SALTASH Town Council has defended charges for access to its waterfront pontoon, saying they are needed to control access, tackle anti-social behaviour and protect the facility for responsible boat users.

The council was responding to a question raised at the latest services committee by local resident Ken Vangorph, who told councillors he had used the pontoon for five years when launching and retrieving his boat from the nearby slipway.

Mr Vangorph said the pontoon was important for safety because there was no other suitable place to secure a boat while parking a vehicle and trailer.

He warned that charges could discourage boat users from using the facility and potentially lead to unsafe practices at the slipway – and also raised concerns about youngsters climbing over the gate after school to gain access.

However, the council said the charges were not a new measure and formed part of its long-running Trusted Boat Scheme.

Following a unanimous vote, it was resolved the town clerk, Sinead Burrows, respond to Mr Vangorph stating the proposal to remove access to the shoreline had been considered by the Services Committee as part of its review of fees and charges for 2026/27 at a meeting on October 10, 2024.

It said the Trusted Boat Scheme had been operating for many years, providing authorised users with access to the shoreline and pontoon 24 hours a day, 365 days a year, using a key code or fob. However, public access to the shoreline had been restricted after an increase in anti-social behaviour when all pontoon users had been allowed access for a two-hour period.

Councillors were also keen to highlight that the associated charges helped cover its administration and management, as well as ensuring fair and equitable use of the facilities.

They said restricting access had helped tackle previous anti-social behaviour at the site, while allowing responsible boat users to continue using the pontoon through the scheme.