SALCOMBE Harbour moorings policy is ‘unfair to local people’ according to a local man who has resorted to keeping his boats in France.

Eliot Eglington, who has lived in Salcombe for 30 years, keeps two boats in France after he was told he must wait up to seven and a half years for a possible mooring in the town, or pay £6,000.

Eliot, who works in the marine trade in the South Hams, said: ‘I have got to the stage now where I think the way the harbour runs is far from fair to local people and is catering for wealthy outsiders.’

The moorings used to give priority to local people, but this was removed as it could have left the Salcombe Harbour Authority open to legal challenges.

Eliot continued, saying: ‘I understand moorings are limited, and it is difficult to keep everyone happy. The present system in my opinion seems fair enough if we lived in an area where there were not so many second homes.

‘These second home owners and holiday owners are taking many moorings, many are not regularly used and this obviously has a huge impact on those local who wish to enjoy their local pastime, I consider it rather unfair.

‘Also, the harbour lets business take on moorings then charge extortionate amounts, £6,000 in my case. I feel they should only be allowed to have a certain proportion to be let to outsiders and a cap on how much they may hike the prices.

‘It is common knowledge that moorings are sub-let, when that is against policy. I have a friend who has purchased a multimillion pound house in Salcombe with two moorings. She has no boats herself, and has no interest in boating, and just sublets to other people.

‘I know a person who has been here for a very short time yet I believe he has four moorings. The member of a certain authority admitted its because of money.

‘I cant help but feel things need desperate change within the harbour, and I will try my best to make things better for the local working person. Its absurd wealthy outsiders can obtain moorings, perhaps stick a boat on that they use for a week in the year only, this I believe is very common. Yet I must wait over seven years for a mooring.

‘This week a friend of mine, an ex local publican, has been told he must pay £450 to leave his boat in Salcombe for two months. Its pure greed. I am to believe the Harbour authorities is subsidised by the council, therefore local tax payers are paying for their operations. Yet they cant get moorings themselves.

‘It’s saddening that the old working Salcombe has changed due to the influx of the wealthy outsiders, driving locals elsewhere.

‘I don’t necessarily want to bring my boat back here but feel for the many locals that cannot get moorings. The whole area is catering for the wealthy and greed takes over.

‘Many locals are either too scared to voice opinions incase they upset people, or feel that their opinions will not be listened to. I for one will do my best to make things a little fairer for the local ordinary working person.

‘Perhaps I may not succeed, but I shall try my hardest. I’m not knocking the Salcombe harbour master or staff, I think the crazy decisions are made higher up that I wish to change.’

A spokesperson for South Hams District Council said: ‘Since the removal of the Council Tax discount for second homeowners, we accept new mooring applications on a “first come first served” basis, irrespective of whether applicants are full-time residents or second homeowners.

‘Therefore to reduce waiting lists and following public consultation, the Harbour Board has decided to increase the number of moorings by 100 places. Commercial business moorings continue to be allocated annually and the board recognises that these will result in different charges, however these moorings do continue to support valuable local businesses and jobs.

‘Harbour Board meetings are advertised on our website to which members of the public are always welcome.’