Petition opposes above-inflation mooring fee rises
A petition to oppose any above-inflation mooring fee increases has been launched by local boatowners.
Guernsey Boatowners Association president Nick Guillemette said that at the March States meeting several deputies had said they had only received just more than a dozen letters of objection to the 2024 mooring charges out of 1,600 local mooring holders. They took that to mean that other leisure boat owners must be happy with the proposed hefty increases.
Mr Guillemette said this was totally untrue and very misleading.
‘As a result, we have combined with the local marine trade and all of the boating associations to produce this petition and we need as many folk as possible to support us and our objections,’ he said.
‘Whether you are a boatowner or just a supporter, please ensure you don’t delay and sign.’
He added that they believed the current charges were inequitable and would be to the long-term detriment of the local leisure marine user groups and those within the local marine industry.
‘The facilities provided by Guernsey Harbours to local leisure berth holders fall well short of facilities available in other ports and we continue to believe that comparisons to other ports are misleading and an attempt to charge for facilities that are both sub-standard and in some instances not even provided,’ he said.
Mr Guillemette said he believed the proposed increases were used to cover the losses incurred at Guernsey Airport.
‘There is good reason to suggest that the evidence commissioned by and provided to the STSB and subsequently to the States members was highly selective and skewed,’ he said.
‘And did not reflect fairly the whole market or the qualitive difference of the offerings of the more comprehensive analysis undertaken by the Guernsey Marine Traders Association and the GBA.’
Copies of this petition are available at Marine & General, Boatworks, Herm Seaway, AB Marine, Sunsport Marine, Fastcraft, Guernsey Yacht Club, Royal Channel Island Yacht Club, Interseals, CJ’s Northside Cafe, Sun Yachts and Paints the Jewellers.
