Local authority pursues recovery of boat removal costs under Pre-Action Debt protocol

The council began removing the boats from the river on 15 March, using specialist contractors who attached floats to some of the vessels before towing them away.

The operation near Pulteney Weir lasted almost a month, with the last boat being removed on 9 May.

Bath and North East Somerset said the five boats posed a hazard to other river users and a pollution risk to the water.

According to the local authority, four boat owners have since been served with formal demands requiring them to either settle their debts in full or agree a repayment plan.

The council is pursuing recovery under the Pre-Action Debt protocol.

The council stated that it had approached the boat owners on multiple occasions prior to the removal operation being carried out.

The owners were also given advance warning that they would be required to repay the costs if removals were completed by the council, the local authority said.

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.

"The removals have cost the council approximately £55,000 and we hope to avoid having to take legal action to recover the money."

Adam Carey