There has been outrage from Bristol’s boating community in recent weeks over the steep hike in fees approved by the council, which are due to be implemented in April. Many claim there has not been enough transparency over the harbour review and want consultation with Bristol City Council on the approved increases in harbour fees, some of which are set to double.
Fees boaters must pay include for pontoons, operating ferries, using showers, lifting and swinging bridges, and much more. Many of these fees are set to massively increase from April, well above inflation. The council said the increase will help pay for upgrades to facilities around the harbour, which boaters said were in very poor condition.
The issue has been plagued with controversy, and has included Bristol mayor, Marvin Rees apologising after calling the community ‘a privileged few’ who were ‘abusing the system’ when defending the increases. Bristol’s boating community hit back and said they were a wide diverse group from ferry operators to boat dwellers who have said you have to be handy and hardy to live on a boat. But what is life really like for Bristol's boating community who say the reward of their lifestyle is the lapping water lulling you to sleep.
