Scotland’s recreational boating community has united in opposition to Peel Ports Clydeport’s proposal to introduce a conservancy fee for leisure craft operating in the Clydeport area.
Concerns have been raised that the fee will restrict freedoms to sail in Scottish waters, harm marine tourism and impact small coastal communities.
The issue was discussed extensively at two meetings of the Scottish Parliament’s Cross-Party Group (CPG) on Recreational Boating and Marine Tourism on 24 September and 27 November. Despite invitations to attend, Peel Ports declined to participate in these discussions, a move that has drawn criticism from stakeholders.
Speaking after the November meeting, Stuart McMillan MSP, chair of the CPG, expressed the group’s collective frustration.
“The sector is rightly angry about this proposal, as the rationale for the charge does not appear to stand up to scrutiny,” McMillan said. “Members of the CPG are particularly frustrated that Peel Ports have twice turned down invites to our meetings to explain their proposals, leading the sector to feel like this is being imposed upon them without their input.
“While Peel Ports have said that they plan to begin their consultation with the sector after the new year, boaters feel like they have been treated with contempt. It was therefore agreed at [the 27 November] meeting that Peel Ports should abandon this proposal.
“Failing this, myself and other concerned MSPs have committed to work with the sector to identify if there are legislative steps that can be taken to challenge this fee. I set up this CPG in 2009, and though there have been a range of important issues affecting the sector in that time, the volume of correspondence and level of anger from the sector is nothing like I have seen before.”
The proposal has been met with widespread opposition from the boating community and related businesses. Key concerns include the feared negative economic impact, lack of transparency regarding the rationale behind the fee proposal, and that it puts an inequitable burden on small leisure craft rather than larger vessels.
Finlo Cottier, chief executive of RYA Scotland stated: “This is not about recreational boaters being unwilling to pay for their pastime — sailors have always expected to pay for harbour, berthing and mooring fees. This is about the imposition of a fee with no clear provision of service or facility across a huge part of the recreational boating community.
“Peel Ports have tried to equate the proposed fee to those applied in other harbours across the UK, but this does not stand up to scrutiny. The Clyde is unique in the UK in its size and character, and the Clydeport area which Peel Port controls extends well beyond the commercial shipping channels.”
Stakeholders have urged Peel Ports to abandon the proposed fee or, at a minimum, conduct genuine consultations with all relevant parties, including RYA Scotland, Sail Scotland and British Marine Scotland.
