Say no to 5.7%

boatone

boatone

Well-Known Member
Joined
29 Jul 2001
Messages
12,845
Location
Just a few cables from Boulters Lock
www.tmba.org.uk
If you object to the proposals to increase Thames Registration Charges by 5.7% for both 2019 and 2020 you may like to let your fellow boaters know by printing and displaying this A4 poster on both sides of your boat. A small gesture but easy, cheap and effective and may help make other river users aware that we boaters are now bearing the lions share of funding the river.
SAYNOTO57.jpg
 
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boatone said:
If you object to the proposals to increase Thames Registration Charges by 5.7% for both 2019 and 2020 you may like to let your fellow boaters know by printing and displaying this A4 poster on both sides of your boat. A small gesture but easy, cheap and effective and may help make other river users aware that we boaters are now bearing the lions share of funding the river.
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Would rather pay EA than be forced to pay TVM OR DE.Would be happy to pay an extra £100 P.A. and have the EAMoorings unmanaged and un molested.
 
A1Sailor said:
Do you need to update your signature?:p
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Not at all - although I have just changed it for a while.

Nothing inconsistent at all. I am happy (proud) to pay for and display my registration - a mere £750 or so this year - and many pay more.
What I am not happy about is being asked to pay above inflation increases when so much revenue is going uncollected. There is more money being lost through evasion and inadequate enforcement than will be collected by these increases. Why should we pay more just to subsidise those who choose to try and evade paying their dues ?

A relatively small exercise last week in the reach above Hurley revealed 9 boats out of 47 without a current licence - 20%

There is a much greater issue coming into sharp focus - these increases do not even start to address the deficit in funding - now some £15million or so - and will do little to balance the budget. The EA are the authority responsible for managing, maintaining and funding the waterway and we need to see positive and bold proposals to overcome the funding issues, not just s few sticky plaster exercises which will not solve the problem.
 
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Have you taken your own advice,given many times on here and reported them?.....or have the blinkers finally come off regarding the EA and you now realise what many have been saying for a long time.....that the EA are woefully inadequate when it comes to this and many if not all matters relating to the Thames.
 
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Flynnbarr said:
Have you taken your own advice,given many times on here and reported them?.....or have the blinkers finally come off regarding the EA and you now realise what many have been saying for a long time.....that the EA are woefully inadequate when it comes to this and many if not all matters relating to the Thames.
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The exercise was conducted by the EA themselves as one of their so called "flag days". This effort has largely come about because of the increasing pressure from user reps - including myself.
 
A1Sailor said:
By how much has it increased in the past 10 years?
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Oh well - I'll just need to find out myself, then:
The Environment Agency has confirmed today (Friday 10 November) that boat registration charges for the waterways it manages will increase in 2018/19.

The increases are the first since 2015/16 which marked the end of a three year period of minimal increases linked to the Consumer Price Index (CPI). Implementing these increases is essential to help deliver the navigation service.
https://www.rboa.org.uk/environment-agency-confirms-boat-registration-charges-to-rise-in-201819/
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Unchanged since 2015?
Three years linked to the retail price index from 2012-2015?
I'll try and find info from 2008-2012 but it would be much simpler if somebody who knows could reply...
 
A1Sailor said:
Oh well - I'll just need to find out myself, then:

Unchanged since 2015?
Three years linked to the retail price index from 2012-2015?
I'll try and find info from 2008-2012 but it would be much simpler if somebody who knows could reply...
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Thames registration charge in 2008 was £14.07 per sq. metre.
It is now £19.60 per sq. metre and the proposed 5.7% increase for next two years would take that to £21.89 per sq.m.


Consumer Price Index has risen by 26.69% between January 2008 and January 2018

EA Thames registration charge has risen by 39.30% in same period.

EA Thames registration charge has risen by nearly 1.5 times more than CPI over the last 10 years.
 
JumbleDuck said:
How much use do rowing clubs make of locks, moorings and pump-out facilities? How much dredging is required for an eight? For what proportion of the year is the average rowing club boat afloat?
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Locks - not a lot but they do
pump-outs - several of those don't work for anyone
dredging - no - they're always in midstream
how long afloat - all year

The amount they pay is pitiful....
 
Pump outs are poorly maintained and expensive. I went through Bray lock with two coach boats today; they floored it creating a riducous amount of wash and while we were locking I saw that the licence displayed on one coach boat was for 2010!
 
JumbleDuck said:
Really? All the eights (and fours and pairs etc) I have seen lived upside down in boathouses and were in the water for at most a few hours per week.
But probably proportionate to the use they make of the facilities?
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Duh! - OK "used" , not "afloat" or even "in use" Many go out at crack of dawn - so you never see them.
The registration fee is not for the use of the 'facilities' but for being on the water in the first place.

Do you want a return to the old system that's still in use for some commercial operations where you pay for individual lockage?
Whoops - I've met boaters who proudly said "we don't use locks - just go up and down between the locks near our marina!
 
.....did attempt to go on the EA consultation website.
.got dumped halfway through.
Will have another go later...............may have to start again or hopefully just carry on and pick up where left off...
Just been back and finished.
Mainly interested in Medway but must confess that to date our experience of the Thames during our brief visits has been very positive indeed.
Friendly approach from Thames mooring chap at Runnymeade explaining the new set up.
All locks were manned, except one, all staff were attentive and helpful and no problems with either depth or trees from Teddington to Cookham.
Noticable increase in number of vacant spots at "honeypot" locations !
 
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