EA proposed revision of various charges

[boatone]

The EA are proposing to increase various lock side services charges as follows:
Pump out cards - £10.00, increased from £8.00 (market range £10.50-£12);
Camping , short stay - £7.00 / £10, increased from £5.50 / £8.00 respectively (market range £7.00 - £14);
Shower tokens - £6.00 standard rate, 50% discount of £3.00 for all Agency licensees and camping customers (market equivalent). Increased from a £2.50 flat rate;
Electrical charging available at base moorings – where unmetered, a flat rate fee of £100 to be charged – cost recovery basis from average use at typical metered sites (range of use £50 - £240);
Transient moorings at lock sites – rate increase of 50p on a site by site basis. Currently mooring fees range between £6.00 to £11.00 (comparable market rate);
Public short-stay (’visitor’) moorings - no change for 2013 (this requires a full review in 2013, being even more locally focussed and requiring fixed sign information)

An eight week consultation with user groups is now running and you can make your views known through the user groups you belong to - e.g. ATYC, TMBA, etc

 

[My She]

Mmmm - Thanks for that, Tony

 

[Chris_d]

Doesn't look excessive, although I have been on the river for over 30 years and never paid or used any of those services, with the exception of a mooring at Hurley lock once So I guess they don't pull in much money anyway.

 

[boatone]

Doesn't look excessive, although I have been on the river for over 30 years and never paid or used any of those services, with the exception of a mooring at Hurley lock once So I guess they don't pull in much money anyway.

More than you might think - I have heard around £300k mentioned. Some of these charges have not been reviewed for 5 years apparently.

Certainly nothing to object to IMHO.

 

[thames cruiser]

Indeed the charge increases do,seem quite reasonable. And it's rather refreshing to see the focus on getting more funds from somewhere other than the easy option of simply increasing licence fees!

Just one comment though, ...

L

Shower tokens - £6.00 standard rate, 50% discount of £3.00 for all Agency licensees and camping customers (market equivalent). Increased from a £2.50 flat rate;

Erm, how would we get a licensee reduction when the Lockie at Hurley actively refuses to give the shower key to boaters (even after getting mooring fees) cus he'd rather the facility was reserved for campers? (His lovely assistant normally hands out the key after he has left!!)

 

[boatone]

Erm, how would we get a licensee reduction when the Lockie at Hurley actively refuses to give the shower key to boaters (even after getting mooring fees) cus he'd rather the facility was reserved for campers? (His lovely assistant normally hands out the key after he has left!!)

If you encounter that problem again I would explain that you are entitled to the concession and if you are still refused complain directly to the EA.

 

[thames cruiser]

Cheers Tony. Actually, it won't be an issue now as I have a boat with a shower(!), but it did used to irritate me before when with a much smaller boat away for some days at a time, I really did need the shower (and so did my family!!), yet the Lockie seemed to think the facilities were pretty much reserved for the use of his campers (who were sometimes relatives!).