River Warden Service

This service has for many years been operated by Kerrier Council as part of its Leisure Services Division.  Some 300 hours of cover is provided between May and September during which the warden patrols the river in a small ‘rib’.  The role of the warden is to educate and advise users of the River and to prevent abuse of the statutory speed limits.  The HRA has contributed to the retention of the service by funding the purchase of a new outboard some years ago when the existence of the service was threatened by budgetary constraints.

This year Kerrier is seeking to outsource the provision of this (and other ‘beach services’)  and has negotiated with the RNLI to carry out the functions of the Warden Service.    It is unclear at the start of summer exactly how this is to be undertaken, but the RNLI has agreed to provide a similar level of cover as has been provided by Kerrier Leisure Services.   The HRA is in contact with the RNLI and hopes to be kept informed as to what exact form the new delivery of the service will take.   As well as the general operation of the service the question of how – and indeed if – legal enforcement of the Statutory By-Laws (speed limits) can be carried out  by the RNLI is a matter of interest to the River community and remains a ‘grey area’.

As a matter of interest, the Helford is nearly unique among waterways in the UK in having no statutory body such as  port or harbour authority operating to regulate affairs on the River.

POSTSCRIPT DECEMBER 2008

As events turned out, the RNLI subcontracted the Warden service to the Falmouth Port Authority – who in turn re-employed the original Kerrier warden using the original Kerrier boat.  The service operated for only the latter part of the season.   The Harbourmaster has indicated that a fuller service is likely to be operated in 2009 under his auspices and the HRA is attempting to liaise to ensure that an effective Warden service does in fact operate.   However, there are doubts as to whether any more substantial enforcement of the by-laws can be expected other than by giving the warden a more visible and perhaps a rather  more official looking appearance.