January, 2010

LONDON, UK, Jan 25. 2010 — It will be illegal to take old motorhomes into London from October 2010 without paying a fee. 

CLEAN AIR: Marylebone Road Rush Hour (by Garry Knight)

The Low Emission Zone (LEZ) affects older, diesel-engined lorries, buses, coaches, large vans (exceeding 1.205 tonnes unladen weight) and minibuses (over eight seats plus the driver’s seat and below 5 tonnes).

To find out if your vehicle is affected, use the online compliance check or check the LEZ emissions standards.

Motorhomers will need to pay the daily charge if they drive within the Low Emission Zone (LEZ) in a vehicle that does not meet the LEZ emissions standards and is not exempt from the scheme or registered for a 100 per cent discount.

RIVER THAMES, UK, Jan 25. 2010 – River moorings are to get a £5.1million upgrade. Thirteen locks along the River Thames will benefit from repairs and improvements by the Environment Agency this year. 

Boaters and campers can get updated information on changes from the new EA site http://www.visitthames.co.uk/

Improvements at Abingdon Lock and Hurley Lock have already been completed.

IMPROVEMENTS: The tow path at Hurley (by Gribiche)

A full list of campsites along the River Thames is here:

http://www.visitthames.co.uk/uploads/go_camping_on_the_river_thames.pdf

SKIPTON, NORTH YORKSHIRE, UK, Jan 25. 2010 — Young troublemakers are damaging Skipton’s image by turning the Leeds-Liverpool Canal into a ‘no-go zone’, according to the Cravan Helald.

VANDALS: The Leeds/Liverpool Canal, Skipton (by Neil T)

Organisers of the town’s waterway festival have called on police to investigate narrowboats being cast adrift in the night.
There are reports that some have also been vandalised, with spate of thefts from the decks.
For more visit: http://www.cravenherald.co.uk/news/4861723.Thugs_make_canal_a__no_go__area/

24/01/10

Guardian journalist Kevin Rushby isn’t up for any ol’ traditional camping experience, particularly when he’s setting off for the Lake District during one of the coldest English winters in 50 years.

An interesting piece for anyone on a budget who doesn’t like their own company:

http://www.guardian.co.uk/travel/2010/jan/23/barn-camping-lake-district-walking