Bristol’s boat dwellers urge council to reconsider fee hikes

Members of Bristol Boaters Community Association (BBCA) are urging Bristol City Council to reconsider proposals to hike up fees for boat dwellers.

Under the proposed fees, pontoon mooring fees will increase from the variable rates of £158.10 to £188.20 to one rate of £250 per metre for leisure licenses, and to £325 per metre for residential licenses.

New additional fees will also be introduced of £100 for electric supply on top of the already increased unit cost.

Many of the increases are well above inflation, with several at least doubling.

Boats moored in Redcliffe Back and Welsh Back  – photo: Martin Booth

The council have said they examined the benchmark for the fees using comparisons to other harbours’ price marks.

But BBCA, which is made up of more than 140 members, argue the benchmark is too high, and that the council should have considered the quality of the facilities offered, as well as the provision of those services.

The association has set out a detailed report which compares the facilities offered in Bristol to those of other harbours around the UK such as Portishead Marina, Saltford Marina and Liverpool Marina.

They say that the photos in the report of other harbour facilities demonstrate that the amenities available in Bristol are not at a uniform standard, and instead fall far below that of those in the four marinas used in the council’s assessment.

A map indicating the services available to boat dwellers – map: Bristol City Council

The harbour master has said the fees were needed to upgrade facilities around the city’s docks, but members of BBCA say the current facilities are not sufficient, and should have been updated years ago.

“It’s like being in a one-star hotel but they want us to pay five-star prices,” said part-time boat dweller Tina Hallett, who has been working closely with BBCA chair, Mandy Sharman, to fight the proposed fee hikes.

Tina believes the provisions currently available to boat dwellers in the harbour are disproportionate to the fee hikes being introduced.

For people living on boats in the docks, the effect of these fee hikes will be huge, she said.

Under the fee hikes, owners of ‘a typical boat’ of 14 metres could see their annual fee increase by £1,375, from £2,375 to £3,750 this year.

“Marvin Rees said people who live in the harbour are privileged, but that’s just not true,” Tina added.

Mandy Sherman with her daughter, Primrose – photo: Martin Booth

In an opinion piece for Bristol24/7 in January, Mandy said the fees put forward were “shocking and surprising”.

“It’s more than a doubling of fees for the majority of people,” she wrote.

“Families and businesses are already struggling since the pandemic and the cost of living crisis, and this will be implemented in April with no opportunity to input any ideas. It has been done in an underhand way and with a lack of evidence.”

Boat dwellers in the privately-owned Bristol Marina can enjoy a large number of warm showers, a laundry room, gas and diesel collections, electrical points for each boat, wifi, parking, and a secure pontoon.

Bristol Marina, where boat dwellers are able to use laundry facilities, gas, diesel, wifi, electric vehicle charging points, electricity hubs and more – photo: Betty Woolerton

For boat dwellers in Bristol’s 16 council-owned mooring areas, however, there are only a small number of toilets and showers, 30-minute free parking, and electrical points for boats are hard to come by. Some don’t have water, electricity or proper waste disposal.

Most boats are also docked to a wall and it’s difficult to get permission for ramp access. One resident told Bristol24/7 they had been told to remove their ramp on their boat by the harbour master, despite being heavily pregnant with a second child.

There’s a stark contrast between people living only a few hundred yards apart, which will be made even more prevalent by the proposed fee hikes.

Bristol’s boat dwellers are urging the council to reconsider the implementation of fees until a comprehensive assessment has been made.

Their report states: “BBCA is not against a reasonable fee increase, but this should be implemented following improvements to safety/facilities in harbour which would be very much welcome from the harbour users.

“Reasonable increases and adequate notice however is essential.”

BBCA has launched a petition urging the council to reconsider the fee hikes and involve boat dwellers in the decision making process.

Main photo: Mia Vines Booth

Read more:

• Bristol harbour swimming pilot to begin in April
• Rees: ‘The harbour has become a financial drain on Bristol’
• Marvin Rees heckled by boaters over harbour fee hike

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