RYA investigates claims by Solent boaters
MBM has received reports claiming that English Heritage has been ordering boaters not to anchor in Osborne Bay, on the Isle of Wight. The bay area of the Osborne House Estate was opened to visitors this summer and English Heritage has obtained a marine licence from the Marine Management Organisation (MMO) to lay buoys marking out a swimming area for visitors to the beach.
However, these do not permit English Heritage to ban anchoring or navigation in the waters adjacent to its beach – including the swimming area.
Gus Lewis, head of legal and government affairs at the RYA, said, “We have received a number of reports from boaters that they have been instructed by a representative of English Heritage from the beach in Osborne Bay that they are not allowed to anchor close to the marked swimming area.
“Clearly, if there is an area marked out for swimming then boaters will need to take particular care if they choose to navigate or anchor in this area. However, English Heritage has no authority to prohibit anchoring anywhere in Osborne Bay and its staff have no power to require anchored boats to move.”
Have you been prevented from anchoring in Osborne Bay?
Email the MBM newsdesk:
greg_goulding@ipcmedia.com
