The signatories to this petition call on the Trustees of the Canal and River Trust to withdraw their current consultation and only to re-issue it once it includes an option to measure support for scrapping the policy of allocating vacant moorings to the highest bidder.
See 'Mooring Sales Consultation' at:
https://canalrivertrust.org.uk/about-us/consultations/current-consultations
Why is this important?
Despite consistent opposition to the policy since its outset from organisations such as the National Association of Boat Owners (NABO), The Residential Boat Owners Association (RBOA) and other representative groups;
Despite criticism from the Environment Committee at the Greater London Authority, which stated; 'CRT should review its system of auctioning moorings, and seek a system that is fairer to those using and contributing to the waterway network.'
(see Recommendation 3 in 'Moor or Less: Moorings on London's Waterways', Nov 2013; http://www.london.gov.uk/mayor-assembly/london-assembly/publications/moor-or-less-moorings-on-london-s-waterways);
Despite the All Party Parliamentary Waterways Group stating, 'The APPG believes that this policy needs to be reviewed to encourage more diversity on the waterways',
(See link to the report in http://www.nabo.org.uk/index.php/reference-section/crt/626-appg-waterways-report-on-crt-s-performance),
Despite many other critics of it's policy, CRT has not included an option to reconsider the policy as a whole in its current consultation.
Many believe the policy artificially inflates moorings prices as the policy only takes account of the maximum amount someone will pay for moorings.
Many people believe that the detailed auction procedures are far from transparent and many allegations of unfairness and suspected manipulation of the process by CRT have been made.
Many believe that the setting of reserve prices represents a mechanism to artificially inflate prices and cite examples of where moorings have repeatedly been left un-let at the reserve price, suggesting that the reserve price is more than the market can stand.
In addition it appears to many that the process of seemingly setting reserve prices too high means CRT may be foregoing rental income in order to fix market prices.
(Edited for typos approx 15 20 hrs 08 Oct 2015)
