A group of houseboat residents along a scenic stretch of the River Avon in Bath are determined to fight orders to vacate their moorings, citing community ties and safety concerns over the planned eviction.
Percy Walton, who has lived on his boat near Pulteney Weir for four years, expressed his resolve to contest the council’s decision. “I’m going to try and fight it legally,” he said. “I feel this is a good place to live. We are part of the community here — this is my home. I told one of the council officers I intend to stay as long as I can.”
Bath and North East Somerset Council has mandated that all houseboats leave by September due to safety risks posed by flooding and severe weather conditions. However, boaters argue that their moorings are no less safe than others on the river and emphasize the role they play in the local community. “People walking along the riverside at night have said they were glad to have the boats there,” Walton added.
READ MORE: ‘He’s going to make a big difference’ - Boldewijn becomes Bath City’s first summer signing
READ MORE: Somerset Village Rallies to Raise £30,000 in One Week to Halt 125-Home Development on Protected Green Space
Another resident, Dustin Bertschinger, urged the council to engage with the public and boaters before enforcing the eviction. “When there had been issues of people falling in the river, it was not boaters,” he said, recalling a time he helped pull someone from the water. He believes collaboration is key. “The council should work with boaters to make it safe.”
Boaters feel the eviction may be motivated more by upcoming redevelopment plans, including the construction of a permanent rugby stadium on the Recreation Ground, than by safety concerns. “I don’t think we fit in with their designs for the future. It’s a bit discriminatory against us,” said Walton.
In response, Deputy Council Leader Sarah Warren emphasized the importance of safety. “Boats moored in the Pulteney stretch are in danger from the high risk of flooding, particularly during severe winter weather. This could put lives at risk,” she said. Warren assured that the council is working with boat owners and the Canal & River Trust to find safer locations and will resort to legal action only as a last measure.
For Walton, leaving is not a simple option. Having moved to Bath in 1993 and embraced life on the waterways since 2000, he arrived at the Pulteney stretch by chance and chose to make it home. Reliant on solar power and self-supplied water, he cherishes the connection to nature and community. “We get otters climbing on the boat. It’s a nice place to live,” he said.
Walton expressed willingness to pay rent and work with the council if basic facilities were provided. “Everybody knows me. We are part of the community here now,” he concluded.