Minehead.Difficult to believe

[1937rogerdon]

I was recently told of the mooring or berthing fee for visitors.
So checking the web site it's true £ 3.30 a M and no facilities .
Does,anybody with a yacht go there? Is this the dearest harbour
in the Bristol Channel.

 

[Allan]

Earlier this year we decided to stop for a tide at Minehead, it would have been a few hours at most. We were challenged by a guy, who I now know was a stand-in for the then sick harbour master. He asked each of us for £30. When we said it was not an overnight stop he said it was £30 for any length of stop. We left without paying and I phoned the council the next day who confirmed he was correct, £30 for any stop, no showers, public toilets (locked at night) and tap some way from the boats. I was told at the time it was because they needed to make the harbour more cost effective! ABSOLUTELY NO IDEA!
Allan

 

[wotayottie]

And its not even a proper harbour with all round shelter.

Mind you ,. isnt it the same outfit that run Combe? What are the rates there these days?

 

[Allan]

Minehead is Somerset, I understand that it now shares a harbour master with Watchet. Ilfracombe is NDDC, so I don't think they are linked. The prices there, apart from for anchoring, are quite reasonable. At least you get some facilities.
Allan

 

[Madhatter]

Well all I can say is disgusting, mind you the council is even more disgusting than the charges
My mooring has gone up substantially but I can't afford to move

 

[quimby]

I looked at the Harbour authority website to link the thread, but they will only accept good reviews by first party customers and nothing that borders on criticism.

 

[bert49uk]

as Alan says Ilfracombe has nothing to do with Minehead, fees at Ilfracombe did not go up this year, see
http://www.northdevon.gov.uk/index/...rbours/nonlgcl_ilfracombe_harbour_charges.htm

 

[Phild64]

Stopped there last year and was charged 30 quid for a night. Won't be going back.

 

[Madhatter]

Stopped there last year and was charged 30 quid for a night. Won't be going back.

Such short sighted charging is typical local authority feck ups, they seem to be clueless

 

[wotayottie]

as Alan says Ilfracombe has nothing to do with Minehead, fees at Ilfracombe did not go up this year, see
http://www.northdevon.gov.uk/index/...rbours/nonlgcl_ilfracombe_harbour_charges.htm

My error. I knew that Minehead was linked to another port but got the wrong one!

 

[Madhatter]

My error. I knew that Minehead was linked to another port but got the wrong one!

Mmmm ! , as far as I know Minehead and Watchet are not run by the same people but maybe owned by the council.

 

[graham]

How on earth can they justify charging more than a marina which offers full facilities?

Minehead is a nightmare with any east in the wind.

Bit of a shame that local businesses will lose revenue due to the councils short sightednes.

Can I suggest a letter campaign. Emails are too easy to delete. Maybe someone local can give us a name and address to offer our suggestions to.

Quite possibly my last visit to Minehead

 

[Madhatter]

"Can I suggest a letter campaign. Emails are too easy to delete. Maybe someone local can give us a name and address to offer our suggestions to."

To be honest with you I would not waste my time , we have the most incompetent council in the country who care nothing for local businesses and are too busy cow-towing to Butlins and their mates. Oh yes and wasting the ratepayers money with hair brained projects that always seem to fail and lose millions.
Anyway why would anyone want to moor in Minehead its a fair old walk to any of the towns diminishing amenities ( business rates too high and if you fart they think the world is coming to an end ) even Porlock has more to offer in the immediate surroundings.
All this from a local whose family can be traced back to the 1400s.

 

[diapason]

"Can I suggest a letter campaign. Emails are too easy to delete. Maybe someone local can give us a name and address to offer our suggestions to."

To be honest with you I would not waste my time , we have the most incompetent council in the country who care nothing for local businesses and are too busy cow-towing to Butlins and their mates. Oh yes and wasting the ratepayers money with hair brained projects that always seem to fail and lose millions. Including building a white elephant office 'palace' in Williton where they can laze around drinking tea and massaging their egos
Anyway why would anyone want to moor in Minehead its a fair old walk to any of the towns diminishing amenities ( business rates too high and if you fart they think the world is coming to an end ) even Porlock has more to offer in the immediate surroundings.
All this from a local whose family can be traced back to the 1400s.

My addition is bold type - from another (fairly) local

 

[sarabande]

OK, I haven't had good uprising for a couple of years (oo err, Mrs).

I'd be happy to take these short-sighted officials and councillors on regarding the charges. They are my local fonts of inactivity regarding so many issues, and focussing on raising awareness of the excessive charges would be a great pleasure.


I'll find some people and some info, and report back.

 

[Madhatter]

OK, I haven't had good uprising for a couple of years (oo err, Mrs).

I'd be happy to take these short-sighted officials and councillors on regarding the charges. They are my local fonts of inactivity regarding so many issues, and focussing on raising awareness of the excessive charges would be a great pleasure.


I'll find some people and some info, and report back.

Go for it !

 

[diapason]

Go for it !

+1

 

[Allan]

A few years ago Watchet charged £2.60/m for an overnight stay. They reduced this to about £2.00/m, presumably due to lack of visitors. It is now still expensive at £2.14/m which stops some people going but most seem to be like me and go once or twice a year. If you use that as a benchmark, Minehead should be less than £1.00/m. If they were to add pontoons, tidal gate, showers, toilets etc. £1.60-£1.80/m would be fair and attract money spending yachties to the town.
Allan

 

[RobF]

By way of comparison, I was in Cowes last week - the council run harbour charged me £13.80 for a 6m boat (or £2.30 a metre). Good facilities and I suspect a strong demand for berths. That's less than half the cost of Minehead.

 

[Madhatter]

A few years ago Watchet charged £2.60/m for an overnight stay. They reduced this to about £2.00/m, presumably due to lack of visitors. It is now still expensive at £2.14/m which stops some people going but most seem to be like me and go once or twice a year. If you use that as a benchmark, Minehead should be less than £1.00/m. If they were to add pontoons, tidal gate, showers, toilets etc. £1.60-£1.80/m would be fair and attract money spending yachties to the town.
Allan

Whilst I am in agreement with your sentiments, the viability of the 3 or 4 visitors moorings available would have very little effect on the towns finances even if they were to be occupied fully its just too far to walk to the town, maybe the pub and cafe should sponsor the moorings as they are the only beneficiary and they could provide facilities required ( if they don't go bust first ).
Mind you the council would fight that all the way and want about £10,000 pa for the honour