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Fisherman in boat row turns to Whitehall
Alexandra Wood A FISHERMAN is appealing to the Department of Trade and Industry to help resolve a row which has sunk his "floating classroom".
In May Tony Pockley, aged 48, launched his What's in the Pot? scheme, which aims to show schoolchildren, clubs and other organisations the wealth of marine life in Bridlington Bay, especially the crabs and lobsters which have made the port a commercial success.
Up to 12 passengers were going to travel out on the educational trips on his new 40ft catamaran Providence.
However the Harbour Commissioners, who set the fees for the berths, classed the vessel a "theme" boat – like the Pirate Ship and Shark Attack speedboat which operate out of the harbour – and demanded 3,850 a year.
Mr Pockley says that makes his scheme economically unviable.
Under the Freedom of Information Act he says he tried to get the commissioners to reveal their appeals procedure, but had no joy.
As well as writing to local Tory MP Greg Knight, he has now turned to the Department of Trade and Industry, as he believes that under the Harbour Act of 1837 they should appoint an independent arbitrator to settle the dispute.
However he got short shrift yesterday from harbourmaster Chris Wright who said that Mr Pockley had already been before some of the Harbour Commissioners, who listened to his side of the story.
He added: "Four or five sat and listened to him. He said what he wanted to. They listened and they disagreed. That's it. All the time he's appealing he is not paying anything."
What both sides do agree is that the matter could end up before the courts.
Mr Wright said: "We can't budge and we can't have a boat in the harbour for nothing."
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Saturday 11 February 2012
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