Implications of "The Cuts"

boatone

boatone

Well-Known Member
Joined
29 Jul 2001
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12,845
Location
Just a few cables from Boulters Lock
www.tmba.org.uk
It is becoming very obvious that the coalition is intent on pursuing a mantra that requires those that use services to be those that pay for them.
Last night huge increases in rail fares over the next four years were predicted and students paying for their own university education is already decided.

All this leads me to fear greatly for the likely effect of this on licence fees for use of the waterways.

Anyone else feeling concerned?
 
boatone said:
Not a single comment !!!

Are you all in denial or what?
Click to expand...

Well if members of Bray can afford to eat at Boulters Inn and cough up £80 for drinks, they are obviously all minted and able to afford a whopping increase of License fee?

So bring on the good times?

super-rich-asian-girl.jpg
 
I fear that Boatone's view of the situation is probably going to be spot on. We are always perceived as 'well-off', whatever that may mean. That means we will be 'fair game' in the new order of things, certainly for the next few years. The government does have a difficult task, though. They purport to be helping the poorer sections of the population (not sure about that!) and anything not in the general day-to-day living will be hit and there is no reason to believe that leisure boaters will not be in the firing line in terms of waterways costs etc.

My main worry is that there will be many good, hard working, honest boating types who have been struggling to enjoy their pastime will now be tipped over the edge and leave the waterways. This will not only be a crying shame for them, but also it could impact on the up-keep of the waterways themselves. Its obvious that government can't put any money towards any of the waterways at the moment, so there could be a few hard times ahead for boaters. I just hope that we won't lose too many.

Is anyone worried about having to give up their watery passion?

Mike
 
emjay said:
Is anyone worried about having to give up their watery passion?

Mike
Click to expand...

Frankly yes. And if I am expected to pay up for services I use then:-

I shall expect service, and written (mutually agreed) level agreements
I shall become very unwilling to pay for services I don't, or can't use.

That's going to mean the fishermen will need to find a few bob, as will the cyclists. More worryingly, it could lead, logically, to pay per lock cruising.
 
I seem to remember that in the 50s my Fathers boat was 3 shillings per lock return.
You could however buy a lock pass but I cannot remember if this was time or distance based.
Happy days
 
"That's going to mean the fishermen will need to find a few bob"

EA license is around £30 pa for course and £ 80 for trout, most clubs charge around £100.00 pa for membership and will pay landowner for fish rights.
Day ticket prices around £10.00 per day and as for the price of maggots.
 
Some good points on the forum.
The boaters are not the only users of the Thames.
Whilst we? all pay our licence fees, to my knowledge cyclists and walkers all benefit
from improvements which are funded by the E.A.
Perhaps the Lock staff should issue tickets to people passing through a Lock area.
This would ensure locks were manned during the working day.
 
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