RE-PRICING OF 12 MONTH MOORING PERMITS 2015 MOORINGS AREA REPORT FOR BUCKS & HERTS

Introduction This report provides the rationale for mooring price decisions for 2015. VAT is payable at the rate set by the government for the date when the permit is purchased. Profiles of privately operated sites in the area are appended. We researched and compared their prices with the Canal & River Trust rates to inform our judgements, but because this data is commercially sensitive it has not been included.

Local market overview This area comprises the from the M25 crossing up to and including the area. It is London commuter country and the mainly rural character makes it an attractive mooring area for the local, large population.

Analysis of auctioned vacancies Total Auctions (inc. Total Total Current Relists) Since Successful No. of Site Name Capacity April 2012 Auctions Bidders

Black Horse 11 6 3 4

Fenny Stratford Towpath 8 28 8 10

Grenville Marina 5 22 5 5

Soulbury Three Locks 7 12 6 8

Leighton Buzzard 19 30 15 16

Slapton 4 1 1 3

Seabrook 4 11 2 2

Cooks Wharf 19 9 3 4

Marsworth Residential 5 6 4 9

Marsworth Towpath 14 8 4 6

Fisheries 11 8 8 14

Cassio Bridge 8 1 1 1

Bucks & Herts 2015 Page 1 of 7 Private operator reference sites We have identified the following privately operated mooring sites as being the most relevant to the Trust’s sites for price comparison purposes

Aylesbury Canal Society Cosgrove Marina Lionhearts Cruising Club Middlesex & Herts Boat Milton Keynes Marina Cowroast Marina Services Grebe Canal Cruises ~ Apsley Basin Wharf Ltd Taverners Cruise Club Dunstable & District Boat Pixies Mere Moorings (Boxmoor Club Trust) Bates Boat Yard Wyvern Shipping Grove Lock Marina Bourne End Boat Club Bulbourne Offside Willowbridge Enterprises Vicarage Farm

Brief profiles of the Trust’s and these privately operated sites are summarised in an appended table.

Challenges to Pricing Decisions We have made the pricing recommendations below based on a thorough review of auction results and local knowledge. It is our policy, set at Board level, to set prices which reflect market rates and to compete fairly with private operators. The Trust has neither powers nor duty to provide subsidised moorings. If you feel that the price decision made for your mooring site is unjustified having read this report, we ask that you write to the Head of Direct Managed Moorings explaining why you think it is the case. Please explain the reasoning for your challenge including evidence such as price and descriptions of nearby privately operated mooring sites. We will not amend the price without this evidence. We will consider your representation and respond in writing within two working weeks. If you are not satisfied with the response, you may request that the matter is dealt with through our formal complaints procedure.

Bucks & Herts 2015 Page 2 of 7 Pricing Conclusions The table below summarises our site-by-site conclusions across the area. Prices include VAT @ 20%.

2014 Price from Site Name Notes on pricing decision Price April 2015 Grand Union Canal ( Arm)

£190.48 New site. Considerable site improvements. Each berth will be fully serviced when completed. Aylesbury Prime location. Now located on the offside in easy reach of town centre and public transport links.

Very little churn at this site. 2 auctions only in the last 3 years. Local competitor charges Black Horse £73.06 £74.88 considerably more but has the benefit of all facilities.

£120.61 No churn as site - awaiting bank works to be undertaken. Other private sites within the vicinity do Fenny Stratford Offside £123.62 charge considerably more but have benefit of all facilities.

£102.45 Popular site which sells well at auction - Comparable site charges considerably more but has Fenny Stratford Towpath £105.01 benefit of all facilities.

£103.85 4 sales within last 2 years - all below guide price - Several took a long time to sell. Comparable Grenville Marina £103.85 site charges considerably more but has benefit of all facilities.

£84.30 5 sales within last 2 years - 3 sold at above guide price and 2 below - took time to sell some of Bottom Lock Offside £86.41 these berths. Comparable site charges considerably more but has benefit of all facilities.

