Houseboat owners living rent free in Bath beauty spot are ordered to leave by council bosses because they are a ‘hazard’ and ‘ruin the view’

Houseboat owners living rent-free near a beautiful spot in Bath have been ordered to leave by council bosses who claim they are ruining the view and their homes pose a ‘hazard’.

The iconic 18th-century Pulteney Bridge over the River Avon is one of Bath’s best-known landmarks and one that millions of tourists flock to the city to see every year.

But the lucky owners of the floating homes have managed to live right next to the picturesque setting for years.

And those who call the area home don’t pay to anchor in the area because it’s ‘free navigation’; but some said they would be willing to pay to stay.

But their days of living rent-free by the river could soon be over, with the Liberal Democrat-controlled council saying they are dangerous, unsafe and branding them a ‘danger’.

Bath and North East Somerset Council said it was ‘taking action to keep people safe by tackling unauthorized and dangerous moorings’.

However, instead of responding to the municipality’s claims, those living on the boat claimed that they were kicked off the boat because they were ‘wavy’.

Others believe they are being driven away from the area by plans to build a new Bath Rugby stadium to replace the old stadium nearby.

Boat owner Ted, 54, said: ‘There is no health and safety issue, they are just using it against us.

Houseboats moored along the River Avon enjoy picturesque views of Bath’s famous Pulteney Bridge

‘It’s all about the rugby pitch, getting rid of the boats and the trees.

‘They will move us until September and put us somewhere else.

‘They are not being gentle, they will use force. ‘I’ve been a boater for years, I’ve moved before.’

The 54-year-old claimed that ‘nobody owns’ the land and that the main reason they moved was because ‘the rugby pitch and boats looked a bit dirty and unkempt’.

Another resident, who did not want to give his name, said: ‘They want to send us to the canal, but there are no settlements in the canal.

‘Normally these things are just smoke and mirrors. It’s about the development of the rugby field.

‘If there was a flood, they should have put a pontoon. It is completely safe in case of flood.

‘They have pontoons along the river, but not here.

Bath’s current rugby stadium next to the river. Some boat residents believe they are being driven away from the area by plans to build a new Bath Rugby stadium to replace the old stadium nearby

Percy Walton, 67, has been living on his boat in Bath for four years

‘I hear the money they’ll spend to take legal action and evict us is £1.5 million, but they don’t have any legs to stand on.’

The citizen added: ‘We will not leave. We will make a planning application to manage this ourselves, to manage moorings, holiday boats, residential boats, tours.’

Another boat resident said that their house was ‘suitable for tourism’ and that the area could look very beautiful if the municipality made an effort.

One person even accused the council of ‘punishing a minority’.

‘They think boats spoil the landscape, but it’s the opposite; ‘We are part of the landscape here,’ they continued.

67-year-old Percy Walton has been living on his boat there for four years.

He said: ‘The letter came out of nowhere, it’s so bad.

‘There’s no other anchorage on the Avon, so where are they proposing to move everything?

‘We contribute to the region, tourists constantly ask us questions, and I tell them about the trees. We dispose of our waste responsibly.

Residents who call the area home do not pay to anchor in the area because there is ‘free navigation’; But some said they were willing to pay to stay

‘I’ve been here for four years and I’ve never had any health and safety issues.

‘They want us to leave because we’re sloppy.’

The 67-year-old said residents living on the houseboats were ‘part of the community’ to which they contributed.

He added: ‘They told us we had to go by September and they would help if they could.’

The council said last week: ‘Boat owners moored here will be supported to move their vessels by mid-September this year because their moorings are unsafe.

‘Moorings also pose a danger to other river users.

‘The canal forms a critical part of the city’s flood defenses and is not part of the navigation of the river for boat users.

‘In recent years, a large number of boats, including holiday hire boats, have become anchored along this part of the river, although the council has worked with boat owners to explain the dangers and install warning signs in the area.

‘The chartered ship owners were asked to leave the area before the winter months, when bad weather conditions pose the greatest risk, but this request was not fulfilled.’

Councilor Sarah Warren, Deputy Leader and Cabinet Member for Sustainable B&NES, said: ‘Boats moored in the Pulteney area are at risk due to the high risk of flooding, particularly in severe winter weather.

‘This could put lives at risk. We want everyone at B&NES to have a safe place to call home and to keep all our residents safe from harm.

‘We are also concerned about the risk of serious injury where scaffold planks are used on banks and boats are moored to hold ropes, which prevents the use of these ropes as essential lifesaving equipment.

‘We are taking action to prevent accidents and protect everyone’s welfare by working with boat owners and the Canal & River Trust to help transport residents to safety.

‘If the ships remain in place after the date we ask them to leave, we will take legal action as a last resort.’