An uneasy compromise has been reached in the protracted argument over increases to berthing fees at Moray Council harbours.
The proposals were discussed by councillors again yesterday, after the angry reaction to price rises, agreed last year to fund a £135million maintenance backlog.
The local authority’s economic development and infrastructure committee decided by a single vote to increase tariffs for leisure craft.
However, a 25% discount for current boat owners, aged 60 and over, will be retained, although it will not apply to new harbour users, and electricity and water facilities will not be installed unless the majority of sailors at each harbour want them.
The new fees will be £60 per metre for a pontoon berth, £50 for wall moorings and £40 at the quayside – the current charge is £40 per metre for all berths.
Hopeman boat owner Tim Tregale expressed disappointment at the news.
He said: “There were sweeteners in there to shut some folk up, but I think a lot of people will still be disappointed – it’s still a 50% increase.
“A smaller increase would probably have been acceptable, but when you look at the percentages, this is huge.”
During the talks, Buckie councillor, Gordon McDonald, repeated his calls for the increases to be staggered, and proposed lowering rates.
He said: “We’re asking people to take a hike for a diminishing service.
“The harbours have a huge maintenance backlog and hadn’t been dredged in five years before the new dredger.
“It’s unfair to ask people to pay a big increase at harbours when the service is getting worse. We have a right to say that’s unfair.”
Discussions were halted while calculations were done. But there were angry scenes when it emerged Mr McDonald’s proposal would only net the council an extra £2,000 a year.
Committee chairman John Cowe said: “There is a huge backlog of harbour maintenance.
“When there are so many other vital services needing paying for, such as care for the elderly, the vulnerable, and educating our children, it feels perverse to subsidise berthing fees for boat owners.”
The price increases, which will net an extra £26,500 a year, will need to be approved at a full council meeting later this month before they come into effect.
