THE leader of Bradford on Avon Town Council has urged people to ‘be nice’ to canal boaters following incidents in which some have been subjected to verbal and physical abuse.

The plea from Cllr Dominic Newton follows recent “deeply offensive” remarks directed at canal boater Chris Ackroyd and his family.

A passer-by insulted Mr Ackroyd’s lifestyle and canal boat, the Raggedy Rawney, in front of other people and in a social media posting.

Mr Ackroyd said the abuse had reduced his wife, who was with their young son, to tears and had left them deeply offended.

He said: “This has really upset my partner, she’s been in tears about it.

“His party were pointing, laughing and making highly derogatory comments about Raggedy Rawney in front of both my wife and my young son.

“It was pointed out to him it was our boat, that we wouldn’t dream of walking along a street pointing and commenting on the appearance of other folk’s houses. She also pointed out how rude he was for doing so.”

Another boater, George Ward, whose 90-year-old canal boat was partially sunk by a stag party passing by too fast in two hired boats, has also been subjected to abuse.

His belongings and equipment are currently piled high on the canalside towpath because he has nowhere to store them.

Now town council leader Cllr Newton has weighed in, saying the upsetting incidents are among several recorded in recent months.

He says the town and the council value the boaters on the Kennet & Avon Canal as they “contribute to the town, the local economy and the tourist trade.”

Cllr Newton said he had heard of one incident in which one boater had been punched by someone passing by.

He added: “It’s about something more fundamental, and that is not to go along the canal insulting or assaulting somebody or just being mean to people.”

The council has contributed £1,000 towards the Floaty Boat Fund, a boater's initiative run by and for them, with a further £l,000 in funding coming from the Wiltshire Council Area Board.

The £2,000 fund is currently held in trust by Bradford on Avon Community Area Network (BoACaN) while the boaters finalise their own working group and way forward. Supporters also include the Churches Together and Julian House, plus the Wiltshire Council Travellers Reference Group.

The boating community along the Kennet & Avon Canal  is also trying to help members by organising a series of practical courses. These include advice on the dangers of using woodburning stoves in small spaces and how to service and repair diesel engines.