BW moorings tender trial consultation

Ahead of the full consultation, a draft interim paper is available and provides further opportunity for interested individuals to help shape the content of the full consultation. The interim paper, which has been sent to waterway interest groups and private individuals who have logged specific interest in the trial, is downloadable from the BW website.

Must not unfairly undercut private mooring operators

Sally Ash, British Waterways' head of boating developments, comments: "BW is tasked by government to set mooring prices at the 'market' rate and must not unfairly undercut private mooring operators. The consultation will therefore not be about how high or low mooring prices should be, but about how the prices for all long term BW moorings customers should be set and the best way for vacancies to be allocated.

"As well as assessing the success or otherwise of the mooring tenders trial, the consultation will examine the merits of modifying the tendering system alongside other options for pricing and allocating mooring vacancies, such as open auctions, lotteries, an estate agency approach proposed by the IWA and of course, the previous waiting list system."

As the half way point in the trial of mooring tenders approaches, 135 vacancies have been tendered resulting in 104 mooring contracts. Although just over one in five moorings have been secured at less than the current guide price, the average annual price of allocated contracts has been approximately £100 per metre, a premium of 19% above current prices.

Research suggests that the trial is reaching a much wider audience than existing BW boaters. In addition, short moorings are proving much less popular and attract fewer tenders as do very basic sites with limited facilities. On average around 27 vacancies are advertised on the trial tendering website at any one time and include a variety of mooring locations across the BW network.

Vacancies are listed at www.bwmooringvacancies.co.uk.