WITH the future of Bridgwater Docks still uncertain, there was a lot of interest as the Lady Jayne narrowboat was lifted into the marina on Saturday morning.

Bridgwater’s Tim Gilbert had been working tirelessly for more than two years on fixing up his narrowboat Lady Jayne, with a view to basing it at Bridgwater Docks.

However with the Canal & River Trust lease expiring, and Somerset County Council not planning to take on the leisure moorings, boat owners have been given notice to remove their vessels from the Docks.

Mr Gilbert said lifting his narrowboat in to the Docks was a statement that boat owners were not giving up on Bridgwater Docks just yet.

And despite the August rain, a good crowd gathered at Bridgwater Docks on Saturday morning at 10.30am to see this potential piece of history as the canal boat Lady Jayne was lifted and lowered into the Docks, with the help of volunteers from the Inland Waterways Association.

A big cheer went up as Mr Gilbert manoeuvred the Lady Jayne to her new mooring in the marina.

Mr Gilbert said: “It was good to see such a good turnout despite the weather, and the other boat owners are pleased to see a fresh face helping raise awareness.

“At the moment there is too much uncertainty and that has to be cleared up.”

The Canal & River Trust’s lease expired on Friday, July 31, and the trust is now in a rolling arrangement with Somerset County Council, which owns the Docks.

Termination of the lease is now subject to the Canal & River Trust giving three months’ notice.

A spokesman for the Canal & River Trust said: “During this time the trust will continue its discussions with Somerset County Council to agree on the remedial works needed to enable the trust to return the Docks to the council in the condition they were when the lease was originally taken on.

“This work has been delayed by the Covid-19 restrictions.

“However, subject to no further restrictions, priority works will start in September.”

The Canal & River Trust says it is doing ‘all it can’ to help boaters through the coming months, whether that’s through the offer of short-term leisure mooring permits or by helping with the practicalities of moving their boats when needed.

However boat owners and local interested parties have been in touch with Bridgwater Town Council with a view to finding an alternative arrangement so that the boats can remain at the Docks.