THE row over the moorings fees hike intensified yesterday.

Boat owners hit back strongly at the suggestion that they had been consulted over the rise. They also held an emergency meeting to plan their next move.

Guernsey Boat Owners’ Association president John Le Noury (pictured) said he was forced to go public after the harbour master insisted that consultation had taken place.

He questioned whether there had been political pressure to manipulate what was said at a meeting at the end of last summer between the harbour master, himself, the GBA secretary and a Royal Channel Islands Yacht Club representative.

‘We were shown plans for a proposed marina which included the Careening Hard, Cambridge Berth and an extension wall to the east end of the Crown Pier,’ he said.

‘Pontoons for boats ranging in size from 15m to 30m were indicated. We were told that this would be a good money earner for the island, would provide jobs, and that ‘super rich’ individuals and companies would be queuing up for the berths. It was envisaged that the rate charged in this hypothetical marina would be greatly in excess of those for the other marinas and [we were] asked what were our views?’

He said they accepted that the island might benefit but were worried mooring holders in this area needed to be re-homed.