Licence fees set for use of Middle Level

THE Middle Level Commissioners have set the licence fees for boaters to use their waterways.

These will be set at the same level as the Environment Agency’s Anglian waterways, Alan Tilbury reports.

Have to pay a set fee

This means that boaters registered with Canal & River Trust will no longer have free passage on the Middle Level connecting to the River Great Ouse or those coming off the river, but will have to pay a set fee.

The Commissioners agreed to introduce charges for boats at a meeting of its Navigation Advisory Committee last week, a committee that was set up to look at the future plans for the management of its waterways and the future cost of licensing for boat owners.

'Will not welcome paying fees'

It was decided to set the fees in line with other comparable authorities such as the Cam Conservators and the Environment Agency, with a spokesman remarking 'The Navigation Advisory Committee did appreciate that boaters, who have for years been able to benefit from Middle Level waters for nothing, will not welcome paying fees'!

It is estimated the charges will generate an income of between £150,000 and £180,000, which will help towards the expenditure on maintaining the navigations.

Boaters 'furious'

Steve Barclay MP for North East Cambridgeshire, told he had been contacted by 'many boat owners on the Middle Level, who are furious at the scale of the increase in the price the Middle Level Commissioners have set for their boat licences'.

However the fees have been set:

The prices vary from 25ft up to 41ft at £756.29 a year; £189.00 a month; £47.27 a week..  Then in a scale of over 65ft at £1,197.43 a year; £299.36 a month; £74.84 a day.

There is also minimum registration charge of £10.50 that applies to all registrations, to cover administration costs. A valid Boat Safety Scheme Certification, or equivalent, and valid insurance details will be required to register a powered vessel.