Steve Wood <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote: >Adrian, In what sense (other than making boating unaffordable for some >people) does this trial help solve the moorings problem? Or is removing >the less well off from the canals an acceptable solution in your eyes?
A move to auctions solves four problems: (a) AVAILABILITY. At present, moorings that become vacant are made available only to those at the top of years-long waiting lists. There is no reason to believe that these are the people with the greatest need for moorings, but there is no mechanism for those with a greater need to overcome this allocation. Using auctions lets everyone have a chance at every vacant mooring. (c) MANDATE. The government has told BW it must get market prices for its services. The absence of vacancies, and the presence of waiting lists, show that mooring prices are currently below market. Auctions will demonstably ensure market prices, bringing BW into compliance. (c) REVENUE. Achieving market prices for moorings will increase BW's revenue, which is essential for the waterways given declining government grant. (d) EFFICIENCY. BW's current approach (surveys, checklists, etc.) is expensive to run (i.e. uses a lot of staff time). Auctions will be inexpensive, releasing money for uses more beneficial to the waterways. PS Moorings prices are going to to up anyway, auctions or not. Michael Clarke <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote: >You can summarise all of what you say above to - "if there is a long >queue to buy tickets, it is OK to push in at the front of the queue and >say, sod you lot, I have more money" No, you can't. The behaviour you describe is an example I used of the flaws in waiting lists, not a tactic I was recommending. However, you can summarise it as "Waiting lists work badly, are unfair, and are vulnerable to abuse. That's why it is a good idea to get rid of them and move to something more effective, open, and transparent." > No wonder the UK is going downhill with that attitude. No wonder the rest of the world views UK as a land of queues, and shakes its collective head. Adrian Adrian Stott 07956-299966
