Residents of Diglis Marina are upset after apartment managers put up a fence, stopping deliveries and causing safety concerns.
Apartment managers decided this was trespassing, desiring boat owners to stop using the car park. The managers then built a fence to keep them out, costing residents thousands of pounds. The new railings are two meters tall, and locals say the apartment managers removed plants and decorations by the water without asking, making the marina now look like a construction site.
Tony Wass, a marina resident who spent over a thousand pounds decorating his side, was shocked to see it all gone. Contractors removed it while he was away. He said FirstPort claims they own the wall.
The new fence, according to Tony, is ugly and unsafe, compromising security, as it is only held by cable ties. He feels there was no compromise. Tony spends almost £9,000 yearly to moor his boat and is now considering leaving the marina. The issue began when someone saw them passing shopping, even though they had permission from a resident.
Tony explained that costs include mooring fees, licenses, and potential council tax. He and his husband now face long walks for groceries, as the car is a kilometer away. He explained the alternative routes are hazardous, involving either a mile-long path or going over a lock gate, which raises concerns about slipping and falling.
One apartment resident, speaking anonymously, thinks it is a lot of fuss for nothing. They say the old fence looked pretty, and everyone helped each other then. Now they have an awful fence.
FirstPort, the apartment management, did not comment.