Authority’s surprise 60% price hike
Inland boat owners of East Anglia claim the Environment Agency (EA) has launched a massive price hike on their boats that is not reflected across all of its waterways.
A consultation on the new pricing structure closes on 16 September and boating organisations in the Nene and Great Ouse rivers have vowed to make their voices heard.
In the proposal the EA claims its change in payment calculations will yield an increase in revenue of 6% in 2022, 4% in 2023, 0% in 2024 and that of 3,946 boaters: 1,080 will see a reduction, and 1,183 an increase of under £50.
But campaigner Ben Jones, a boatyard owner in the area, warns, “Having studied the figures in the 90-page document more closely, the real picture for boats on the Great Ouse and Nene is very stark.
• The charges for a typical 24-30ft river cruiser will rise over 40% next year.
• An additional compound rise of 4% in 2023.
• Larger cruisers over 30ft face a rise of up to 60%.
• This is in addition to a 24% rise in the river licence over the last five years.
“The proposed increases are heavily biased towards the Anglian Waterways over boats navigating on the more affluent river Thames (also managed by the Environment Agency)
• The base rate is 10 x higher for boats on Anglian Waterways (£159) than the River Thames (£15.90).
• The proposed river licence on the Thames will be approx. 20% cheaper than that on Anglian Waterways.” For example, a 31ft Sheerline 950 will see a 51% increase in standing charges from £552 to £838 per year. The same boat in the Thames would see an 18% increase to £689. A Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (DEFRA) spokesman said: “The level of £159 in 2022 for Anglian Waterways has been set at a level to ensure a best fit for the move from the current length-only charging mechanism to an area-based charge, with the minimum annual length charge being currently £171. Thames charges already use an area-based charge mechanism, so there is less impact from the proposals and therefore the proposed base rate (of £15.90) can be lower.” Gov.uk/government/ news/consultation-launchedon-fairer-and-simpler-boatregistration-scheme