Narrowboat owners are mounting a blockade in fees row
08 November 2006 - 11:35
Narrowboat owners are mounting a blockade on a Cheshire canal in protest at a hike in their mooring fees.
Bridgewater Canal owner Peel Holdings is introducing new charges which could see some owners' fees more than double.
The Federation of Bridgewater Cruising Clubs is packing boats down the canal at Lymm, near Warrington, in a bid to get the company to reconsider.
Peel Holdings said the change was to bring charges up to the level paid by other boat owners on the water.
Narrowboat owners in clubs are being asked to pay 50p a week for smaller craft up to £2 a week for larger vessels, the company said.
Keith Moore, chairman of the clubs' federation, said it meant the owner of an average 50ft boat, who currently pays about £178 a year, would see fees increased to about £471.
"Everybody agrees that prices do have to increase but these kind of increases are far in excess of what anybody can afford over such a short period of time," said Mr Moore.
"We are trying to create a visual protest to show that these kind of increases are not going to be taken easily."
If approved, fees will increase over the next four years.
Fees discussed
Mike Webb, general manager of the canal, said the increases would affect less than 50% of the boats currently using the water.
Narrowboat owners in clubs currently pay much smaller fees than other owners, he said.
"We want to remove this anomaly and ensure they are paying a fair cost," said Mr Webb.
"People are entitled to protest against things they don't like. Nobody likes an increase in fees but it is only proper that people pay a fair share."
The Bridgewater Trust, which is made up of representatives from local authorities along the canal and Peel Holdings, will discuss the fees at a meeting on Friday.
