BW Consults On Pricing And Allocation Of Long Term Moorings

28 May 2008

British Waterways (BW) has commenced a 12-week public
consultation on the pricing and allocation of its long term
directly managed moorings. A consultation paper, considering the
options available for allocating and pricing vacancies -
including a review of the current mooring tenders trial - has
been published on the BW website.

Robin Evans, BW chief executive, comments: "BW directly
managed moorings account for approximately 15% of long term
moorings on our network so this is a relevant issue for many
boaters. It is also of interest to boatyards, marinas and other
mooring operators whose mooring sites mustn't be inadvertently
undercut by BW if we are to continue to have a thriving inland
marine market."

The consultation document summarises BW's moorings
policies and explains the framework within which BW must set the
prices for its long term moorings. It analyses five options for
allocating vacancies, namely returning to waiting lists,
adopting the tendering system currently being trialled,
modifying the tendering system, moving to open auctions or a
fixed price lottery process.

In addition to presenting statistics from the operation
of the first six months of the year long tenders trial, the
consultation paper scores each method based on four factors:
transparency, customer acceptance, operating costs and whether
it results in an accurate reflection of the market price. Based
on these assessments, the consultation document concludes that
the best way forward is to move to an open auction, making it
easier for people to decide how much to offer, and generating
more reliable information to assist in the wider re-pricing of
BW's long term mooring.

Robin continues: "The consultation is not about how high
or low prices should be. Government is clear that it is not BW's
place to subsidise boaters by providing moorings at below market
price. Instead, the consultation is formally asking our boaters
to consider the pros and cons of each option for allocating
vacancies and pinpoint where their assessment may differ from
ours, and why. I look forward to receiving constructive feedback
and reporting back later in the year."

The consultation document includes a feedback form to
help readers to respond. The outcome of the consultation, and
specifically the chosen method for BW to allocate long term
moorings in the future, will be published later in 2008.

For more information on the consultation visit the BW website: www.britishwaterways.co.uk/mooringconsultation08

Mooring vacancies continue to be advertised as part of the mooring tenders trial at: www.bwmooringvacancies.co.uk.

Ends

For more information, contact Jonathan Ludford, corporate communications manager, on 020 7985 7275 or jonathan.ludford@britishwaterways.co.uk

Notes to Editors

British Waterways cares for a 2,200-mile network of
canals and navigable rivers throughout Britain, working to
provide a sustainable future for the inland waterways and
generate maximum benefit and enjoyment to all from this unique
environmental and leisure resource. We work with a broad range
of public, private and voluntary sector partners to unlock the
potential of the inland waterways and generate income for
reinvestment in the waterways for the benefit of the millions
who visit and care for the waterways every year.