Leighton Lock £84.51 £86.63 No churn or auction data

£96.53 £98.94 Popular site which sells well at auction

1 berth sold within last year - at above guide price. 3 bidders - 8 bids. Slapton £105.36 £110.63

£107.98 Seabrook Lock £110.68 .2 sales within last 2 years - both sold at reserve price - took a long time to sell -

Bucks & Herts 2015 Page 3 of 7 2014 Price from Site Name Notes on pricing decision Price April 2015 £2,811.07 (long) £2,951.61

Popular site which sells well at auction. This site has all facilities - but comparable site charges

considerably more. £2,173.26 Cooks Wharf (short) £2,281.92

£119.79 Popular residential site which always sells well at auction. Nearest comparable competitor Marsworth - Res Moorings £131.78 charges considerably more, but does have the benefit of all relevant facilities.

£112.40 Popular site with very little churn. Local competitor charges considerably more, but do have the Marsworth Office side £115.21 benefit of all relevant facilities.

Popular site. Secure, offside. No churn within the last two years. Nearest comparable £127.88 competitor charges considerably more (£200 per metre), but does have the benefit of all relevant Cowroast Site £134.28 facilities.

£121.77 Offside secure site close to Hemel Hempstead Town centre with good rail and road access. Fisheries Lock £124.82 Nearest comparable competitor charges considerably more (£189-£205), but does have the benefit of all relevant facilities and close to local amenities.

Small private off side secure site with gardens plots, in desirable location close to Kings Langley £114.02 £119.73 with good road access to M1 & M25 links. No vacancies offered in last three years and site Home Park remains full. Nearest comparable competitor charges considerably more (£189 per meter), but does have the benefit of all relevant facilities.

Jenny Whitehall Head of Direct Managed Moorings

Bucks & Herts 2015 Page 4 of 7 APPENDIX Mooring site comparisons Site name Setting Mooring amenity Facilities The facilities available on site include The mooring Basin is approx 3 miles for the town Aylesbury The mooring are located on the water, refuse disposal, car parking, Elsan, centre. Local amenities include shops, pubs, theatre, Canal Society Aylesbury Arm at Circus Fields pump out, electricity bollards, toilets, and museum. Bus train and travel network. shower, laundry and diesel. The mooring is ½ mile from the A508. Nearest Village The Marina is located on the The facilities available on site include Cosgrove is Cosgrove village approx ¼ mile away. Close to Post Arm/Grand Union water, refuse disposal, car parking, Elsan, Marina Office, Public House and village store. Nearest public Canal by lock 21. On line, Offside toilet and storage. transport links are approx 1 1/2 at old The entrance to Grove Lock Marina is on the B488 approx. 700 yards south of the roundabout on the A505. 35. Set in spacious, landscaped grounds Grove Lock The Facilities at this site include high level adjacent to both the lock and the pub. Leighton Marina of security, ample free parking for Grove Lock Marina is situated on Buzzard town centre is approx. 3 miles from the Marina. moorers and guests, showers, toilets, the Grand Union Main canal at the Local amenities include shops, restaurants, public pump out, Elsan, Gas, Oil, Coal, south end of Grove Lock. houses, railway station and public transport links. Sundries. Free Wi-Fi connection to all berths.

The mooring is located off of The mooring is ½ mile from Great Linford/Giffard Park, The facilities on site include water, refuse Lionhearts Monks Way by footbridge 79b, Milton Keynes. Local amenities include public house, disposal, cark parking, Elsan, and toilet Cruising Club road bridge 79a. This is an offside shops, and restaurants. Public transport 100 yards and under cover boat servicing area. layby. away on Monks Way. The mooring is located off the The moorings are 100 yards from Woughton on the MK (Woughton) main road B4034, close to bridge The facilities on site include water, refuse Green. Local amenities include public house, Marina 88 (Peartree bridge). This is an disposal, Elsan, electric and workshop restaurant and local stores. Hospital within ¼ mile. off side basin.

