Houseboat residents on a picturesque stretch of the River Avon near Bath’s iconic Pulteney Weir have been ordered to evacuate by September due to safety concerns, but they are pledging to fight the ban.
Percy Walton, who has lived on this riverside stretch for four years, told SomersetLive, “I’m determined to challenge this legally. This is a wonderful place to live. We are part of the community here—this is my home.” He insists the council’s claim that the moorings are unsafe during bad weather is exaggerated.
Local boaters counter that their free mooring spots are no riskier than others prone to flooding. According to Mr. Walton, riverside walkers have expressed appreciation for their presence, especially after dark. Fellow boat owner Dustin Bertschinger urged the council to engage directly with the public: “If there have been river safety issues, boaters haven’t caused them. I even helped rescue someone from the river once. The council should work with us to ensure safety, not uproot us.”
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Many boaters believe the eviction is tied to broader redevelopment plans, including the construction of a permanent rugby stadium on the nearby Recreation Ground. “It feels like we’re being pushed out because we don’t fit their vision for the future,” Mr. Walton commented. “It comes off as discriminatory.”
Deputy council leader Sarah Warren emphasized that safety is paramount: “Our concern is the high flood risk along this stretch, especially during severe winter weather. We want everyone to have a safe home and avoid harm.” She added that the council is collaborating with boat owners and the Canal & River Trust to relocate residents safely but warned that legal action would follow if boats remain past the deadline.
Mr. Walton stressed that alternatives are scarce. Arriving in Bath in 1993, he embraced life on the water and purchased his first boat in 2000. Four years ago, he settled at the Pulteney moorings by chance and now generates his own electricity and draws his own water, surrounded by nature. “Otters climb on my boat; it’s a peaceful place, and we truly belong here.”
He expressed willingness to pay a reasonable rent for continued mooring if the council could provide basic facilities, reiterating, “Everyone knows me here. We are part of this community now.”