The National Trust is increasing mooring fees at Brancaster Manor wetland, saying that it is necessary to meet running costs, but the locals are furious.

The Daily Telegraph reports:

The National Trust has become embroiled in a row with fishermen in Norfolk after imposing a new £60 charge at a waterway previously used free of charge.

For centuries, anglers and sailors have navigated Brancaster Manor, a 2,000-acre wetland which includes a harbour, on what is considered to be one of the most picturesque spots on the county’s coastline.

But the National Trust is now charging £60 for people who want to chain up their dinghies, with notices explaining that anyone seeking to sail must now register their vessel and enter a ballot for a place before paying the fee.

The charity has also imposed a fourfold increase in mooring fees for larger vessels kept on buoys.

It says its costs are increasing and that the new measures are intended to make the running of the harbour safer and fairer.

But local residents have criticised the move and have even erected their own sign to voice their displeasure.

Placed in the reeds near the sailing club, it reads: “Brancaster Harbour is not Blickling Hall, don’t let the National Trust take control,” and is signed by “the Marsh fairies”.

Cyril Sutherland, 78, a fourth-generation fisherman, fumed: “The National Trust don’t listen to local people now.

“For the last two or three years, the trust have ignored the fairways committee when making decisions. That has brought a lot of unrest to the harbour.”

Jim Herculson, 77, a retired businessman, recalled the public meeting before the trust took over Brancaster in 1967 at which it said it did not intend to take over the running of the harbour.

He was also a member of the harbour’s management committee for 40 years and said: “We dealt with the National Trust for a lot of years.

“We got on with them and as long as the harbour was run OK, they were happy.”