Bucks & Herts 2015 Page 5 of 7 Site name Setting Mooring amenity Facilities Facilities on site include water, refuse The Marina is located of the The mooring approx 1 mile from Northchurch village. disposal, car parking, Elsan, toilet, Cowroast A4251 at Bridge 137 on the Grand Local amenities include pubs, general stores and public electric, security, lighting, pump out, Marina Union South. Marina moorings on transport. showers, laundry, shops, chandlery and the towpath side. club house. The facilities available at this site include The moorings are approx ¼ from the A41. Middlesex & The Marina is located of the water, refuse disposal, car parking, Elsan, Berkhamsted is approx 2 miles for the Marina. Local Herts Boat A4251 at Swing bridge 147, by toilet, showers, electric, pump out, amenities include shops, restaurants, public houses, Services lock 61. Offside Marina. laundry, shop, storage, chandlery and railway station and public transport links. club house. The moorings are based in a residential, self-contained The Marina is located of the site. Amenities directly on hand include pubs, The facilities available at Apsley Marina A4251 by bridge 145. Pontoon Apsley Basin restaurant, cafes, general store, hotel and post office. include water, electric, toilets, shower, moorings on the towpath side in a Train station ¼ away. 1 mile from Hemel Hempstead laundry, parking and refuse disposal. basin. town centre and Hospital. The Marina has a private access and parking. Approx The facilities available at this site include The Marina is located at Bridge 2 miles from Watford Town Centre and 1 mile from Bridgewater water, refuse disposal, Elsan, toilet, 169, off of the A412. This is an Croxley Green. Local amenities include 2 railway Marina electric, showers, laundry diesel, LPC, offside Basin. stations, public house, restaurants, hotels, cafes, and Gas. nightclubs, local stores, shops, hospital and golf course. The Marina has private entrance and car park. The The Facilities available are water, refuse The Marina is located off the Village of Pitstone is ½ mile away where local amenities Grebe Canal disposal, car parking, Elsan, toilet, B489 by bridge 126. This is an include general stores, post office, restaurant, public Cruises electric, pump out, chandlery, dry dock offside Basin. houses. 1 ½ miles away from train services and pay phone. station. Local transport links. The on line, off side moorings are This club has a private access. ½ mile from Cosgrove. Taverners located by bridge 64 ~ Castle Local amenities include pub and restaurant at bridge The facilities at this site include parking, Cruise Club Thorpe Road which id off of the 64. Local stores, post office, pubs and restaurants are toilet and showers. A508. available in Cosgrove.

Bucks & Herts 2015 Page 6 of 7 Site name Setting Mooring amenity Facilities The moorings have private access and car park. The The facilities available at this site include Dunstable & The on line, offside mooring is site is close to Pitstone Village which is ½ mile away water, cark park, Elsan, electric, lighting, District Boat located on the Grand Union by where local amenities include general stores, post security, pump out and sheltered service Club Road Bridge 126 off of the B489 office, restaurant, public houses. 1 ½ miles away from area. Cheddington train station and local transport links. The moorings are approx ¼ mile from the A41. The site on line, offside. Located The facilities available are water, Elsan, Pixies Mere Berkhamsted is approx 2 miles for the Marina. Local by bridge 145 and below lock 58. refuse disposal and Moorings amenities include shops, restaurants, public houses, The road access is the A4251 railway station and public transport links Car park. The site is located at bridge 7 on The moorings are approx ½ mile from Puttenham Bates Boat the Aylesbury Arm. The moorings village. Amenities include public house, general stores. The facilities available at site include Yard are on line, offside. Access road Local post office in Wilstone 1 mile away. Local bus water, refuse disposal, toilets, electricity B489 route available from the B489 The moorings on the western side The mooring site is ½ mile from all the local facilities of of Leighton Buzzard. Access is off The facilities available at site include the busy town centre. Amenities include shops, Wyvern Leighton Road (A4146 from water, refuse disposal, pump out, Elsan, restaurants, public houses, post office, leisure centre Shipping Leighton Buzzard to Bletchley), dry dock, boat repairs, car parking, gas and super markets. Good Public transports links with using the path from Bridge 114. and diesel rail station ½ away at The moorings are offside. The facilities available on site include The mooring site is approx. 1 ½ miles from Stoke water, refuse disposal, gas, diesel, pump The moorings are on line, offside Hammond and 1 ½ miles from Fenny Stratford. Local out, Elsan, toilets, electric to some berths, Willowbridge at bridge 99. Access off of the amenities include shops, public houses, and chandlery, boat repairs, marine Enterprises A4146 restaurants. Local buses run from Water Eaton which electrician, site supervision, office is 200 yards from the marina entrance provision, dry dock, craneage, hot food, showers and laundry The moorings are on line, offside The mooring is approx 1 mile from both and The facilities available on site include close to bridge 123 between cheddington. Village amenities include general stores, Vicarage Farm water, car parking, and communal garden Ivinghoe and Cheddington. The post office, restaurant, public houses. Public transport, area. access road is the B488 including train station is available from Cheddington.

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