Both leisure uses and professional fishermen were surprised when they received demands through the post from ING for increased fees which will see many harbour users costs being increased from the current £60/year to £250/year an increase of more than 400%, with costs for larger enterprises being proportionally more,

The increases came out of the blue without any warning or prior consultation and were not mentioned at the recent Harbour Advisory Committee Meeting.

In addition to the increased fees harbour users have been told that they must sign a five page contract agreeing to the new fees and terms within seven days. This gives little time for boat operators to make an informed decision or to seek legal advice especially at this time of year when many owners are away from the port. Richard Ford, acting on behalf of ING the harbour owners is said to have told one group of boat owners 'If you don't like it you can get out.'

This latest fiasco and the timing of it  has been bitterly received by many harbour users who feel they have gone out on a limb to co-operate and collaborate with ING in their regeneration plans for the harbour and they have criticised both the fee and contact package and the arrogant and officious manner in which it has been imposed.

Inevitably speculation has arisen that this latest 'management initiative' is designed to force current harbour users out of Hayle in the build up to INGs development plans. This has been further fuelled by the fact that at least one boat owner has been told that he is no longer welcome at Hayle Harbour and he has been advised to make alternative arrangements.