Protester says rules are unclear and refuses to move his boat

A man who lives in a canal boat with no engine has covered it inbanners and petitions in protest at efforts by waterways officialsto move him on.

Ian Gill, 48, who has lived on the Kennet and Avon Canal aroundBath for more than 15 years, has had his boat licence revoked afterBritish Waterways complained he was not moving far enough.

Mr Gill, whose boat is moored at Bathampton, said the terms ofhis cruising licence did not state how far he should move and he didnot believe he was breaching any conditions. Mr Gill, who works inthe city handing out the Metro newspaper, said he could not move anyfurther away because of his work commitments.

He said: "There is nothing in the rules and regulations to sayhow far you have to move - only that you have to move every 14 days.

"A few months ago I had a problem in that I wasn't very well so Icouldn't move the boat and they decided that when I did it wasn'tfar enough. They have told me to go to Trowbridge or Devizes butthat is too far for me to be able to cycle back for work."

Mr Gill said his boat has no engine, and punting it was quitehard work.

More than 1,000 people have signed a petition to support him.

He said he was now living on the canal illegally and that he waswaiting for British Waterways to take him to court.

He said: "I get really upset and I honestly feel I am part of theBath community. I do volunteer work in the city and do things withthe Fringe Festival."

A British Waterways spokeswoman could not comment on individualcases but said it revoked licences from people who did not abide bycontinuous cruising rules.