An escalating dispute in Bath sees boaters ordered to vacate a section of the River Avon by September amid a council assertion of ownership over the riverbed. Bath and North East Somerset Council has instructed houseboat residents moored downstream of Pulteney Weir to leave or face legal action, igniting a challenge from opposition councillors.
Eleven councillors have formally called in the council’s decision to register ownership of the riverbed with the Land Registry, pushing for a detailed scrutiny panel review set for July 15. However, the council’s senior legal officer has limited the scope of discussion at the meeting, excluding debate on the eviction’s impact on boaters.
The councillors contend that the council’s move to claim legal ownership adversely affects the rights and security of residents living on the water and that the decision lacked adequate transparency regarding its consequences. They seek clarity on the council’s plans following registration, particularly concerning human rights and potential closure of the riverside footpath on Bath Rugby match days.
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The council asserts ownership of the riverbed between the Recreation Ground and Parade Gardens to clarify responsibilities and improve management of the waterway. Deputy council leader Sarah Warren stated the decision would help preserve public safety, promote a healthier river environment, and limit council liabilities.
Opposition councillors, led by Green Party’s Saskia Heijltjes and supported by Labour and Independent members, argue that the council has not been transparent about future developments, including the match day footpath closures that could cut off access to boaters’ homes. The footpath closure is set to start in September, coinciding with the eviction deadline.
The council’s monitoring officer has emphasized that the registration decision is a separate administrative matter from eviction orders or footpath closures, both of which cannot be revisited as their call-in deadline has passed. Consequently, the scrutiny panel’s discussion will focus exclusively on the transparency of the registration decision, not on the eviction or path closure.
Boaters like Percy Walton, who has lived on the river for four years, express determination to fight the eviction and believe it stems from long-term development plans, potentially connected to a new rugby stadium project. Walton described the actions as discriminatory against the boater community.
As tensions rise, the council’s cabinet member for communications and community, Manda Rigby, defended proposed path closures on match days as necessary for public safety but denied any connection to the eviction of unauthorized boats.
The upcoming council scrutiny meeting will be pivotal in determining whether the registration decision stands uncontested or faces further challenges from boaters and opposition councillors.