Windermere boat users hit with 10% rise in fees

Some of the money generated will be spent on additional lake wardens

Boat users on Windermere are to pay higher fees, after a council hiked up its charges amid what it called "unprecedently high inflation".

Westmorland and Furness Council approved measures to increase lake service costs by 10% in 2024-25, the Local Democracy Reporting Service said.

Local yacht racing groups expressed "serious concerns" about higher fees.

The increase is estimated to generate about £135,000 in additional income for the Liberal Democrat-led council.

It said the uplift was a direct result of "unprecedently high inflation" during 2022-23 and in 2023-24.

The changes will see the cost of open deck yachts moored annually rise from £846 to £930.60, and the cost of mooring licences rise from £130.80 to £143.90.

'Excessive amount'

Cabinet member for finance, Andrew Jarvis, said the surplus would be used "for the benefit of" council taxpayers.

"I mean, let's be clear, unlike most of our services, encroachments and moorings are not really necessary services," he said.

"In the case of moorings there are alternative private suppliers you can go to.

"I don't see why those who are privileged to have either encroachments or the moorings shouldn't get a real terms cost decrease at the expense of the council taxpayer."

Windermere and Bowness Town Council's Peter Douglas Hamilton said the increased fees would impact the Windermere 17 fleet, a club which races yachts on the lake.

He told the Lake Administration Committee on Monday that the club, which has a "proud history" of racing on the lake, has "serious concerns" over the proposed rise.

"We are facing proposed mooring fees of £691.70, which works out at £138 each month our boats are on the water," he said, on behalf of the club.

"The total fees our fleet is facing for 2024 is £13,834, which seems an excessive amount to expect for a locally small group of people which pursue the sport and continue the tradition of racing in these unique boats."

Mr Hamilton added that the club was calling for a 50% discount, which recognises its "unique and historic setting" on the lake.

Councillor Matt Brereton, Conservative, said over two years the increase is not "unreasonable" but called for a discount for historic or third sector users of the lake.

"Nobody wants to see those 1930s yachts gone from Windermere as that would be a tragedy," he added.