A PILOT scheme has been introduced to double “parking” fines for boaters mooring on the Thames in Oxford for longer than 72 hours.

The first initiative of its kind in the country was launched on the stretch of river alongside East Street, on Osney Island, in West Oxford, on Thursday.

Boaters gave a mixed reaction to the idea, a joint scheme by the Environment Agency and car parking company District Enforcement.

Previously the fine for mooring for longer than 72 hours was £50 and the penalty has now been doubled to £100.

The fines apply to boats mooring on the section of river between Osney Lock and Botley bridge.

Boaters are not charged for the first 24 hours of mooring and then pay £5 per day for the following two days, but after that the £100 fine will be imposed.

Jill and Brent Dale, originally from Lancashire, are moored in East Street and welcomed the move.

Mr Dale, 62, said: “When you come to certain spots it can be really hard to moor.

“This should hopefully mean it is easier to find somewhere to stay for a couple of days.”

Ruth Welch, 49, of Wargrave, Berkshire, who was on holiday, added: “I wasn’t expecting to be able to moor for free which is excellent.

“Most people are leisure boaters so paying about £10 for three days is great but after that you aren’t really doing it for leisure any more so I understand why they are doing it.”

However, some boaters are not happy about the move.

Alan Joyce, 51, said: “If they are charging £100 a day then that equates to about £3,000 a month, which is more than a four-bedroom detached house in Summertown costs.

“What they ought to be doing is making more mooring available; for instance below Osney Lock, which could be let out at the original £50 a day, and they could double the amount being brought in by charges simply by doubling availability.”

Mark Heelis, waterways technical advisor for the EA, said: “If that land was available to use then we would have already explored that option.

“We want to keep this really positive and free up the spaces for more boaters.”

The agency said the cost of the new signs along the stretch was about £300. District Enforcement is not charging the agency during the pilot scheme.

Nick McKie-Smith, a waterways enforcement manager for the agency, said: “There are 11,000 permanent moorers on the Thames and we are trying to manage it for the enjoyment of all users.

“This is a deterrent, not a money-making initiative.

“If we don’t have to issue any charges then I will be really pleased because it will show that it is working.”

Similar pilot schemes are also due to be implemented in Weybridge and Walton-on-Thames, both in Surrey, from Thursday, August 15.