Castle Mill Eviction

Network Rail have sent letters to the boaters, giving them until Tuesday 11th to move, after which they will take legal action against them.

The contractors from Oxford Cruisers (Eynsham) finally turned up in June and towed away the boats that were still floating (one of which we had refloated). They have left the sunk or half-sunk wrecks, and also the raft which is too wide to get through the Sheepwash Channel.

We have been working on a draft planning application, and have been advised by the council planners that we could apply for a ‘Certificate of Lawful Use’ which would be, in effect, retrospective planning permission. (This has already happened at the Donnington Bridge moorings) To get this, we have to show that the stream has been used by residential boaters for the last 10 years with no planning enforcement action - we are gathering evidence in support. If you can help with this, please email us at cmsmoorings@protonmail.com - the evidence would have to be in the form of a ‘Statutory Declaration’ (we have downloaded a template) which has to be officially witnessed by a ‘notary’ such as a lawyer.

It has been suggested that the Jericho Living Heritage Trust, a local charity involved in the development of the boatyard site, could buy the land from Network Rail - it could also provide a mooring for Kilsby, a historic narrowboat which is being restored for conversion to a floating stage. The Oxfordshire Community Land Trust are also interested in our ideas - one of them visited the site.last year.

All the Mill Stream needs is some affordable caretaker moorings - we are still optimistic that we can make it work.

Steve Watts

See previous posting on this issue