Licence Fee Consultation

Release Date: 11 October 2007

The Inland Waterways Association today issued a forthright condemnation of both British Waterways’ proposals to increase licence fees by approximately 9% per year in real terms over the next three years, (a compound increase of nearly 33% overall),  and of the consultation itself.

IWA cannot condone such excessive price rises above the rate of inflation. By introducing these proposals, British Waterways is adding to an ever increasing burden that boaters are being called on to bear, which has included higher Boat Safety Scheme charges; fuel prices likely to treble in price following the planned removal of derogation on Red Diesel; and higher mooring fees.  IWA is concerned that British Waterways will simply price people, especially those with fixed incomes, off the waterways - to the detriment of all who value the colour and vibrancy that everyone acknowledges boaters give to the waterscape.

IWA additionally criticises BW’s consultation document because it fails to consult about the level of price increase and merely seeks views about the detail and manner in which the higher charges will be introduced.

Roger Squires, deputy IWA national chairman said “If we are to attract people to the waterways, then a proper and effective system of fairly funding them is required. Many waterside businesses rely on passing boaters’ trade; the hire boat industry relies on offering an affordable yet quality product. Swingeing increases like this will simply deter people from going on the waterways, to the ultimate detriment of the £6 billion regeneration they have so far promoted.”

He went on to say: “The boater is being 'mugged' as the easy target that is visible. We have all seen from the 'Save our Waterways' Campaign that boaters are only 3% of the users, the other 97% are not being 'mugged' simply because they are not such an easy touch. What about 'protection for the boaters’? “

IWA intends to formally respond to the consultation once it has guaged the views of members.

Ends

For more information please contact:

Jo Gilbertson

Campaign Coordinator

01923 711114

Jo.Gilbertson@waterways.org.uk

Notes for Editors

British Waterways’ Consultation of Boat Owners over Licence Increases to Fund Waterways

British Waterways says it is consulting its stakeholders, principally boat owners, regarding the need to raise annual licence fees significantly between April 2008 and March 2011 to help keep the waterways in a ‘fit for purpose’ state. BW claim that over £120 million each year is needed simply to maintain the waterways to a basic ‘fit for purpose’ standard and has forced the conclusion that it is necessary for boat licence holders to increase their contribution to these costs so that licence income will increase by about £5 million in 2010/11 on the forecast for 2007/08 of just under £13 million.

Part of this increased contribution will come from a “modest growth” in boat numbers and improvements in the collection of fees. The remainder, however, must be generated by price increases for the majority of boat licences of approximately 9% per year in real terms over the next three years.

The proposals are a change to BW's previously established method of setting annual licence fees, determined following consultation in 2002. The new consultation started on 8 October 2007 and BW has set a deadline for responses of 7 January 2008.

A copy of BW 's consultation document is available at http://www.waterways.org.uk/News/OtherCampaigns/LicenceFeeConsultation

The Inland Waterways Association

The Inland Waterways Association (IWA) is a registered charity, founded in 1946, which advocates the conservation, use, maintenance, restoration and development of the inland waterways for public benefit.

IWA has about 18,000 members whose interests include boating, towing path walking, industrial archaeology, nature conservation and many other activities associated with the inland waterways.  Information provided by 188 corporate members with their own membership structures has revealed that they, in themselves, have a combined membership of at least 59,500 in support of IWA's voice.

IWA works closely with navigation authorities, other waterway bodies, a wide range of national and local authorities, voluntary, private and public sector organisations to raise funds, lobby for support and encourage public participation in the inland waterways.

More than 500 miles of canals and navigable rivers have been re-opened to public use since the Association was founded in 1946.  Currently another 500 miles of derelict inland waterways are the subject of restoration plans.