Hi I'm Ollie, thank you for looking at my petition. 

For the last two and half years I have operated The Bike Boat, a cycle repair business run from a narrow boat on the beautiful Kennet and Avon Canal.  To continue doing so I need the Canal and River Trust to change their recent decision about my boat licence.  I hope this petition can add pressure to get them to change their mind.  

The Canal & River Trust has informed me that I do not meet their licensing requirements. Paraphrasing their reasoning “mileage is fine, but spend too much time in towns" this is despite spending one third of my current licence continuous cruising in the countryside. 

To trade I need to spend most of my time in towns, particularly the only big one on the Kennet and Avon Canal, Bath.

Therefore I can't both meet the Canal and River Trust requirements and make a living. When I have traded in rural areas on most days I take nothing. 

If I was to continue my current trading and movement pattern and not meet their cruising requirements, in time, it would ultimately mean the threat of losing my boat which is my home.

I am working on other options to continue bike repairs elsewhere, but unless the Canal and River Trust changes their position, The Bike Boat will be forced close on the 28th of February.