DBA Forum (WGBAI) - Andy Soper
2014-02-01 15:42:49 UTC
I have sent the following reply to Julia Simpson (West Area Mananger responsible for the Thames)
'Hello Julia,
Thank you for consulting us. I have consulted my members for their opinions.
You mention an increase of 4.8% in your introduction. As this is greater than any inflation index that I am aware of perhaps you could explain how this figure was arrived at. Every one of the increases is greater than this headline figure due to 'rounding'. It would have been more honest to advise the total % increase in income that the charge increases are expected to achieve - assuming level sales which may not now be the case - and to justify that % increase.
My members are alarmed by the 25% increase in pump out charges especially as the reliability of the equipment appears to be dismal. You do not need to meet a market rate - the marinas mainly offer attended service and extras such as 'blue' additive included. Your concern as the Environment Agency should be protecting water quality. Perhaps harmonisation with the Ouse could help here with free pump-outs for private boats (hire boats are already firmly directed to commercial pump-outs). In the Netherlands all pump-outs are free and marinas with more than 50 berths are also required to provide free pump-outs (there is no launch registration fee either!).
Consultation implies listening to feedback, taking notice of concerns raised and taking action to amend if the proposals are flawed or deficient in any way. I do hope that we will feel the benefit of this consultation especially as many members of TNUF seem to be reporting similar feedback.
Best Wishes'
'Hello Julia,
Thank you for consulting us. I have consulted my members for their opinions.
You mention an increase of 4.8% in your introduction. As this is greater than any inflation index that I am aware of perhaps you could explain how this figure was arrived at. Every one of the increases is greater than this headline figure due to 'rounding'. It would have been more honest to advise the total % increase in income that the charge increases are expected to achieve - assuming level sales which may not now be the case - and to justify that % increase.
My members are alarmed by the 25% increase in pump out charges especially as the reliability of the equipment appears to be dismal. You do not need to meet a market rate - the marinas mainly offer attended service and extras such as 'blue' additive included. Your concern as the Environment Agency should be protecting water quality. Perhaps harmonisation with the Ouse could help here with free pump-outs for private boats (hire boats are already firmly directed to commercial pump-outs). In the Netherlands all pump-outs are free and marinas with more than 50 berths are also required to provide free pump-outs (there is no launch registration fee either!).
Consultation implies listening to feedback, taking notice of concerns raised and taking action to amend if the proposals are flawed or deficient in any way. I do hope that we will feel the benefit of this consultation especially as many members of TNUF seem to be reporting similar feedback.
Best Wishes'