COVID-19 Update: EYH into Tier 4 from Boxing Day

The following is the guidance we have had from TYHA:

Marina businesses in Tier 4 can remain open as can boatyard operations including lift out, boat repair/refit subject to maintaining all current COVID-19 operating practices. Local boat owners can access and use their boats on their own or with their household/support bubble. Boat owners should not travel out of a Tier 4 area to visit or use their boat.

Government guidance states that people ‘should not travel into a Tier 4 area from another part of the UK’ other than for specific reasons which does not include sport or recreation. Therefore, if your marina is in Tier 4 your customers should not travel to it if they live in Tier 1, 2 or 3.

Government guidance states that ‘If you need to travel you should stay local – meaning avoiding travelling outside of your village, town or the part of a city where you live – and look to reduce the number of journeys you make overall.’ Therefore boat owners should not be encouraged to travel any significant distance to access their boat and should only do this on their own, with the people they live with, their support bubble or with one person from another household.

Government guidance states that the population should not stay ‘overnight away from your main home unless permitted by law.’ Therefore overnight stays on boats are not permitted in Tier 4 except for specific reasons (which includes if the boat is a primary residence) stated in government guidance.

We have sought clarity from government on accessing boats in Tier 4 areas from other Tiers for maintenance purposes, their response is as follows:

Boat maintenance. Whilst there is specific reference within Tiers 1 to 3 for travel for purposes of maintaining “assets including second homes, caravans and boats” , for Tier 4 the travel restrictions are understandably much tighter. “People in Tier 4 areas must stay at home and not travel out of Tier 4. They may only leave for a limited number of exempt reasons, like work, education or caring purposes.” Under Tier 4, there is no exception for the purposes of securing or maintaining assets. Should there be critical health and safety risks which require immediate attention then the caveat of ‘reasonable excuse’ might be possible within the regulations; this would need to be a case-by-case decision for individuals and organisations to take to ensure they are compliant with the regulations as the baseline expectation is no non-essential travel.”

Please be aware that The Deck restaurant is closed but The Deck trailer remains open.