No chatting to customers boat operators warned
BOAT operators in a Westcountry seaside town face a ban on talking to potential customers on the quayside.
Operators of boat trips from Ilfracombe Harbour say North Devon Council’s plans to prevent them from advertising by “word-of-mouth” will have a massive effect on their livelihoods.
The council is carrying out a consultation on plans to introduce a Public Spaces Protection Order (PSPO) at the harbour which, if approved, will see boat owners banned from handing out leaflets or “touting” for trade by word-ofmouth.
Public Spaces Protection Orders are designed to deal with a particular nuisance in a particular area that is having a detrimental effect on the quality of life for those in the local community. The council says the proposal will create “a level playing field for all operators”. But the operators say the plans are ridiculous and unfair.
Mark Hutchings, who operates fishing and diving trips through his company Bristol Channel Charters, said: “We are outraged about this. We knew nothing about it until the consultation was announced.
“I’ve got half a million pounds invested in boats at the harbour and we need to be able to talk to people.
“They say there have been reports of people aggressively hounding visitors for business but I have never seen that. Why would any of us do that, it would be completely counterintuitive.”
Mark says he believes the public will miss out if the proposed PSPO is passed by the council. He said: “It’s not just our businesses that we promote.
“If people aren’t interested in coming on a boat trip, we still tell them about all the wonderful accommodation, restaurants and attractions there are in the town.
“If we can’t talk to people, we can’t do that. It will have a massive effect on our business. It also feels like the council are really giving us an ultimatum with this – it’s like they’re saying ‘it’s our way or no way’. It’s ridiculous and feels very unfair.”
But Ilfracombe Harbour master, Captain Georgina Carlo-Paat said she had received reports from members of the public annoyed at the amount of leafletting going on at the harbour. “For this reason, the council is consulting on the use of a PSPO to restrict leafletting or touting to defined areas. Once the results of the consultation are known, the issue will be reported to Full Council for a decision as to whether to proceed,” she said.
“I would invite all interested members of the public or businesses, whether in favour of a restriction or not, to submit their comments to us. I can assure everyone that these comments will be taken into account when taking a decision.”
North Devon Council said in a statement that a number of licensed boat trip providers operate from Ilfracombe Harbour. “In the busy summer months, ticket sales can become competitive,” it added. “The proposed PSPO is intended to give a more balanced opportunity for boat trip providers to secure customers.
“The proposed PSPO will restrict the soliciting of services at Ilfracombe Harbour by word of mouth, handing out leaflets or other means, unless under the express terms of a licence or the written permission of the Harbourmaster or an authorised council officer.”
Executive member responsible for community safety, Councillor Pat Barker, said: “There is a fantastic choice of boat trips available at the harbour, from fishing trips to dolphin cruises. The PSPO will ensure there is a level playing field for all operators and that visitors can make their own choices about which excursions to choose.
“Our Harbourmaster has already discussed the proposed PSPO with the Ilfracombe Harbour Board and Harbour Forum. Anyone affected by the plans can talk to our Harbourmaster or go online for more information.”
In the past PSPOs have been issued to ensure dog owners keep their pets under control in a public place or to ban the consumption of alcohol. When deciding whether to introduce an order, the local authority must consider whether the behaviour is having a detrimental effect or is of a persistent nature making the behaviour unreasonable and rendering the notice justified.