As I explained in a previous post on illegal punting in Cambridge, the city has a long history of unlicensed operators. There have been many legal battles fought over the years between the Illegal punters and the various Cambridge authorities. Until now the unlicensed operators had remained open by either winning in court or finding loopholes within the law. On Friday, it was announced that an injunction would be put into place.
On what basis has the illegal punting been stopped?
The areas previously used by illegal operators such as Garret hostel lane are owned by the council. It has been made a criminal offence to use that land to launch commercial punting tours.
Why did the judge impose an injunction?
The injunction allows the council to prosecute anyone who uses the council river bank for punting tours. The injunction negates the requirement for expensive court cases to prove that trespass has occurred.
What the illegals are saying
Traditional Cambridge Tours were at the centre of the court battle. They say that the injunction affected competition and that as a result prices will increase.
What involvement did Trinity college have?
Trinity College supported the council. Located adjacent to Garett hostel lane, Trinity said that the Illegal operators affected their enjoyment of their land.
How does this effect Scholars Punting Cambridge?
Illegal operations had a particularly bad impact on slower days. As a small company, we hope to offer better continuity of employment for our staff over the winter. This will enable us to further improve the service that we offer.
