Yesterday I phoned Ms Elms to again ask for a meeting, this time concentrating on stopping the 'trial'. Although no definite appointment was made, the call told us she was aware of the subject but was still under the impression proper consultation would follow six months of the trial. This called for a change of emphasis and we have now written to the Minister and her to point out the permanent damage the so called trials could do and calling into question the value of 'consultation' after the event, rather than just restating the original objections to the principal of highest bidder selection. 'Irreversible' is the key word to stop BW wasting more of its, and our, resources on the trials.
The National Association of Boat Owners has written to Jonathan Shaw in his
capacity as Waterways Minister to urge him to stop the forthcoming Moorings
Tendering 'trials'. NABO cites ten reasons for him to do so: this is not a trial
in the sense of being able to return to the previous status without lasting
consequences.
BW did no prior consultation as 'they knew what users thought' but chose to
ignore those views BW's poor track record of ill-conceived proposals has eroded
trust that the trials will be conducted or assessed fairly allocating berths
to the highest bidder would most likely exclude the less wealthy boater it is
unfair to those on existing waiting lists and those uncomfortable with competitive
tendering it is divisive by creating different classes of berth-holder on the
same sites by taking maximum rather than average offers, BW could lead the market
little consideration seems to have been given to what will happen afterwards
in the long or short term the planning and implementation of the 'trial' has
diverted resources from other pressing issues the potential exists for the 'trial'
to be made invalid.
In its letter, NABO concludes:
'NABO and its members do not understand why, in the face of comments in the
EFRAcom report, universal opposition from users to the idea, and over eighty
letters opposing the trial compared to only one in favour, this farce is being
allowed to go ahead. We hope BW will waste no more of their time, or our time,
on this ill conceived project. We ask for your support.'
NABO's chairman comments: "BW seems to have convinced DEFRA that this proposal is 'only a trial' and no harm will be done if the scheme is later abandoned. We don't believe it can be conducted without irreversible damage and it shouldn't be attempted without full discussion about the consequences. Customer's views should properly taken into account - now."