A WEST Somerset sailing club has had to close after Somerset Council imposed a 4,500 per cent increase in harbour fees.
Minehead Sailing and Watersports Club has sought legal advice on the governance of the fees decision and its lawfulness and is considering complaining to the Local Government Ombudsman.
The not-for-profit club was entirely run by volunteers for more than 60 years but folded after the council revoked its charity concession, forcing members to pay fees to use Minehead Harbour’s slipway and attempts to renegotiate were rejected by the authority.
It said the £120 a year charge for each member to use the harbour slipway equated to a 4,500 per cent increase, yet a Burnham on Sea club paid just £171 annually for its jetty use.
The club offered to pay £200 for all of its members, representing a 66 per cent rise, but this was rejected by the council.
Club secretary Debbie Allum said the council’s decision to revoke the charitable concession was based on inaccurate information.
Ms Allum said: “Despite the club’s best efforts and many requests to meet with members and officers to ‘set the record straight’ this request has been ignored.
“The lack of consultation and engagement has fallen well short of what the electorate would expect from our elected members.
“The reasonableness of fees must relate to the facilities available to boat users and not to the weakness of the council’s overall financial position.”
Ms Allum said the council had been unprofessional, undemocratic, and shown no interest in the catastrophic impact of its actions on the club.
She said the council had under pressure reduced charges for kayak users, but Minehead Harbour remained one of the most expensive slipways in the country.
Local boat owner Allan Dyer said: “I have had a boat on a mooring in Minehead Harbour for 25 years.
“Over all this period it has been implicit that in paying for the mooring I can travel to and from the mooring by using a small rowing boat.
“When I renewed my mooring fee, I was told I would face an additional £198 to take my rowboat down the slipway.”
Former West Somerset MP Ian Liddell-Grainger, who is now the Tiverton and Minehead constituency Conservative candidate, was ‘utterly appalled’ by the council’s behaviour.
Mr Liddell-Grainger said: “It has to accept some public facilities will not make money and in the case of Minehead Harbour the best way of improving revenue is to invest in improvements for the benefit of everybody using it.
“Sadly, since Somerset Council took control its only interest has been in how much money it can squeeze out of it, rather than taking the long view and looking to improve and upgrade the entire harbour area for the benefit of local people, visitors, and eventually its own coffers.”
A council spokesperson said: “As the statutory harbour authority we run Minehead Harbour on a cost neutral basis, and the charges for using the infrastructure and slipway enable us to meet our requirements under the Port Marine Safety Code.”