Clyde Estuary - Leisure Vessel Charge for Use

[awol]

Adobe Acrobat - What it's about.

Basically, if you keep your boat north of the lines between Kintyre/Cock of Arran and Brodick/South of Troon, Peel Ports are planning to charge a "Conservancy Fee", and yes, they are serious!


Maybe it's a long-winded April Fool's joke for 2025 as that's when, I understand, it is to come live.

 

[dunedin]

I have heard rumblings about this, but not seen anything official from Peel Ports with their proposals - let alone a consultation process? Is there a link to the proposals.
This would probably be by far the largest area of water covered by any annual harbour dues.

 

[awol]

I would expect that the powers granted to Peel Ports gives them carte blanche to do whatever they wish without consultation. East of No1 Buoy I can understand but this is ridiculous.

 

[awol]

I have heard rumblings about this, but not seen anything official from Peel Ports with their proposals - let alone a consultation process? Is there a link to the proposals.
This would probably be by far the largest area of water covered by any annual harbour dues.

Click on the Adobe Acrobat link in #1

 

[Geoff Wode]

Is that up to £120pa x all the leisure boats in the Clyde? That’s a very tidy sum.

 

[GEM43]

Adobe Acrobat - What it's about.

Basically, if you keep your boat north of the lines between Kintyre/Cock of Arran and Brodick/South of Troon, Peel Ports are planning to charge a "Conservancy Fee", and yes, they are serious!

View attachment 184478
Maybe it's a long-winded April Fool's joke for 2025 as that's when, I understand, it is to come live.

Hmmmm. I can see Troon marina becoming more popular!

 

[Aja]

That will increase pressure on marinas and moorings further north.

Looks as if boats will have to display some sort of registration number a la Spain?

How Peel Ports got their new container cranes past planning is a wonder. Painted bright red and taller they are visible for miles. Large brown envelope I would suspect.

Will that include transit or paying through the area?

 

[RunAgroundHard]

Subscription revenue charging is now gaining momentum with organizations adopting this practice as an untapped revenue stream, with dubious justifications. It is a model that has been developed to provide long term, regular income and is actively promoted by business consultants. It’s nothing new, but the scope of application has grown significantly over the last decade and into business sectors that were not obvious for subscription modeling.

RYA Scotland may be looking at this and I suggest, if you disagree to take the matter up with them, in the first instance, and your MP, MSP. representation

Oban Bay harbor management is currently being proposed to change via a Harbor Revision Order proposed by Argyll and Bute Council, and you can bet your last dollar that they will also implement a subscription service if the HRO comes to pass at some future point. Personally, I would not be too bothered if a council, rather than a private company got the money and there were tangible benefits. However, the HRO does not provide any tangible benefits in my opinion.

Likely, what will happen is that RYA Scotland will be light on the matter, although they will likely express an opinion and concern to Peel Ports, the wider boating public in the catchment area will mostly stay silent and it will come to pass. The boating community outside the catchment area will shrug their shoulders en mass. Meanwhile, the revenue stream will feed into the profits for the owners of the company without actually providing any additional services or improving existing services.

If you feel strongly, write to RYA Scotland, your MP and MSP expressing your reasons why you object. There are probably other bodies like Transport Scotland who can be contacted as well, via Transport Scotland Minster, Fiona Hyslop. Cabinet Secretary for Transport

 

[RunAgroundHard]

Is that up to £120pa x all the leisure boats in the Clyde? That’s a very tidy sum.

According to Sail Scotland there are 5000 yachts on the Clyde, so £609k if all were eligible to pay, so not that much at the end of the day. Peel Ports turnover was £690 million in 2022 with £390 odd million profit.

 

[john_morris_uk]

According to Sail Scotland there are 5000 yachts on the Clyde, so £609k if all were eligible to pay, so not that much at the end of the day. Peel Ports turnover was £690 million in 2022 with £390 odd million profit.

They need the revenue then… not!

I’m at a YC dinner next Friday at the Royal Northern in Rhu. There will be a few senior yachtsmen there from the Clyde and surrounding areas. I might ask a few questions.

 

[RunAgroundHard]

They need the revenue then… not!

I’m at a YC dinner next Friday at the Royal Northern in Rhu. There will be a few senior yachtsmen there from the Clyde and surrounding areas. I might ask a few questions.

Thank you for that, if you think there is an opportunity to raise the subject.

 

[Porthandbuoy]

Thin end of wedge methinks. Next thing it will be compulsory qualifications, specific safety equipment, fines for failing to show correct lights/motoring cones/anchor balls.

 

[awol]

Thin end of wedge methinks. Next thing it will be compulsory qualifications, specific safety equipment, fines for failing to show correct lights/motoring cones/anchor balls.

Well, if you find those things less than acceptable in waters that are not known for problems that they would solve, you can spread the word and drop a line to your MSP.

 

[Bodach na mara]

Peel Ports operate some (but not all) of the land-based infrastructure of the estuary. They also operate the Pilotage service. What makes them think that they have any right to control an charge marine activity on the water?

Or to misquote "The Life of Brian" what have Peel Ports done for us?

 

[RunAgroundHard]

The right comes from the Harbour Revision Order that gives then the authority to run the port. So they have a right to charge. I don’t know if this was intended to be how the HRO was to be implemented but I do think the relevant clause would have been deliberately drafted loosely.

 

[dgadee]

Privatisation of public goods. Long history in the UK. Absentee landlordIsm too?

 

[RivalRedwing]

They've been charging this on the Medway for decades, I had best not comment on the wonderful benefits that it delivers

 

[Aja]

Can't see a boatyard on the Clyde launching a boat in the spring which then heads straight for the Mull or the canal and notifying Peel Ports that they have done so.

 

[dgadee]

They've been charging this on the Medway for decades, I had best not comment on the wonderful benefits that it delivers

How much?

 

[RivalRedwing]

How much?

I've moved away (to the Orwell), this from last year:



Per square mile of water I would suggest that the Clyde has the better deal (not that I am supporting its imposition)