Owners of boats which sank in River Avon ordered to pay £55k
The funds were spent recovering sunken boats from the River Avon near Pultney Weir in Bath in May of this year, after the abandoned boats were deemed a hazard to other river users and a long-term pollution risk.
Bath and North East Somerset (B&NES) council said the owners of the boats were approached on multiple occasions and given the opportunity to recover their vessels themselves within a designated self-recovery window, however this was not actioned.
The owners were also given advance warning that they would be required to repay the costs if removals were completed by the council.
(Image: BANES Council)
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Cllr Sarah Warren, deputy council leader and cabinet member for Sustainable B&NES, said: 'Boat owners are responsible for the maintenance and environmental impact of their vessels.
"These sunken boats had been creating a hazard in the waterway and posing a risk to its ecology for a long time, which is why we made every attempt to work with the owners over many months to arrange self-recovery before removing the boats ourselves as a last resort.
'We also informed the owners at every stage that failure to recover their vessels themselves would result in the council seeking recovery of the costs. The removals have cost the council approximately £55,000 and we hope to avoid having to take legal action to recover the money.'
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