Notice

Reading Water Fest 2022: river closure notice

Published 22 April 2022

This notice was withdrawn on

River closure no longer in force.

When

From 8am on Wednesday 1 June to 5pm on Monday 6 June 2022.

Where

Forbury Loop (River Kennet).

Details

The Forbury Loop on the River Kennet in Reading will be closed to all boats other than those participating in the Reading Water Fest.

No public mooring will be allowed in the Forbury Loop during this closure.

The main navigation channel will remain open throughout.

Access to and from the ‘Bell & the Dragon’ restaurant moorings will not be affected by this closure.

This closure is for the safety of both participants in the event and other river users, we apologise for any inconvenience it may cause.

Byelaws

Nothing contained in these directions shall supersede those parts of the Thames Navigation Licensing and General Byelaws 1993 and the UK Merchant Shipping (Distress Signals and Prevention of Collisions) Regulations 1996 as may be relevant. Particular attention should be paid to byelaws 24-42 of the Thames Navigation Licensing and General Byelaws 1993, Steering Sailing and Speed.

And Notice is hereby given, that it is provided by Byelaw 52 of the Thames Navigation Licensing and General Byelaws 1993 that:

The master of any vessel shall except in an emergency not pass any boat-race regatta public procession or gathering for the launch of a vessel or any other event or function which may cause a crowd to assemble on or by the river nor station his vessel thereon in such a manner as would risk obstructing impeding or interfering with such boat-race regatta procession launching event or function or endangering the safety of persons assembling on the river or preventing or interfering with the maintenance of order thereon.

The maximum penalty for breach of the Byelaws is £1,000.

Read our Thames Navigation Licensing and General Byelaws 1993