New marinas clobbered

FOR many years it has been impossible to ascertain how much more the new marinas are being hit by the iniquitous Network Access Agreement in relation to the established marinas.

Encouraged to build

Constant pressure by Paul Lillie of Pillings Lock Marina has finally resulted in the figures being obtained, and show that marinas that were built by the encouragement of the British Waterways New Marinas Unit, are paying far more than those already established.

The older marinas pay a Connection Agreement whilst the new ones built after 2006 that were the result of the New Marinas Unit pay a Network Access Agreement—which of course was the subject of the long running dispute with Pillings.

Nearly four times as much

Paul has at last been told that the older 57 marinas pay a average of £7,238 per annum, which is just 22% of his own Network Access Agreement.

As Paul rightly asks:

"If more than half the UK Inland Market pays less than 25% of that which the new businesses on the waterways pay, then one would presume this new agreement is a huge overcharge and should be questioned?"

None of CaRT's own marinas pay the Network Access Agreement