Calls for fee freeze at Pwllheli marina after record profit

Oct 8 2009

Pwllheli Marina

BOAT owners at one the county’s most prestigious marinas have asked for a price freeze on their charges.

Members of the Pwllheli Mooring and Berth Holders Association (PMBHA) want to see any increases to charges for boat owners staying at the town’s Hafan Marina scrapped for the coming year.

Their request comes in light of "very successful financial results" reported by Gwynedd Council which has seen their profits jump by £112,000 to £875,000 a year.

The PMBHA has also asked that the charges for serviced berths, which were increased by an additional 3% above non-serviced moorings, be reduced.

The council said it is working towards limiting costs for berth holders for the coming financial year.

In a letter to Gwynedd Council, an unnamed spokesman for PMBHA states: "PMBHA notes the very successful financial results announced by Cyngor Gwynedd with respect to the Hafan.

"We note that for last year, profit increased by £112,000 to £875,000 per annum, which represents a 56% profit margin on turnover.

"In the light of this excellent performance, which we are aware, exceeded Cyngor Gwynedd’s budgeted expectations, PMBHA requests that there should be no further increase in Hafan charges for the coming period."

This isn’t the first time that the PMBHA has made an appeal about berthing fees.

In November, the group wrote a letter to the Pwllheli harbour committee asking for any proposed increases in fees to be limited to 2% due to "severe financial strain" on many of its members.

However, the plea fell on deaf ears as the Gwynedd Council board agreed to increase charges for pontoon moorings at Hafan Marina by 4%.

Boaters who had berths with electricity in Pwllheli were hit even harder with a swell of 6%.

At the time, the increases surpassed the 3.26% inflation rate for the Hafan.

If the council agrees not to increase the charges, the decision will break a year on year jump in fees since 2006.

A Gwynedd Council spokesman said: "Hafan Pwllheli remains a hugely successful facility which receives various awards on an annual basis.

"Nevertheless, the council is acutely aware of the current economic situation and we are already actively seeking to limit mooring charges to the level of inflation for the 2010/11 financial year."

The matter is due to be discussed at next week’s meeting of the Pwllheli Harbour Consultative Committee.