SCOTTISH Canals has published a response to a public consultation on pricing for living and travelling on the country's waterways.

The organisation commissioned a review in October 2015 after increasing moorings and licence prices for those in Bowling and into the Forth and Clyde Canal, and across Scotland, that April.

They said no boater will pay more than an extra £100 per year, or £2 per week, plus inflation.

After a consultation last summer, Scottish Canals held a consultation with 88 responses, representing 17 per cent of their mooring customers and three per cent of all boating customers.

Steve Dunlop, chief executive of Scottish Canals, said: “As a public body, it’s right that we adopt a fair and reasonable approach to pricing. With amenities and customer demand varying between locations and waterways, price inconsistencies over charges have emerged over the years leaving some boaters paying significantly less or more than their neighbours.

“We have listened to customers and today are committing to addressing these anomalies but limiting the increase to no more than an extra £100 per year – less than £2 per week.”

He added: “This is a complex issue and one which all canal authorities are wrestling with. However, we believe we now have in place a fair, transparent and consistent approach to pricing which benefits all boaters. I’d like to thank all of our boating customers for their feedback and understanding during the review process.”

Consultants Gerald Eve and Bilfinger GVA worked with British Marine and the Royal Yachting Association of Scotland to publish their pricing review last year.

Amongst other changes going forward from the review are lower transit charges on the Lowlands Canals to stimulate boat movements and inflation rises will be calculated as an average of monthly figures from the previous year.

Navigation charges will stay at the 2015 levels, subject to annual consumer price index rises.

All the price changes will come into effect from June 1, 2017 and then April 1 from 2018 on.