13 June 2024

The Environment Agency is seeking views on its proposal to increase its Boat Charging Scheme by 9% for the River Thames, Medway navigation and Anglian waterways.  The consultation is open until 9th August and full details can be found here. 

Although boat registration income only funds part of the Environment Agency’s navigation service, as it receives funding from EA’s commercial activities and from government grant-in-aid, the Environment Agency claims the 9% increase is needed to simply maintain its current level of service.  British Marine has recently challenged the EA about the poor condition of its waterways and the quality of the navigation service provided to members who, as businesses, already pay considerably higher licence fees than private boaters to operate on the waterways. 

British Marine will be submitting a response to this specific consultation which poses two questions:

• Do you agree or disagree with the proposed increase in charges?

• How will these increased charges affect your use of the waterways?

If you would like your views to be heard and would like to help inform British Marine’s response to the Environment Agency please email your comments to Joanna Richardson   jrichardson@britishmarine.co.uk by Thursday 18 July 2024.  

Following this consultation, the Environment Agency plans to undertake a full review of its services and make a case to the government for more sustainable funding to help provide its navigation service alongside the income it receives from boat registrations. That should help inform the next departmental Spending Review although most expect that, whatever the outcome of the General Election, DEFRA’s budget will be further reduced from April 2025.