THE Environment agency has announced that it is to increase its boat registration charges next year.
However it has informed boaters that this will be by less than 2%, and it may be remembered that unlike British Waterways there was no increase this year.
However, David Mercer of the Great Ouse Boating Association reminds us that the Environment Agency has stated that any licence fee increase should not increase the overall cost of boating by more than 2%—the licence fee being a relatively small part of that overall cost. A rather clever piece of statistical spin by the agency, with in fact, increases of 10% plus inflation being suggested for the East Anglian waterways.
Same or better condition
The Environment Agency informs us that it will keep its locks and weirs in either the same or better condition, but needs the extra cash to do so, as public funding has been reduced.
Reducing management and 'back office' staff and part-time workers has reduced costs, with volunteers taking over the part time jobs working with the lock keepers on its rivers.
Proposals considered
The proposals were considered at the National Navigation Users Forum in late August, and will be further examined this month with the Waterway Working Group for the Thames and later this month with the Regional Navigation Group for Anglian Waterways.
It is expected that the results will be announced in November.