity we are involved with, and had requested a linear mooring to allow access into the boat at bow and stern. At first we were told by C&RT that this was not possible, because the only such mooring available in the Albert Dock had already been allocated to someone else with a special need. After kicking up an almighty fuss, another linear mooring in the Albert Dock was found, and all was well for our visitors. Only later did we find out that the lucky boater moored on the first linear mooring had been given it because his dog had difficulty exiting the back of his boat! During the arguments with C&RT, one of their protestations was that there was a perfectly adequate trip boat operating in the area called Sefton, for disabled visitors .

[Geo]

Seems that Telford and Wrekin local authority is a bit more relaxed:

 

People who may be issued with a Blue Badge without further assessment are those who are more than two years of age and entitled to one of the following benefits:

• receives the higher rate mobility component of disability living allowance;
• receives a war pensioner's mobility supplement;
• is a registered blind person under the National Assistance Act 1948;
• has been awarded a benefit (giving rise to a lump sum at tariffs 1-8 inclusive) under the Armed Forces Compensation Scheme (AFCS) and has also been certified by the Service Personnel and Veterans agency as having a permanent and substantial disability which causes inability to walk or very considerable difficulty in walking;
• receives 8 points or more under the moving around activity of mobility component of Personal Independence Payment.

You can still apply for a Blue Badge if you do not meet the above criteria but you are more than two years old and fall within one of the following categories:

• have a severe disability in both upper limbs and regularly drive a motor vehicle, but have difficulty operating parking meters;
• have a permanent and substantial disability which means you are unable to walk or have very considerable difficulty in walking. Please note: you may have to attend a mobility assessment to see if you qualify for a badge;
• have a child/children under 3 years of age who, because of a specific medical condition, need to travel with bulky medical equipment or need to be close to a vehicle for emergency medical treatment.'

My 91 year old mother in law is now living with us permanently, so I applied for, and very quickly obtained, a blue badge for her. Following a stroke, she can barely walk, so can only get out by being assisted into the car and taken everywhere in a wheelchair. She also has an inoperable cancer condition. My declarations on the application were accepted at face value, without any medical examination.

 

Just to bring this back to the canal environment, earlier this year we were booked into Salthouse Dock in Liverpool, but along with dozens of other boats, at the last minute we were told we would have to block moor in the adjacent Albert Dock, due to the activities of the excellent Mersey River Festival. We were expecting visits from at least two wheelchair-bound members of the charity we are involved with, and had requested a linear mooring to allow access into the boat at bow and stern. At first we were told by C&RT that this was not possible, because the only such mooring available in the Albert Dock had already been allocated to someone else with a special need. After kicking up an almighty fuss, another linear mooring in the Albert Dock was found, and all was well for our visitors. Only later did we find out that the lucky boater moored on the first linear mooring had been given it because his dog had difficulty exiting the back of his boat! During the arguments with C&RT, one of their protestations was that there was a perfectly adequate trip boat operating in the area called Sefton, for disabled visitors .

 

I expect that all authorities have the same rules, the info I posted was from a disabled friend quoting from memory.

 

Re CRT My friend has found similar problems with CRT they do not seem to have any understanding of their duties under the Equalities Act.

[homer2911]

 

I expect that all authorities have the same rules, the info I posted was from a disabled friend quoting from memory.

 

Re CRT My friend has found similar problems with CRT they do not seem to have any understanding of their duties under the Equalities Act.

In fairness to C&RT, they gave us a cheque by way of apology, which we requested that they make payable to the charity, and they promised to make ammendements to the Salthouse Dock booking procedures. Of course, not every request for a linear mooring for wheelchair access can be accommodated, but at least now, such requests will be given priority.

Edited November 23, 2016 by homer2911

[Canal Cuttings]

Not directly relevant to the OP, but this seems a good place to draw attention to the dayboat hire at Warwick.

 

The Saltisford Canal Trust offer a dayboat for able or disabled users; a fair price if a small party can be made up.

 

http://www.saltisfordcanal.co.uk/hire-saltie/

 

The 35 foot long boat is wider than a narrowboat at 9 feet, making it very stable and is extremely manoeuvrable.

Normally the hirers must include 3 able bodied adults to do the steering and work the locks.

Hirers are reminded it is illegal to steer a boat whilst under the influence of alcohol.

Saltie II has a raised stern area for tiller steering, giving good views of the passing countryside and a generous deck area which allows steering to be a social activity with plenty of space for the crew to stand and chat. The boat features a small kitchen area, with fridge, sink and two-burner gas hob; crockery and cutlery is provided. A nice idea is to pack a picnic to enjoy with family and friends aboard.

The main saloon has roll-up canvas sides and padded benches and a large front windscreen for forward views. Saltie II’s toilet is wheelchair accessible. To enable wheelchair access to the main saloon an hydraulic lift is located in the galley area and gives access to rear deck. Two benches fold to create space for up to 5 wheelchairs.

Saltie II is available to hire daily (9.30 am to 5.30pm), between March and October- subject to the canal being open to navigation. Summer weekends tend to be very popular and early booking is recommended.

Special rates are available for charities and bonafide community groups.

[sueb]

If you are a member of Nabo they have a disability rep