MEMBERS of Barden Boatyard are continuing to fight their eviction as they launch an appeal against the court decision in March.
Three of the residents on the River Medway registered their request for a re-examination of their case by another judge after listening to the advice of the National Bargee Travellers Association, who represent the interests of boat dwellers around the country.
In March, the boaters received a court order to leave by June 30. They claim there was a mistrial, based on Article 6 of the European Convention on Human Rights.
One of the requirements within the article is ‘equality of arms’, which requires there be a fair balance between the opportunities afforded to the parties involved in litigation – which they say was denied to them.
Signs
In a bizarre twist of events, Alan Mockford, son of boatyard owner, Brian Mockford, has erected signs advertising vacancies for ‘Mockford Moorings’, to be available from October, despite working for months to get the current residents evicted.
The boaters believe this is not a genuine attempt to establish a new boatyard, but rather a ploy to appear still to be offering mooring space to boost a later planning application for residential buildings.
Alan Mockford was unavailable for comment as we went to press.
