The Liberal Democrats have written to Steve Reed MP, Secretary of State for Environment, Food, and Rural Affairs (DEFRA), demanding action to reform the way the Port of London Authority (PLA) manages the Thames.
The PLA has hit headlines in recent weeks due to the ongoing Public Inquiry (ending today, 17th March) into the pending Harbour Revision Order (HRO), submitted to the Maritime Management Organisation which sits under DEFRA.
The HRO has been slammed by residents who live along the Thames foreshore, who have already been subject to a balcony charge that has, for some, increased by £10,000 in 10 years. They say the HRO would give the PLA even more powers to raise these fees, which has been dubbed “paying to breathe the air on your balcony”, and a “racket.”
The PLA is able to charge these fees due to powers conferred upon its creation in 1908, which gave it the ability to charge for Riverworks Licences, back when the inner London Thames was used as a working commercial port. They now use these powers to charge for residential drains and balconies.
In their letter, signed jointly by London Assembly Member Hina Bokhari and Southwark Councillor Rachel Bentley, the Liberal Democrats ask the Secretary of State to ensure the HRO is not approved, and review how the PLA operates as an entity, potentially bringing it under direct control of the London Mayor or Secretary of State.
The Liberal Democrats had previously chalked up a win on activity in and around the Thames after the controversial “party boat” Oceandiva did not proceed in its plans to operate here.
Commenting, Liberal Democrat North Bermondsey Councillor Rachel Bentley said:
“It cannot be right for people to be charged these extortionate fees for the air on their own balconies. Like service charges for leaseholders, it’s critical that this gets more attention and reform, so that common sense fairness can be restored. I’m hopeful that this inquiry opens the door to reform, and that the Secretary of State considers our request to meet with us and residents to understand the issue more.”
