CRT have introduced their discriminatory surcharge against boats without a home moorings.  As every day passes, more boaters realise that their licences are spiralling upwards while services continue to degrade.  As more boaters realise that they are been priced off the water, urgent action is required.   CRT claim it’s about money.  But is it really? 

There is no money to be made by the surcharge.  Rather it is about making an alternative way of life impossible.

The surcharge has been justified by CRT following a consultation that they presented to their board of trustees.  CRT claimed that the consultation revealed that boaters were overall in favour of a surcharge.  However multiple FOI’s have shown that CRT doctored the consultation, removing the slides that demonstrate that 97% of boats without a home mooring and 60% of all boaters were against the surcharge.  The doctored consultation was used to mislead the board of trustees and push through this discriminatory surcharge.
Recent contact with Richard Parry by NBTA members has shown that CRT has no interest in discussing how the surcharge will negatively impact our way of life.  He has stated that there will be no reopening of negotiations regarding the surcharge.  But CRT once claimed similar regarding the ‘saftey zones’ and following community pressure, they have been forced back to the table. 

So what does pressure look like this time around? A licence strike: Strikers will refuse to pay CRT’s new class of licence fee in protest against the ever increasing additional charges for boaters who
do not want, cannot afford, or cannot find a home mooring.
Currently the Stop the Surcharge Campaign are looking to sign up 500 boaters to go on a full licence strike.  They are rapidly approaching that threshold and strike action is imminent.  Why do they need to wait until 500 are ready to go on strike before acting? First, we are stronger as a collective in the face of CRT’s enforcement.  Such a number would overwhelm CRT’s enforcement capabilities thereby minimising the risk to you and your home.  Secondly, it would deny CRT over half a million pounds (the same amount as the combined salaries of Richard Parry, Chief Executive, and Stuart Mills, Chief Investment Officer).  Such amounts would begin to exert the pressure require from CRT to reopen discussions.  

To sign up to the strike go to  tinyurl.com/licencestrike . We are also looking for volunteers to deliver leaflets and picket CRT stalls, thereby damaging their public image.  If you feel that you would be able to please email:  CRTlicencestrike@gmail.com .