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The Commodore of the Guernsey Yacht Club has backed a Requête, led by Deputy David de Lisle, which will try to limit the planned increases to marina mooring fees.
Martin Priest says there is no "catch up" required so the planned large increase in marina fees is not necessary.
A survey of almost 2000 people found the majority of Yacht Club members disagree with the proposed hike of between 12% to 45% based on the size of vessel.
Pictured: Deputy David de Lisle.
"The Guernsey Yacht Club is supportive of the requête tabled by Deputy David de Lisle to limit the increase proposed increases for marina mooring fees," wrote Mr Priest.
"Such fees have increased broadly in accordance with inflation for many years and there is no 'catch up' required.
"The Club surveyed its some 1900 members and the vast majority that responded were not in favour of the increases proposed.
"We support the view already expressed that local boatowners should not be asked to pay for expenditure not attributable to them and in particular, the large deficit incurred in running the airport.
"It should be borne in mind that parts of the harbour infrastructure are available for use by all free of charge, for example parking and this should be considered when apportioning costs."
The decision to increase mooring fees by up to 45% was made by the States in December with 15 States members voting pour, and 13 voting contre.
A prior annulment proposition was lost by 16 votes to 17, but a further attempt to limit the increase will be made next week when the requête signed by seven deputies will be debated.
The States Trading and Supervisory Board’s wants to increase mooring fees to eliminate the need for taxpayer funding to support and invest in associated infrastructure.
At the time, Deputy Peter Roffey, President of STSB told the Assembly the pandemic brought devastating impacts to the ports’ finances, wiping out its savings fund with passenger numbers still yet to return to pre-covid levels.
Despite this, there was strong lobbying against the proposals from those in the maritime industry.
Pictured: Deputy Roffey, President of STSB.
The Requête, led by Deputy de Lisle and signed by Deputies, Simon Vermeulen, John Dyke, Liam McKenna, Victoria Oliver, Chris Blin, and Adrian Gabriel, is on the agenda for debate next week.
The group will argue for a reduction in the mooring fee increase to 10% across the board for one year from 1 April 2024. It also wants there to be a full consultation with “the leisure boat stakeholders, the Guernsey Boatowners Association and the Guernsey Marine Traders Association” before any further increases are decided.
The Requête states:
“[The] proposed increase was unprecedented, and was considered unjustified and unfair by the boat-owning community, who consider it risks undermining a fundamental element of Guernsey's way of life.
“A motion to annul the regulations made by STSB imposing the increase was narrowly defeated at the December 2023 meeting of the States of Deliberation, by 17 votes to 16. A number of Members were absent for the vote.”
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