Peel Ports Clydeport are proposing to introduce a Conservancy Fee for leisure craft in the Clydeport area in 2025.

This issue has been discussed at the Scottish Parliament’s Cross Party Group (CPG) on Recreational Boating and Marine Tourism on two occasions (24th September and 27th November 2024). On both occasions, Peel Ports were invited along to outline their plans, but twice declined to participate. Consequently, it was unanimously agreed at the 27 November 2024 meeting of the CPG that the members’ position is that these plans should be abandoned. 

Concerns include how the marine tourism economy will be damaged as boaters will be put off sailing within Clydeports’ waters. Boaters are also angry at the lack of meaningful dialogue with them about these plans, which has led to questions arising over how the fee will be spent.

Another worry relates to the progressive increase in charges that will surely happen if a conservancy fee is implemented. The somewhat limited fee, as proposed, will inevitably not remain the same in the coming years. In effect, this fee is considered very much as a ‘cash grab’ by the recreational boating sector.

Stuart McMillan MSP, Chair of the CPG, wrote an Open Letter on behalf of the CPG members and co-signatories Kenneth Gibson MSP and Clare Adamson MSP. There has also been significant press interest in this story given how far reaching these proposals are and the anger being expressed by the sector.

I have therefore launched this petition so that members of the public can show their support for the sector’s calls for Peel Ports to abandon their proposals to introduce a conservancy fee for sailing on the Clyde.