Aberaeron boat mooring price hike gets rocky reception

 Boat owners are up in arms over an above-inflation increase in their mooring costs.

Fees at the harbours in Aberaeron and New Quay in Ceredigion have gone up by more than 30% since last summer.

Jonathan Price Jones, who has sailed out of Aberaeron for 30 years, called the £714 cost of mooring his boat for the summer "unreasonable".

Ceredigion council said it needed to recover rising costs from inflation by raising fees and charges.

Boat owners are charged according to the size of their boat.

Last year the fee to moor a vessel during the summer at Aberaeron and New Quay harbours was £51 per metre of length.

The council has now increased the fee to £66.50, a 30% rise.

Nigel Davies, who lives in Aberaeron and moors his boat in the harbour, said he felt the price was too high for what he gets in return.

"Ceredigion County Council or whoever, don't provide any facilities here whatsoever" he said.

"They say costs are going up, but if you don't spend anything, there is no cost."

At a meeting held last week, boat owners from two seaside towns voiced their concerns.

Chris Seal, chairman of New Quay Yacht Club, added: "We seem to be a cash cow that is there to be milked and we don't think that's fair."

Aberaeron councillor Elizabeth Evans said she was concerned about the impact as the town "depends on the harbour, it's the sole reason for Aberaeron's existence".