WEY & ARUN CANAL TRUST LIMITED

Unpowered Craft Licence

Between Drungewick Lock and Southlands Lock

Terms & Conditions

  1. Definitions:

    1. ‘Craft’ means any unpowered vessel including all rigid and inflatable craft, canoes, kayaks, rowing boats and paddleboards using the Canal;
    2. ‘Trust’ means the Wey & Arun Canal Trust;
    3. ‘Canal’ means the Wey & Arun Canal between Drungewick Lock and Southlands Lock and includes the water space, towpath, slipways, landing stages and other access points, lock structures and other waterway structures;
    4. ‘Licence’ means a licence granted by the Trust permitting the use of a single Craft on the Canal;
    5. ‘Licensee’ means the person to whom a Licence is granted or a member of British Canoeing using a Craft on the Canal.

  2. All use of a Craft on the Canal is subject to these Terms & Conditions.

Licence

  1. A Craft may only be used on the Canal:

    1. if a valid Licence has been purchased and is current for the Craft; or

    2. if the user of a Craft is a member of British Canoeing.

  2. A Licence, beginning on any specified date, costs (inclusive of VAT):

    1. £5 for a Day Licence; 

    2. £15 for an Annual Licence;

and can be purchased in advance at www.weyarun.org.uk or in person at the Canal Centre at Loxwood.

  1. A Licence is not refundable and is not transferable between Craft. 

  2. A Licensee must produce proof of purchase of the Licence, or of membership of British Canoeing, to the Trust’s employees or agents whenever reasonably requested. 

Advance notification of use of the Canal

  1. A Licensee must notify the Trust in advance of the date of any proposed use of the Canal with the Craft, either:

    1. online at https://weyarun.org.uk/content/boat-visit-booking or 

    2. by contacting the Canal Centre in person when it is open or 

    3. by emailing canalcentre@weyandarun.co.uk

This is important so that the Trust’s public trip boat crews can be made aware of anticipated craft movements and also to ensure that the canal is not closed for maintenance.

Craft Safety

  1. A Craft must comply with all generally advised and appropriate safety requirements for the Craft at all times.

  2. A Licensee must permit the Trust or anyone appointed by it to carry out a safety check of a Craft using or about to use the Canal at any reasonable time and, if in its absolute discretion the Trust considers that a Craft is or may be dangerous or presents a safety risk or is unsuitable for use on the Canal, it must immediately be removed by the Licensee and the Craft will be refused use of the Canal.

General

  1. A Craft may not be used for carrying goods or passengers for reward or for any business purpose.

  2. A Craft may not be moored overnight on the Canal.

  3. A Craft shall not pass through any lock.

  4. A Craft shall only be used during the hours of daylight.

  5. No form of motorised propulsion may be used on a Craft.

  6. A Licensee agrees to comply with all navigation rules and regulations, and to follow any lawful verbal or written directions given by the Trust, its employees or agents.

  7. A Licensee shall be responsible for any damage or injury of any kind caused by the Licensee or by the Craft as a result of any negligent or wilful act or failure to act of the Licensee or of anyone on, or assisting with, the Licensee’s Craft. Many users of unpowered craft have insurance for third party liability in order to cover such eventuality.

  8. Once a Licence has expired, unless the Craft is re-licensed it must immediately be removed from the Canal. If this is not done the Licensee authorises the Trust to remove the Craft and the Licensee must pay any reasonable costs the Trust may incur in so doing.

  9. The Canal or sections of it may from time to time be closed for repairs or due to emergencies. The Trust will not rebate any part of the Licence fee in respect of such closure(s).

Safety

  1. A waterway can be a dangerous place and therefore there are inherent risks for anyone using a Craft on the Canal. A Licensee must ensure the competence of any crew using the Craft to minimise risks to their own, and other people's, property and personal safety.

  2. The Trust operates public trip boat services and therefore the Canal may be shared with large powered vessels. A Licensee must at all times keep a lookout for other vessels using the Canal and must take all reasonable measures to avoid imperilling or inconveniencing other vessels.

  3. Neither the Trust, nor any of its members, volunteers, employees or agents, has any liability to any person using the Canal save for any damages arising from personal injury or death caused by the negligence of the Trust or anyone acting on its behalf.

 

June 2020