ANGRY York farmers have blasted new business rate charges of thousands of pounds on River Ouse moorings they rent to boat owners.

The farmers, based in Bishopthorpe and Acaster Malbis, claim the new rent charges are driving their customers away.

Some of the moorings have been in the farmers' families for generations.

Heather Earles, of Garth Farm, at Acaster Malbis, charges boat owners £73.50 a year to dock at the moorings which her family owns.

Thirty-three boats were docked there, but since Mrs Earles was hit with a two-year rate bill of £4,669, she says 16 have left. She said: "The state of this place was a disgrace after the floods in 2000, but when we asked for it to be cleaned up nobody wanted to know. Now we are being charged like this. It is a disgrace."

Elizabeth Smith, of Whitemoor Farm, Acaster, said two years worth of rate payments wiped out all of last year's income from the moorings.

She said: "Very few of the boat owners are saying they want to continue, the cost is too high.

"We are paying rates for a muddy river bank. It is not like any bins are being emptied or street lights being fixed."

Bishopthorpe ward Conservative local election candidate Sue Williams spoke up on behalf of the farmers.

"These are working farmers - they are not big landowners - who have suffered over the last few years. They are wondering where this has suddenly come from. It seems like just another Government stealth tax," Mrs Williams said.

Labour candidate Winifred Atkinson said: "I don't know too much about this, but, if elected, I would definitely look into it."

Sitting Liberal Democrat councillor David Livesley said: "The main problem is the lack of consultation. These people provide local economic benefits through their activities. If those activities are put under threat, so are the economic benefits.

"The income from these moorings supports some of these families, whose incomes have been put under threat from the recent problems the agriculture industry has suffered."

Roger Charles, external communications manager at the valuation office agency, said the office was responsible for ensuring rate and council tax lists were accurate.

The decision to levy business rates came after a recent visit to the York area, he said.

Mr Charles said: "We are satisfied the moorings were correctly brought into the ratings list.

"Those affected have the right to appeal. We would be more than happy to look at each case if the owners think it is wrong."

Updated: 11:17 Monday, April 14, 2003