Yesterday Afternoon (Sunday, August 7th, 2005), the Camboaters Association held their second Open Boat Day on the Jesus Green end of the River Cam.
The (rather lush) interior of one of the boats.
Just dropping by...
Hospitality on offer!
It didn't seem to be as big as the first one (no String Quartets on the sluice lock island for one!), but there was nonetheless a very friendly, welcoming atmosphere offered up by the river's residents who opened their boats to the public.
Many passers by were in attendance, including parents bringing their children out for a Sunday afternoon, who made good use of the opportunity to literally step into the world of Cambridge's much beleaguered (officially at least) non-landubbers, and take advantage of the hospitality offered up on this day by this most unique of Cambridge's communities, with some of the river's residents offering refreshments to their visitors along with the chance to see a truly alternative lifestyle - one that doesn't involve having cable TV and a mortgage (amongst other things), and if you tire of your neighbourhood (or nieghbours), you can just lift the anchor and move your whole home somewhere else!
However, things are not all good in the Camboaters' world, as the City Council has decreed that these most low-impact, small-footprint of all Cambridge's residents, whom already pay Boat Tax (up to £550 per annum, depending on the length of the vessel), should now be expected to pay a Mooring License, which has been limited to a city centre quota of 70 pitches - a side-effect of this may be to displace 'surplus' Cam residents to the outer reaches of the city.
It also doesn't seem to take into account visitors to the city, who be mooring temporarily for the events like Starwberry Fair or the Cambridge Beer Festival, then leaving shortly afterwards.
This mooring license will be equivalent to Council Tax Band A, which can be up to £700 per annum.
So, they could be paying up to £1,250 per year for being NFA!
Now, this wouldn't be so bad if they were getting 5 star facilities for their money, but, currently all they have is a tiny little facility behind Jesus Green Swimming Pool and not much else, and some promises of a mooring marina in the pipeline (for which they may also be charged extra if they use make use of it).
Did someone mention the phrase "Fast Buck"..?
You Decide.
Thanks to Steph for these colour pictures.
This IMCer will be posting their own black & white pictures later in the week.
Here's the Camboaters website for more info about thier community:
http://www.camboaters.co.uk/
Many passers by were in attendance, including parents bringing their children out for a Sunday afternoon, who made good use of the opportunity to literally step into the world of Cambridge's much beleaguered (officially at least) non-landubbers, and take advantage of the hospitality offered up on this day by this most unique of Cambridge's communities, with some of the river's residents offering refreshments to their visitors along with the chance to see a truly alternative lifestyle - one that doesn't involve having cable TV and a mortgage (amongst other things), and if you tire of your neighbourhood (or nieghbours), you can just lift the anchor and move your whole home somewhere else!
However, things are not all good in the Camboaters' world, as the City Council has decreed that these most low-impact, small-footprint of all Cambridge's residents, whom already pay Boat Tax (up to £550 per annum, depending on the length of the vessel), should now be expected to pay a Mooring License, which has been limited to a city centre quota of 70 pitches - a side-effect of this may be to displace 'surplus' Cam residents to the outer reaches of the city.
It also doesn't seem to take into account visitors to the city, who be mooring temporarily for the events like Starwberry Fair or the Cambridge Beer Festival, then leaving shortly afterwards.
This mooring license will be equivalent to Council Tax Band A, which can be up to £700 per annum.
So, they could be paying up to £1,250 per year for being NFA!
Now, this wouldn't be so bad if they were getting 5 star facilities for their money, but, currently all they have is a tiny little facility behind Jesus Green Swimming Pool and not much else, and some promises of a mooring marina in the pipeline (for which they may also be charged extra if they use make use of it).
Did someone mention the phrase "Fast Buck"..?
You Decide.
Thanks to Steph for these colour pictures.
This IMCer will be posting their own black & white pictures later in the week.
Here's the Camboaters website for more info about thier community:
http://www.camboaters.co.uk/