Peel Ports Clydeport's proposal to implement a £100 annual fee for small boat owners using the Firth of Clyde has sparked widespread backlash. Critics argue the fee will stifle leisure tourism and unfairly target traditional activities like fishing.
Plans to impose a £100 annual fee on small boat owners using the Firth of Clyde have sparked widespread criticism. Peel Ports Clydeport, the harbour authority governing 450 square miles of the river and adjacent waters, argues the 'leisure vehicle conservancy fee' is necessary to cover the costs of managing leisure activities and responding to accidents.
The fee, applicable to boats between 6m and 24m in length, has been met with resistance from small boat owners, leisure groups, and local politicians who claim it will harm leisure tourism and unfairly penalise traditional activities like fishing across a vast area. The charging zone could encompass a significant stretch of the Firth of Clyde, extending from Albert Bridge in Glasgow as far as the island of Arran, and including sea lochs such as Loch Fyne and Gare Loch.While conservancy fees are commonly levied by harbours to finance services and upkeep, they are typically imposed on larger commercial vessels based on their gross tonnage. In contrast, Forth Ports exempts leisure craft in the Firth of Forth and on the Tay, and Argyll & Bute Council adopts a similar approach around Oban. However, Peel Ports already charges small boat owners at another port it operates in Medway, Kent, and intends to introduce charges for the Clyde from this year. A consultation document proposes a £100 + VAT annual fee for boats frequently sailing in the Clydeport area, a £75 fee for summer-only use, and a daily charge for visiting vessels. Peel Ports maintains that the funds are essential to offset rising costs associated with managing leisure vessel activity, including the survey, marking, and recovery of abandoned vessels, maintaining navigational aids, and supporting approximately 450 annual leisure events within their jurisdiction. They have pledged to conduct a formal consultation, providing all marine users with an opportunity to express their views.The Port Glasgow Boating Club, a small, member-run group in Inverclyde, is among those vehemently opposing the fee plan. Club members, who have not been consulted on the matter, view the charge as an 'extortion' of the leisure boating community. Craig Scholte, an offshore worker and club member, contends that the fee would render recreational boating unaffordable for older individuals who rely on it as a social outlet. He questions the benefit the fee would provide him, stating that he wouldn't receive any tangible difference in services compared to the additional £75-£100 annual cost. Scholte emphasizes that the club's members would handle vessel recovery in case of emergencies, rather than relying on Peel Ports. He considers the fee unreasonable given the financial advantages Peel Ports enjoys. Many club members are retired men who previously worked on the Clyde, including those from the nearby Fergusons shipyard. Several gather daily at a small hut in the boatyard for socialization and tea, even when not using their boats. Scholte expresses concern about the fee's impact on his personal finances, stating it could force him to make difficult choices.He criticizes Peel Ports' lack of community engagement, noting their acceptance of grants without contributing back to local initiatives or engaging in consultations. He expresses outrage at Peel Ports' substantial profits, hundreds of thousands per year, and their apparent indifference towards the boating community. The Royal Yachting Association has conveyed its concerns to Peel Ports, acknowledging the harbour authority's right to impose charges but stressing that the law requires them to be 'for very specific services and be reasonable'. Greenock and Inverclyde MSP Stuart McMillan, who leads Holyrood's cross-party group on recreational boating, has initiated a petition against the plan. In an open letter to Peel Ports director Jim McSporran, McMillan highlights the unanimous concern that the marine tourism economy will suffer as boaters are deterred from sailing within Clydeports' waters. This petition has garnered cross-party support, leading to a parliamentary debate. Peel Ports have been invited to participate in discussions with MSPs and boating industry representatives on two occasions but have declined both invitations
SMALL BOAT OWNERS FIRTH OF CLYDE PEEL PORTS CONSERVANCY FEES LEISURE TOURISM BOATING INDUSTRY COMMUNITY OUTCRY
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