RYA Scotland statement on proposed Clydeport Conservancy Fee: Update 18th November

Further to our previous statement [1 Nov 2024] concerning outline proposals by Peel Ports to levy a Conservancy Fee on leisure boaters in the Clydeport area, RYA Scotland can provide the following update.

At the beginning of November the CEO of RYA Scotland wrote to Peel Ports expressing concerns about the outline proposals for a Conservancy Fee and offered an invitation for them to attend the next meeting of the Cross Party Group for Recreational Boating and Marine Tourism on 27^th November. We received a response from Peel Ports Group Harbour Master declining the invitation to attend that meeting.

The Group Harbour Master indicated in his response that a consultation process has begun on their proposal and that a wider consultation process with all relevant stakeholders would take place in the coming months with an outcome expected by Spring of 2025. We requested a copy of the full proposal that is under consultation and a copy of the consultation plan. Subsequent correspondence from the Group Harbour Master on 14^th November noted that the consultation plan is currently being developed, further, the Conservancy Fee plan and associated information are still in preparation.

The Cross Party Group meeting will go ahead on the 27^th November and there will be a substantive agenda item on the Conservancy Fee. Invitations for that meeting have been sent out to regular attendees of the CPG including representatives of key groups on the Clyde. The meeting will be an opportunity to articulate briefly key concerns and questions but primarily to develop an action plan of engagement with Peel Ports on this matter.

We will continue to engage with Peel Ports and look forward to a full and open discussion of the community concerns at the CPG meeting on the 27^th November.

If you would like to get in touch with us regarding this matter, please email communications@ryascotland.org.uk