Portland Marina car park charges

[dwhitlow]

I was diving from Portland Marina yesterday and spoke to skippers there. There is a lot of pressure put on the Marina owners and discussion are in progress about lowering prices. Scimitar and Skin Deep are trying to get free parking extended from 15min to at least 30min so there is enough time to drop kit off and find parking outside. They are also trying to lower the price, £16 for 12 hrs is very very expensive and way above what other car parks in the area cost. Even with the discount it would be extra £16 per weekend of diving.

The marina is owned by Boatfolk, a company serving the boating community, and they favour their customers, the berth holders, with everyone else being an annoying inconvenience. In the last few years they have added additional capacity, in the form of more pontoons, and this means more berth holders can be accommodated.

There have been times when the car park was full and it was difficult to find a space. This can be particularly bad when a lot of boats are out of the water and the car park turns into a boat park.

The new scheme is clearly intended to support the boat owners and encourage everyone else to park elsewhere. Each berth holder gets 2 free parking spaces, and 3 half-price parking spaces. Some berth holders live on their boats so any vehicles they have are taking up long term parking spaces.

Whilst their tenants (the other businesses) may seek concessions I'm not overly optimistic much will change.

We are already spending a fortune at the marina : boat, gas fills, beer and food, coffee etc.
Hopefully the price will go down for divers.

Yes, you spend a lot with businesses at the marina but Boatfolk see none of it as they see only the rent from tenants and the complaints from berth holders unable to park. I hope they do change things but I'm not optimistic.

[Woz]

How about we just all get plates made up with Dominic Cumming's reg number?

[MarkP]

How about we just all get plates made up with Dominic Cumming's reg number?

I don't think CU*T is that easy to get.

[Adrian]

I don't think CU*T is that easy to get.

He needs his eyes checked if he thinks that's how it's spelled.

[MarkP]

He needs his eyes checked if he thinks that's how it's spelled.

I hear the parking charges at Barnard Castle are reasonable.