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2012 mooring permit price review complete
British Waterways (BW) has completed its three-yearly market-pricing review for 12 month mooring permits to apply in England and Wales from April 2012. Following the review, customers on BW moorings will see an average price increase of 2.6% - although there will be no price increase for customers moored at over half of BW’s directly managed sites.
The pricing review takes into account the condition, facilities, occupancy levels, strength of local demand and changes in supply at each individual BW mooring site in England and Wales. As a result of the review mooring customers on leisure sites will face an average increase of 1.6%. On average, those on residential sites will see a 4% rise, but in London, where demand is strongest, the average increase will be 8%.
Jenny Whitehall, BW’s National Moorings Manager explains: “Our regional mooring teams have spent a lot of time researching their local moorings market and understanding the price trends of tendered vacancies. The economic environment is still challenging and that’s reflected in the fact that 220 of our 413 directly managed sites won’t have any increase at all and seven will actually see a price reduction”.
Alan Wildman, Chair of the Residential Boat Owners’ Association (RBOA), comments: "Whilst the RBOA still has reservations about the moorings auction scheme itself, we are impressed by the amount of work and thought that BW has invested into these pricing reviews. It is perfectly right and proper that increased costs borne by the moorings operator are recovered through moorings charges and it is clear that this is exactly what BW are doing. Some residential mooring fees continue to rise faster than inflation which is extremely regrettable.
"The upside, though, is that BW is urgently seeking ways to increase the availability of legitimate residential moorings and as this happens we are confident that the related mooring fees will stabilise somewhat. RBOA looks forward to a continuing and positive dialogue with BW/CRT on behalf of residential boaters throughout the UK."
Jenny continues: “We recognise that times are tough for our customers and want to ensure that the small minority who have increases of more than 5% have as much time as possible to plan for the new prices. Over the next week, I’ll be writing to every one of them to explain how we’ve reached our decision and what it means for them. I’ll also be blogging on waterscape about the price review and I encourage boaters to have a read and join in what will be an undoubtedly lively discussion.”
Last updated: 23/02/2012
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