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19/05/04
Well hands up I have been neglecting the news for a few months but we have been rather busy.
Ledgard Bridge Boat Company are now not only producing boats for our own customers but are also now building and fitting out boats for a new company Ledgard Bridge Boats Limited based largely along the lines of our designs these boats offer a comparable specification to one of the well known mass new boat brokers. Using modern large scale production methods a 57ft barge style narrowboat can be produced in as little as 18 weeks from order for a very competitive £71,00 inc VAT.
Ledgard Bridge Boats Limited are also happy to offer boats to any stage of completion from bare hull to fully fitted.
Ledgard Bridge Boats Limited are also offering a free brokerage service for a limited period that might well help you sell your boat without the need to pay brokers commission. You can find out more here.
Online Broad Beam Build
In conjunction with Canal World .net we are producing a online diary of a 12’6” x 56’ barge you can follow the build on line here.
Fed up of being the last person to know the waterways news?
Then make sure to check in on Narrow boat world for your free up to date waterways news, where the magazines get in six weeks they get the following day!
Zero rated VAT and broad beam boats
Since the business brief was issued on the 31/12/04 little new information is available, the fact that the press became involved seems to have quietened C&E some what from “off the cuff comments”.
Along with the election and pending merger of the IR and C&E all is quiet at the moment, the BMF are still in consultation to try to overturn the potentially disastrous for the industry policy adopted by C&E of trying to recover retrospectively the VAT not collected on boats and now deemed outstanding from builders. Many sectors of the industry are making provisions for the worst case scenario while unfortunately many smaller sole traders are faced with declaring personal bankruptcy.
Red diesel
It now looks more than likely that by the end of 2006 the use of red diesel for propulsion will no longer be legal on UK waterways. In preparation for this all of our boats will now be fitted with twin tanks to allow alternate propulsion and domestic service fuels to be used.
Red Diesel Latest
A meeting was held at Marine House on Monday 18th April with 3 officials from HM Revenue & Customs (the new Government department formed out of the merger between HM Customs & Excise and HM Treasury), who will be briefing Ministers who will take a decision on the retention or loss of the derogation. The BMF has been working in partnership with the Royal Yachting Association, Inland Waterways Association and the Federation of Petroleum Suppliers on a campaign aimed at securing the retention of the derogation that allows for a lower rate of duty on red diesel used for marine leisure purposes. All partners were present at the meeting, together with the BMF's Public Affairs Advisors, Fishburn Hedges.
A detailed presentation was made to the officials to familiarise them with the boating market and the success of the UK leisure marine industry. The presentation also set out our views on the impact that the loss of red diesel would have in respect of peoples enjoyment of boating and damage to the industry. The meeting also considered research, which has been undertaken by the RYA with their members, as to the impact on participation in boating, and very recent research undertaken by the BMF with a sample of members who sell red diesel about the impact on their businesses.
The officials reacted positively to the arguments that were placed before them, but stressed that there would be a need to quantify the issues as Ministers start to consider the issues over the coming months. They stated that Ministers were likely to take a decision on whether to seek a further derogation from the EU in the autumn of this year but stressed that if Ministers take a positive decision to progress a derogation with the European Commission, it would require unanimity by voting EU member states to achieve final approval.
Commenting on the meeting, the BMF Executive Director, Howard Pridding said
"This was an extremely encouraging meeting with the key officials who will be briefing Ministers who will be taking this important decision. I believe that we have given them a good understanding of the very detrimental impact that loss of the derogation will have on people's enjoyment of boating and a very successful sector of UK industry. The partners in the 'Seeing Red' campaign will continue to work together and ensure that Government officials have all the information that they will need. However, politicians will take this decision and we need to increase the level of awareness. I would encourage companies to ensure that their own MP is aware of the impact that the loss of this derogation could have on their businesses in respect of loss of revenue and jobs."
For further information on the "Seeing Red" campaign contact hpridding@britishmarine.co.uk. Any BMF member selling red diesel who has not completed the questionnaire recently circulated to members should contact the BMF Researcher, Karen Boss at kboss@britishmarine.co.uk.
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