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 Grand Union Canal from the M25 crossing up to and including the Milton Keynes 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 Site Name Current Capacity Total Auctions (inc. Relists) Since April 2012 Total Successful Auctions Total No. of Bidders Black Horse 11 6 3 4 Fenny Stratford Towpath 8 28 8 10 Grenville 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 Lock 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 Lionhearts Cruising Club Milton Keynes Apsley Basin Dunstable & District Boat Club Cowroast Grebe Canal Cruises ~ Pitstone Wharf Ltd Pixies Mere Moorings (Boxmoor Trust) Middlesex & Herts Boat Services Taverners Cruise Club Bates Boat Yard Wyvern Shipping Grove Lock 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%. Site Name 2014 Price Grand Union Canal (Aylesbury Arm) Price from April 2015 Notes on pricing decision Aylesbury 190.48 New site. Considerable site improvements. Each berth will be fully serviced when completed. Prime location. Now located on the offside in easy reach of town centre and public transport links. Black Horse 73.06 74.88 Very little churn at this site. 2 auctions only in the last 3 years. Local competitor charges considerably more but has the benefit of all facilities. Fenny Stratford Offside 120.61 123.62 No churn as site - awaiting bank works to be undertaken. Other private sites within the vicinity do charge considerably more but have benefit of all facilities. Fenny Stratford Towpath 102.45 105.01 Popular site which sells well at auction - Comparable site charges considerably more but has benefit of all facilities. Grenville 103.85 103.85 4 sales within last 2 years - all below guide price - Several took a long time to sell. Comparable site charges considerably more but has benefit of all facilities. Soulbury Bottom Lock Offside 84.30 86.41 5 sales within last 2 years - 3 sold at above guide price and 2 below - took time to sell some of these berths. Comparable site charges considerably more but has benefit of all facilities. Leighton Lock 84.51 86.63 No churn or auction data Leighton Buzzard 96.53 98.94 Popular site which sells well at auction Slapton 105.36 110.63 1 berth sold within last year - at above guide price. 3 bidders - 8 bids. Seabrook Lock 107.98 110.68.2 sales within last 2 years - both sold at reserve price - took a long time to sell - Bucks & Herts 2015 Page 3 of 7
Site Name 2014 Price Price from April 2015 Notes on pricing decision Cooks Wharf (long) 2,811.07 2,951.61 Cooks Wharf (short) 2,173.26 2,281.92 Popular site which sells well at auction. This site has all facilities - but comparable site charges considerably more. Marsworth - Res Moorings 119.79 131.78 Popular residential site which always sells well at auction. Nearest comparable competitor charges considerably more, but does have the benefit of all relevant facilities. Marsworth Office side 112.40 115.21 Popular site with very little churn. Local competitor charges considerably more, but do have the benefit of all relevant facilities. Cowroast Site 127.88 134.28 Popular site. Secure, offside. No churn within the last two years. Nearest comparable competitor charges considerably more ( 200 per metre), but does have the benefit of all relevant facilities. Fisheries Lock 121.77 124.82 Offside secure site close to Hemel Hempstead Town centre with good rail and road access. Nearest comparable competitor charges considerably more ( 189-205), but does have the benefit of all relevant facilities and close to local amenities. Home Park 114.02 119.73 Small private off side secure site with gardens plots, in desirable location close to Kings Langley with good road access to M1 & M25 links. No vacancies offered in last three years and site 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 Aylesbury Canal Society Cosgrove Grove Lock The mooring are located on the Aylesbury Arm at Circus Fields The is located on the Buckingham Arm/Grand Union Canal by lock 21. On line, Offside Grove Lock is situated on the Grand Union Main canal at the south end of Grove Lock. The mooring Basin is approx 3 miles for the town centre. Local amenities include shops, pubs, theatre, and museum. Bus train and travel network. The mooring is ½ mile from the A508. Nearest Village is Cosgrove village approx ¼ mile away. Close to Post Office, Public House and village store. Nearest public transport links are approx 1 1/2 at old Wolverton The entrance to Grove Lock is on the B488 approx. 700 yards south of the roundabout on the A505. 35. Set in spacious, landscaped grounds adjacent to both the lock and the pub. Leighton Buzzard town centre is approx. 3 miles from the. Local amenities include shops, restaurants, public houses, railway station and public transport links. water, refuse disposal, car parking, Elsan, pump out, electricity bollards, toilets, shower, laundry and diesel. water, refuse disposal, car parking, Elsan, toilet and storage. The Facilities at this site include high level of security, ample free parking for moorers and guests, showers, toilets, pump out, Elsan, Gas, Oil, Coal, Sundries. Free Wi-Fi connection to all berths. Lionhearts Cruising Club The mooring is located off of Monks Way by footbridge 79b, road bridge 79a. This is an offside layby. The mooring is ½ mile from Great Linford/Giffard Park, Milton Keynes. Local amenities include public house, shops, and restaurants. Public transport 100 yards away on Monks Way. The facilities on site include water, refuse disposal, cark parking, Elsan, and toilet and under cover boat servicing area. MK (Woughton) The mooring is located off the main road B4034, close to bridge 88 (Peartree bridge). This is an off side basin. The moorings are 100 yards from Woughton on the Green. Local amenities include public house, restaurant and local stores. Hospital within ¼ mile. The facilities on site include water, refuse disposal, Elsan, electric and workshop Bucks & Herts 2015 Page 5 of 7
