MANY of the older generation of Sedbury will remember Tallards Marsh, adjacent to the River Wye at Sedbury, being used as a base for boating over 60 years. The riverside at Tallards Marsh has probably been used for boating for hundreds of years.
Nowadays there are just a handful of boatmen there. I have kept boats at Tallards Marsh for 40 years. Recently I have received a letter from solicitors acting for Welsh Water ordering me (and by implication other boatmen) to remove my boat by April 30.
To correct this injustice we (the boatmen) would normally have contacted our MP (Forest of Dean) for help. Unfortunately, this option is not open to us until a new Parliament is sworn in.
I have taken legal advice and have been told that fighting Welsh Water through the courts would be hugely expensive. Welsh Water of course have millions of pounds of ratepayers' money to fight and would prolong any legal actions.
The question must be asked, is Welsh Water's actions to persecute a small group of people engaging in their hobby, a proper use of ratepayers' money?
I would have thought the money could be put to better use repairing and maintaining the security fence around Tallards Marsh sewerage works.
A Welsh Water Ratepayer, (name and address withheld)