Clyde Estuary - Charge for Leisure Vessels !!!!!!

[cpedw]

Lifted from Facebook, Sailing Cruising Scotland group:

"I am writing to update you on Stuart McMillan’s MSP’s Debate regarding Peel Ports’ proposed conservancy fee, which he has secured for this Tuesday 25 March after voting: https://www.parliament.scot/.../votes-a ... /S6M-16854
Please note that MSPs across the chamber do not agree with Peel Ports’ approach.
Members of the public are welcome to attend the Parliament and watch the debate from the gallery, but alternatively, it will be live streamed on the Scottish Parliament TV’s website: https://www.scottishparliament.tv/
If you’re not able to follow the debate live, you can catch up on it at a later date.
Our local MSP - Stuart McMillan, will utilise this debate to reiterate the concerns of the boating sector and to call on Peel Ports to abandon their proposals. We hope this will keep the issue alive in the press and mount further pressure on Peel Ports.
I will send another email next week with a link to Stuart’s speech and a summary of the Scottish Government’s response to Stuart’s motion (it is customary for the relevant Minister or Cabinet Secretary to close Member’s Debates).
I trust this is a welcome development, and will be in touch in due course."

[BlowingOldBoots]

There is a petition raised by an MSP to show strength of support to stop Peel Ports from charging. Please sign if you do not want to be charged a fee for sailing on the Firth of Clyde.

So far over 4700 signatures https://chng.it/jtnSyY6njq

I shared on my Facebook feed and was surprised at the number of FB friends, who are none sailors, that agreed and signed, please share.

[BlowingOldBoots]

From RYA Scotland via FB Group Sailing Cruising Scotland.

Matter being raised in Scotland's Parliament. This is for Tuesday 25 March 2025, link to Scottish Parliament TV site.

Since late last year, RYA Scotland has been actively opposing plans to introduce a Conservancy Fee in the Clydeport area.

By working closely with other trusted voices across the sector via the Cross Party Group for Marine Tourism and Recreational Boating, calls for Peel Ports Ltd to abandon proposals have been strengthened.

Tomorrow, Scottish Parliament will discuss Conservancy Fee proposals. Discussions will be livestreamed, and will be available online

http://rya.org/eUzL50VnaZv

For more on actions RYA Scotland is taking in a representation capacity, check out our recent online update now

http://rya.org/1BAP50VnaZu

[BlowingOldBoots]

Apologies for the double post above, as I note that cpew posted the notice of debate on the 21 of March.

The debate held at the Scottish Parliament 25 March 2025.

https://www.scottishparliament.tv/meeti ... IT9cLlUSbg

1. Universally supported that Peel Ports proposals are rejected.
2. Damaged to the economy is likely.
3. Request that the Scottish Parliament and UK government (if necessary) review Peel Ports powers and if necessary adjust the HRO.
4. The original legislation did not envisage this scenario.
5. Symptom of a wider lack of control in Scotland.
6. How should harbours be brought under greater control, not by nationalisation, but through regulation.
7. Monopolistic behaviour has no obvious benefit and no clear development plan for areas of the Clyde.
8. The 1964 Harbours Act is ripe for revision.
9. The Clyde belongs to the people of Scotland and should be managed for the people of Scotland.
10. Assets are strategic assets and a private company makes decisions that are not in the interests of the strategic objectives.
11. Scottish Ministers have no powers to intervene in how the harbours are managed.
12. An objection can be made, by any users, to any charges through Section 31 of the Harbours Act.

[Gardenshed]

11. Scottish Ministers have no powers to intervene in how the harbours are managed.

they have power to intervene through amendment of the HRO. They didi this for CoP 26 so there is a recent precedent.

It'll be interesting to see if Peel Ports react or respond to the universal condemnation of their proposals, or if they just carry on.

[Bodach na mara]

My thanks to BOB for his excellent and concise summary of the debate on the 25th March. I wish that I could get to the point as precisely.
I did however notice at least one other important point. While we have been focused on the 1965 Harbour Order, most of the damage has been done by the 1991Trust Ports Act, a piece of legislation of which I was ignorant until today. The main function of the 1965 Act was to replace the two trusts that administered the Clyde port with one organisation. I didn't realise until today that it was still regarded as having trustee status, rather than ownership. The 1991 Act changed this organisation into a company (the Clyde Port Authority) and rendered it liable to sale or takeover. Effectively privatisation of a public asset. It is this that has disturbed MSPs, particularly as Peel Ports do not seem to be very good in their stewardship of this asset and don't manage it very well for the benefit of the local area, Scotland, the users of the Clyde or the industries that should benefit from it

[Gardenshed]

the back-door privatisation prior to the Scottish Parliament coming into existence, is probably the most important public interest reason for MSPs to oppose Peel Ports.
Peel Ports are given the privilege of running public assets, all be it for a profit. They have carved up the assets they were given into separate legal entities to make responsibility opaque, and have taken decisions which are not in the interest of either developing industry/employment or protecting heritage: destruction of graving docks, destruction of the govan tunnel, Ardrossan Harbour non-development, neglect of the Titan Cane at James Watt Dock etc etc. The frustrations against PP's management of the assets has been on going for years.
Just as Scot Rail was re-nationalised due to their poor performance, perhaps this week's debate has raised awareness to the MSPs that they can and should hold companies who are operating national assets accountable.

As a related benefit, Transport Scotland may have woken up to the importance of Harbour Revision Orders and the impact this may have in Oban. Argyll and Bute Council have exhibited Peel Port like behaviours in their attempt to push through their wishes (lack of meaningful consultation, poor/non-disclosure of information, poor engagement with stakeholder groups etc)

[BlowingOldBoots]

Update posted on FB

Good morning Club Sailing Cruising Scotland.

PEEL PORTS UPDATE
Here’s the chair’s update from the recent cross party meeting with thanks to the chairman’s office, which has agreed this can be shared with SCS members.
Quote
Following the latest meeting of the CPG on Recreational Boating and Marine Tourism on 11 June, Stuart has asked me to provide you with a brief update regarding the conservancy fee issue. I appreciate you may have been in attendance, but we wanted to make sure those who wish to remain updated on this issue received the same update.

Firstly, it was positive that Jim McSporran and Alex Macintosh from Clydeport (Peel Ports) were able to attend the meeting. They gave a brief presentation and were on hand to answer questions. That being said, Stuart got the impression from attendees that Peel weren’t able to provide sufficient answers to some of the questions that the boating sector have been posing with regards to their conservancy plans.

Interestingly, Clydeport indicated that their conservancy fee proposals were merely intended as a ‘conversation starter’ and that it was with regret their dialogue with some marinas about this were leaked. Furthermore, Clydeport weren’t able to give a clear answer as to why there appeared to be timelines in place for introducing a conservancy fee if this was just about stimulating a discussion on the matter and they had no intention of implementing the fee this year as was suggested.

Specific questions about Clydeport claiming to have to manage shipwrecks etc. were posed but again, it was felt that no concrete answers were given.

In Stuart’s opinion as Chair of the CPG, the sector is still without clarity on this matter – but Clydeport did agree to attend future CPG meetings and engage directly with organisations associated with the CPG in addition to their continued dialogue with RYA Scotland.

The next CPG will now take place after the summer recess, with a date confirmed for Tuesday 23 September. Should there be any developments over the summer, we shall keep you informed, however we trust this update is of interest and we thank you again for your continued interest in this issue.
Unquote

[Gardenshed]

good to see that some good behind the scenes influencing is having a positive impact for all who use the Clyde Port waters