STRICTLY CONFIDENTIAL
From the VMMA Secretary – March 2016
Following the formal VMMA AGM we held an open meeting for VMMA Members to give the new Committee input on matters concerning them to see if there were any common areas which it would be appropriate for VMMA to raise with the Marina.
There was disquiet amongst the members about the recent series of e-mails concerning the 5% rise in mooring fees. The Committee made it clear that if moorers were unhappy about their individual fees or mooring terms they should raise them directly with the Marina.
Areas of concern were:
1. A 5% increase was significantly above inflation over the two year period – the increase in the Consumer Price Index over the last 2 years being only 0.5% in total. We passed onto the members the information you had provided about areas where the Marina costs had increased significantly above inflation. However, some members had also received emails detailing the increase in Wigrams Turn mooring fees and told the meeting that the Wigrams fees were only going up by 2%. It would be helpful to know the reasons behind the disparity.
2. Some members believed that a discount was offered if annual moorings fees were paid in advance as a lump sum and said that they had queried why the discount was shown as 0% on their mooring invoice, only to be told that the discount had been applied but was not shown. Other members did not think that there was a discount. Please can you let me know the payment options available going forward – eg can annual mooring fees be paid monthly or quarterly and, if so, the discount available for paying annually in advance.
3. A number of the Members were unaware of the C2 classification and had not signed contracts which contained those restrictions. I have a copy of the January 2015 Mooring Terms and Conditions which you gave me in my capacity as Secretary of VMMA where the only restrictions regarding staying on the boat is in Clause 3(c) – I can find no mention of C2 usage. (Personally, I don’t believe those Terms & Conditions apply to our mooring as we have never been issued with them – the last Terms & Conditions which we were formally asked to agree to are those dated 1 February 2008 which have been varied by an exchange of correspondence between us and Sam Bourne. It became obvious during the meeting that a number of moorers have agreed varied terms with the Marina at different times and believe that those terms continue to apply, rather than any subsequent general terms and conditions which have been drawn up).
4. It was felt that the information regarding the increases had been poorly communicated and that, combined with the wording used, had raised alarm bells.
5. Further discussions regarding the C2 classification, revealed that some members thought that it was a requirement of the original planning applications to build the marina(s) that no residential moorings were allowed except for a limited number (6?) which could only be allocated to people working at Ventnor Marina. Others thought that the C2 classification was to do with liability to pay Council Tax. Please can you let me know how the number of residential moorings are restricted.
6. Virtually all members present agreed that one of the main reasons they had decided to moor at Ventnor Marina was the daily security checks on boats. However, concerns were expressed that these security checks were not being done daily as evidenced by things like poles having been blown off roofs and left for several days floating in the basin until another moorer rescued the items. Have daily security checks been discontinued?
7. Some longer term moorers believed that restrictions or covenants had been placed on whoever owned the Marina which prevented the Marina from offering fuel or pump outs to boats not moored in the Marina. Also, that the dry dock could only be used for boats which had berths in the Marina. That hire boats could not be berthed in the Marina. Is this correct? If it is correct that the Marina is not allowed to offer fuel to non-Marina boats, then how do moorers’ receive a 10% discount on diesel – is the Marina selling diesel to moorers at less than the price the Marina pays?
8. Members were unsure when the Marina stopped charging for pump-outs and Elsan disposal – just for the record, please can you let me know.
Most Members were generally happy overall but are concerned that the quality of service at Ventnor Marina was suffering due to staff being split between Ventnor and Wigrams, and Wigrams taking up more and more of the resources.
Please see Minutes of the Committee Meeting held in May 2016 for further details
Research into Mooring Fees
Information obtained by the VMMA Secretary – 24/03/2016
Calcutt – today quoted me £2,446 plus £400 entry fee for a 58 foot boat. That cost included the electricity infrastructure charge.
Crick quoted £42 a foot today if you want the flexibility of giving 90 days notice (60ft – £2,520) and getting a refund of any unexpired mooring fee after the end of the 90 days, or £40.25 if you were willing not have the refund (60ft – £2415).
Braunston quoted £137.50 + VAT per metre – making 60ft £3,017.85. They are showing prices for 2016 and 2017 and the 2017 prices are 1.8% higher than the 2016 ones.
Barby haven’t increased their prices since 2013 and you pay for pontoon length not boat length.
Brinklow are currently showing £36 a foot inc VAT annually in advance
I also got prices from:
Whilton £52 a foot inc VAT (£3,120 – 60ft)
Welton Hythe/Fields £122 + VAT per metre (£2,677.66 – 60ft)
Heyford Fields £2780.47 inc VAT for a 60ft boat
Gayton £44.95 inc VAT (£2,697 – 60ft)
The bare bones table before allowing for things like free pump-outs and facilities:
Mooring fees, inclusive of VAT at 20%, paid annually in advance
58 foot narrowboat.
Barby – £1,950.00, no price increase since 2013, pay for length of jetty
Brinklow – £2,088.00
Fenny Comptom – £2,340.00
Crick – £2,436.00
Calcutt – £2,446.00, £400 entry fee
Cropredy – £2,470.80
Yelvertoft – £2,497.00
Ventnor – £2,584.90
Welton Hythe/Field – £2,588.35
Gayton – £2,607.10
Heyford Field – £2,646.24
Wigrams – £2,849.00
Braunston – £2,917.20
Whilton – £3,016.00