Site name Setting Mooring amenity Facilities Cowroast Middlesex & Herts Boat Services Apsley Basin Bridgewater Grebe Canal Cruises Taverners Cruise Club The is located of the A4251 at Bridge 137 on the Grand Union South. moorings on the towpath side. The is located of the A4251 at Swing bridge 147, by lock 61. Offside. The is located of the A4251 by bridge 145. Pontoon moorings on the towpath side in a basin. The is located at Bridge 169, off of the A412. This is an offside Basin. The is located off the B489 by bridge 126. This is an offside Basin. The on line, off side moorings are located by bridge 64 ~ Castle Thorpe Road which id off of the A508. The mooring approx 1 mile from Northchurch village. Local amenities include pubs, general stores and public transport. The moorings are approx ¼ from the A41. Berkhamsted is approx 2 miles for the. Local amenities include shops, restaurants, public houses, railway station and public transport links. The moorings are based in a residential, self-contained site. Amenities directly on hand include pubs, restaurant, cafes, general store, hotel and post office. Train station ¼ away. 1 mile from Hemel Hempstead town centre and Hospital. The has a private access and parking. Approx 2 miles from Watford Town Centre and 1 mile from Croxley Green. Local amenities include 2 railway stations, public house, restaurants, hotels, cafes, nightclubs, local stores, shops, hospital and golf course. The has private entrance and car park. The Village of Pitstone is ½ mile away where local amenities include general stores, post office, restaurant, public houses. 1 ½ miles away from Cheddington train station. Local transport links. This club has a private access. ½ mile from Cosgrove. Local amenities include pub and restaurant at bridge 64. Local stores, post office, pubs and restaurants are available in Cosgrove. Facilities on site include water, refuse disposal, car parking, Elsan, toilet, electric, security, lighting, pump out, showers, laundry, shops, chandlery and club house. The facilities available at this site include water, refuse disposal, car parking, Elsan, toilet, showers, electric, pump out, laundry, shop, storage, chandlery and club house. The facilities available at Apsley include water, electric, toilets, shower, laundry, parking and refuse disposal. The facilities available at this site include water, refuse disposal, Elsan, toilet, electric, showers, laundry diesel, LPC, and Gas. The Facilities available are water, refuse disposal, car parking, Elsan, toilet, electric, pump out, chandlery, dry dock services and pay phone. The facilities at this site include parking, toilet and showers. Bucks & Herts 2015 Page 6 of 7
Site name Setting Mooring amenity Facilities Dunstable & District Boat Club Pixies Mere Moorings Bates Boat Yard Wyvern Shipping Willowbridge Enterprises Vicarage Farm The on line, offside mooring is located on the Grand Union by Road Bridge 126 off of the B489 The site on line, offside. Located by bridge 145 and below lock 58. The road access is the A4251 The site is located at bridge 7 on the Aylesbury Arm. The moorings are on line, offside. Access road B489 The moorings on the western side of Leighton Buzzard. Access is off Leighton Road (A4146 from Leighton Buzzard to Bletchley), using the path from Bridge 114. The moorings are offside. The moorings are on line, offside at bridge 99. Access off of the A4146 The moorings are on line, offside close to bridge 123 between Ivinghoe and Cheddington. The access road is the B488 The moorings have private access and car park. The site is close to Pitstone Village which is ½ mile away where local amenities include general stores, post office, restaurant, public houses. 1 ½ miles away from Cheddington train station and local transport links. The moorings are approx ¼ mile from the A41. Berkhamsted is approx 2 miles for the. Local amenities include shops, restaurants, public houses, railway station and public transport links The moorings are approx ½ mile from Puttenham village. Amenities include public house, general stores. Local post office in Wilstone 1 mile away. Local bus route available from the B489 The mooring site is ½ mile from all the local facilities of the busy town centre. Amenities include shops, restaurants, public houses, post office, leisure centre and super markets. Good Public transports links with rail station ½ away at Linslade The mooring site is approx. 1 ½ miles from Stoke Hammond and 1 ½ miles from Fenny Stratford. Local amenities include shops, public houses, and restaurants. Local buses run from Water Eaton which is 200 yards from the marina entrance The mooring is approx 1 mile from both Ivinghoe and cheddington. Village amenities include general stores, post office, restaurant, public houses. Public transport, including train station is available from Cheddington. The facilities available at this site include water, cark park, Elsan, electric, lighting, security, pump out and sheltered service area. The facilities available are water, Elsan, refuse disposal and Car park. The facilities available at site include water, refuse disposal, toilets, electricity The facilities available at site include water, refuse disposal, pump out, Elsan, dry dock, boat repairs, car parking, gas and diesel water, refuse disposal, gas, diesel, pump out, Elsan, toilets, electric to some berths, chandlery, boat repairs, marine electrician, site supervision, office provision, dry dock, craneage, hot food, showers and laundry water, car parking, and communal garden area. Bucks & Herts 2015 Page 7 of 7