The Peel Ports Group owns Clydeport, which functions as the harbour authority for 450 square miles of waterway in and around the River Clyde and its estuary.
Recently they announced that they would be imposing an annual fee, commencing in April 2025, on all leisure craft operating on their waterways which includes Loch Fyne giving access to the Crinan Canal. The charge will apply to boats between 6 metres and 24 metres in length within the Clyde jurisdiction north of Irvine, and will apply to permanent berths and visitors. The charge proposed is £120 per annum and £90 for summer.
Clyde Ports are somewhat elusive as to the nature and purpose of this charge, but have on occasion described it as a conservation fee and, when pressed, suggested that it could be used for the salvage of wrecks and the like.
However, getting any further detail is difficult as they have twice declined to attend the Scottish Cross Party Group for Recreational Boating and Marine Tourism to provide an explanation and engage further with the boating public and their representatives such as IWA, RYA Scotland and British Marine.
Not only do blue water sailing clubs operate in and around the Clyde, but it is also a focus for some of the best coastal sailing in the UK, with regular visitors from other parts of Britain and from the Continent. It is, therefore, a significant contributor to Scotland’s tourist income and there is a strong feeling that imposing a charge will operate negatively in this area.
[The photo, left, shows a new development beside the Clyde – Boating on the River Clyde is already restricted by development on wharves and moorings. The photo above shows a boat heading out down the Clyde Estuary, sadly an increasing rare sight – both photos by Jonathan Mosse]
Stuart McMillan, MSP for Greenock and Inverclyde and Convenor of the Cross Party Group, recently sent an Open Letter to Jim McSporran, Port Director at Peel Ports, citing concerns that such a fee will restrict freedom to sail in Scottish waters and have a negative impact upon marine tourism.
Stuart has also set up a public petition and he hopes this will make more boaters aware of Peel Ports’ plans and heap further pressure on the port authority to reconsider.
He stated “To be frank, the sector views the idea of a conservancy fee as a ‘cash grab’ by Peel Ports. They feel that the rationale for introducing this charge does not stand up to scrutiny“.
He went on to say “this has created a perception amongst boating organisations that Peel Ports is treating them with contempt, furthering the anger felt about these proposals. This isn’t just about boaters in Scotland, this is about people who sail from other parts of the UK, or even Europe, to enjoy the Clyde. There is huge concern that this fee will put them off doing so“.
Another worry relates to the progressive increase in charges that will surely happen if a conservancy fee is implemented. The somewhat limited fee, as proposed, will inevitably not remain the same in the coming years.
Stuart’s petition can be viewed at: www.change.org/p/peel-ports-clydeport-should-abandon-conservancy-fee-plans.
[The photo shows multiple bridges spanning the upper Clyde in Glasgow, which are potentially not the only impediments to boating on the River – by Jonathan Mosse]
