Public enquiry into Bembridge Harbour dues
- Sun, 20 Dec 2009
Bembridge mooring holders could be in line for a substantial refund after a public enquiry is held in January to determine whether harbour dues charged by Bembridge Harbour Improvements Company (BHIC) for the past four years have been excessively high.
Harbour dues of £100 per boat were imposed on moorings in the Isle of Wight harbour from 2006, but they excluded boats on BHIC moorings and pontoon berths whose charges, said the company, already included the dues.
Bembridge Harbour Users Group (BHUG) launched an appeal under Section 31 of the 1964 Harbours Act against the level of the dues, and submitted further appeals covering each subsequent year.
The public enquiry will be the first into harbour dues to be held by the Department for Transport (DfT) and is expected to last up to two weeks.
Berthing contracts over the last four years have included harbour dues so, if the DfT rules in favour of the Bembridge Harbour Users Group, BHIC could be landed with a substantial bill.
Have your say!
Latest comments
December 20 12:10
Pete
£100 a year is hardly over the top and if it pays for improvements for visitors then so much the better.
December 20 22:17
John Harbour
Interesting that the article in Saturday's Times (19th Dec) about the harbour being put up for sale there was no mention made of this Inquiry. Mind you, nor are a number of other potential problem areas. Although no price has yet been stated, the article suggests a price of £3m which in my view is probably at least twice what anyone sensible should consider offering!
December 22 17:20
pat
How interesting - but I think Bembridge is not alone in charging excessive harbour dues. Like many others, I pay harbour dues in Chichester Harbour of £80.00 approx (2009) for mooring a small yacht on a mud mooring - which goes to the harbour authorities. This is over and above the very high mooring rental cost which also goes to the harbour authorities. Given the number of boats in Chichester harbour - this does seem excessive.