ANGRY narrowboat owners blockaded the Bridgewater Canal at Sale Waterside to protest at increased mooring fees.

Twenty-one boats blocked the canal to highlight the proposed fees hike, which would see some owners' fees almost double.

Fifty boats also jammed the canal at Lymm last Wednesday to support the protest called by the Federation of Bridgewater Cruising Clubs.

Canal owner Peel Holdings claims the increase is to bring charges up to the level paid by other boat owners and will be phased in.

But Robin Telkman, an officer of the federation and member of Sale Cruising Club, hit out at the proposed increase: "People who have retired on fixed incomes are particularly upset - some are thinking of giving up.

"Boaters are further irritated by the siphoning off of Bridgewater Trust funds to support Bridgewater Way development. This is unlikely to benefit boaters, yet has been estimated should bring between £5m and £8m into local communities. Compared to the proposed 180 per cent increase for boats, council contributions will rise by 3.5 per cent next year.

"In total boaters contribute well over five times that of the councils to canal funds each year, yet it is council representatives on the Bridgewater Trust who are taking decisions on funding behind closed doors."

Peel Holdings said it had invested in improvements to the canal, with £1.5m recently spent on a new marina and facilities for boats at Stretford.

"At present there are 1,000 pleasure craft licences issued on the Bridgewater Canal. The proposed increase in mooring fees affects 400 craft.

"The 400 craft affected by these increases pay much lower fees than other boat owners on the Bridgewater Canal and on other local waterways.

"No one likes increases in fees but it is only proper that all craft on the Bridgewater Canal pay a fair share.

"The company has met with the Federation of Bridgewater Cruising Clubs over the past year to discuss the issues. We sympathise with the affected boat owners and have agreed to phase in the increase over the next four years.

"To put the proposed increase in fees into context the increase for 2007 will mean that, depending on the length of craft, the increase will be from 50p for the smallest craft up to £2 per week for a full sized vessel."

cgriffin@messengergrp.co.uk