Happy New Year everyone.
We are waiting with dread the cost of the new licence for this year.
Our marina has been bought from Land and Water and the cost has gone
up dramatically. The electric standing charge has gone up too and
the cost of the card (ok fuel costs have risen and that's to be
expected). We aren't the worst off however. A two tier mooring
charge has been introduced, for high and low users. Anyone who lives
aboard is counted as a high user at the high rate, even if they ship
out in early spring and don't return till late autumn and also do
short trips in winter, and/or visit relatives, caravan or camper van,
or trips abroad to the sun. They don't cost the marina any more as
they pay for their pumpout or are billed a rate for use of the elsan,
whether they are there or not.
As you can imagine this has resulted or will result in a surge of
vacant mooring spaces if there are any millionares requiring berths.
I have been told in confidence of several who will be leaving and am
scared to open my mouth in case I let a cat out of the bag. (Go on,
you know you want to;-)
We have paid up for the first 3 months, but are reviewing our
position.
So Beeky, you could have been just as financially badly off if you'd
remained here. As for those with their own flood refuge at the end
of the garden, they must be clapping their hands at last.
Look forward to seeing some of you out and about next year.
Ann & Ken nb hogtied.
