Large residential barges moored above Jesus Green Lock could be moved off their present sites under new proposals put forward by Cambridge City Council.

Cambridge’s boating community is in uproar following proposals to introduce the controversial new mooring policy. Under the proposals, the moorings that line the banks of the river would be moved off the Cam above Jesus Green Lock and wide vessels, students, single occupiers and people aged over 60 could be subject to higher mooring fees.

A questionnaire has been issued by the Council to gauge views on mooring licence pricing and areas for mooring.

The Council claims it is reacting to complaints from other city residents about the "loss of amenity and visual impact caused by mooring" at Jubilee Gardens, a popular mooring spot upstream of Jesus Green Lock.

The Council intends to increase the standard mooring licence fee for wide beam vessels by 50%. These boats span over 2.15m in width, and have allegedly prompted complaints from other river users due to their size. The proposals would also abolish the 50% reduction in the fee which is currently offered to students and people aged over 60.

Boaters have slammed the proposals, claiming that they will "displace" the community and force families off the river. Toni Rogers, Chair of the Camboaters Association, which represents the rights of residential boaters, described the proposals as "ridiculous".

"Jubilee Gardens is a very popular mooring spot, away from the hub of the rowing areas, convenient for families to access their cars and a community within a community. These plans will mean boaters who have moored above the lock for 10 years will be displaced from their homes."

She emphasised that 75m of allocated wide-beam mooring space will be removed under the new plans, with no guarantee of further space elsewhere on the River Cam. This space is already in high demand, with 80 names on the waiting list for a residential mooring licence.

Rogers also suggested that some members of the boating community would be placed in danger by the changes. "It will mean that two single women will be forced to moor on the far end of Stourbridge Common, which introduces safety issues with walking on the commons at night."

However, Cllr Julie Smith, Executive Councillor for Arts and Recreation, said: "I don’t have any interest in gratuitously moving families. This is a consultation so nothing has been decided."

Her statement was supported by Julie Durrant, a Project Support Officer at Cambridge City Council. Speaking to Varsity, she said, "Nothing has been decided," adding that no comments sent to the Council other than those made on the questionnaire would be taken into account.

She explained that protesters "have been able to complete the questionnaire and send that in to [them], so that will be evaluated and then recommendations will come out of that." However, resident boaters have accused Durrant of deliberately making it difficult for people to get their views across.

A Facebook group has been set up in opposition to the proposals called "SAVE OUR MOORING . Cambridge". One member wrote: "Why is it that they continually harass the peaceful boat community that is as much part of the Cambridge skyline as the colleges, the punts, the avenue of trees on Jesus Green? Leave the boat folk alone!"