Birmingham Uni Boy Racer River erosion continues...1

Birmingham University Boat Club coach, aka Birmingham Boy Racer, continues to oversee the irresponsible driving of the Sea Strike rowing launch on the River Severn near Worcester.
This boat has the the worst wash characteristic of any of the rowing coaching launches on the river in Worcester. According to one canoeist , it has the hydrodynamics of a brick!
No boat is supposed to cause a "breaking wash" ie when you can see the white water caused by the wave falling over, which then transfers the energy to eroding the riverban. Birmingham University are eroding land belong ing to all the riparian owners on this section of river from Diglis Lock through Worcester, nearby to Hallow and Grimley to Bevere locks. They erode land belonging to Worcester City Council, (ie Worcester residents), eg Pitchcroft; as well as land owned by Worcestershire County Council, Dean and Chapter and Highways Authority and private riparian land owners.
The effects of this breaking wash are many and various and vitally important:
Reduction of biodiversity ie less plants and animals, making the delicate water margin ecosystem less stable and able to cope.
Soil and silt transported away from the bank into the main channel causing it to become shallower, which provides problems for boat navigation and makes flooding more likely and worse.
Reduces river water quality by deoxygenation, increasing silt load, reducing light penetration, increasing erosive capacity of water on plants and banks.
Makes banks vertical and inaccessible from bankside, increasing human accidents of falling in the river and unable to get out, and reduces resting and nesting areas for moorhens, swans and ducks. Increases likelihood of mass bank collapses, now common on this stretch of river, by undermining banks and reduction of water margin plants. Increases degradation of riverbank area which translates to social degradation and crime.
Unfortunately this individual has refused to curtail his behaviour and as yet the statutory authorities have not stepped in even though this behaviour is illegal. It is just a matter of time though before his judgement improves.

Category:

Nonprofits & Activism

Tags:

• Birmingham
• University
• of
• Boat
• Club
• UBBC
• BUSA
• BUGS
• rowing
• launch
• vice
• chancellor
• Sea
• Strike
• breaking
• wash
• bank
• erosion
• sustainability
• british
• waterways
• the
• environment
• agency
• worcestershire
• wildlife
• water
• users
• forum
• destroy
• margin
• plants
• collapse
• clean
• and
• green
• khanum
• essential
• travel
• ian
• yates
• parks
• biodiversity
• blind
• college
• brick
• reckless
• feckless
• flooding
• silt
• shallowing
• mass
• slippage
• vertical
• Deloitte
• Cookman
• Porter
• guild
• students
• head
• eight
• four
• quad
• skull
• just-eat.co.uk
• row
• gloucester

[bezzano5]

It's not illegal what he is doing

A launch accompanying a rowing boat doesn't have to stick to the speed limit as it has to supervise the boat for safety reasons as well as coaching them.

Although the motor boat does create erosion there are so many other causes that trying to attack one person due to the wash created by the launch he is using is both harsh and a waste of time.

[sabrinaworcester1]

@bezzano5

First sentence wrong

Second sentence wrong

third sentence wrong

I will reply why when i have more time

[bezzano5]

What are you planning to write to me? An essay?

Speak to GB rowing (formerly the ARA) about Birmingham Uni if you are really anoyed. They would have a lot larger impact than the Environmental Agency.

A rowing boat's speed depends on a large number of factors, but they generally go well in excess of water speed limits. A launch has to go with them therefore what I am saying is right.

Why put a crew's safety at risk to reduce erosion when so many other things affect it already?It would be crazy

[sabrinaworcester1]

@bezzano5

I will consider your comment re ARA in future if needed though that doesnt say much about the so called Guardians of the river the EA and BW.

A launch does not have to go with them, the rowing club wants it to go with them.

What sort of people destroy the very river they rely on for their rowing as well as affect other rowers and river users and cause criminal damage to other peoples property?

[sabrinaworcester1]

@bezzano5

He is causing damage to other peoples property- unlawful

Please provide proof of sentence 2. The boats are coaching boats NOT safety boats.

It is not harsh as he refused to slow down and lied that he had permission.

it was not a waste of time as eventually the video got him stopped

[BotActionAndy]

@sabrinaworcester1 who cares if it is eroding the sides it happens naturally anyway and no one cares

[SHADOWDAEMON666]

Faced with the prospect of having your car stolen from you by the police I'd of done the same, If I smash the car then that's unlucky but at least the police can't auction it off.

[mikeandsouth]

You need to get a hobby, stamp collecting maybe? or train spotting?

[joebigpumpkin]

Ok so you claim that it is not a safety boat but a coaching boat and is not needed.. Join any uni rowing club and see how many beginner boats are allowed out without safety cover (give you a clue genius 0). If you really do take offence and truly want to make birmingham stop using this launch, donate 2-3 grand to get them a wakeless one untill then pipe down and get a fucking life x

[fatman434434]

I am sure you will find a river by law that allows him going at the speeds his going for coaching purposes and safety reasons, secondly rivers erode that is what they do that is why you have bends in a river, that is why you have a river in the first place, to act like it is the end of the world is frankly idiotic, while they have brought a new one it is not usually a lack of funds to buy a wake less launch but a lack of space even then they aren't that effective as they tend to be huge