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ANGLIAN PASS QUESTIONS & ANSWERS
Last update 22 March 2024
What is the Anglian Pass?
The Anglian Pass allows unrestricted visitor access to the navigations of the Environment Agency, the Middle Level Commissioners and the Conservators of the River Cam, for one year starting 01 April to the following 31 March.
What navigations are covered by the Pass?
The Environment Agency’s River Nene and River Great Ouse system, the navigations of the Middle Level and the River Cam navigation.
Who can apply for the Anglian Pass?
The Pass is available for powered boats which have a valid annual registration/ licence with the Environment Agency (must be a full registration covering the River Nene & River Great Ouse system), the Middle Level Commissioners, the Conservators of the River Cam or a Gold Licence from the Canal & River Trust.
How much will it cost me?
Each powered boat will require its own Anglian Pass. The current prices are;
Vessel up to 5 metres in length £30.00
Vessel over 5 metres to 10 metres (inclusive) in length £60.00
Vessel over 10 metres to 15 metres (inclusive) in length £90.00
Vessel over 15 metres in length £120.00
How do I purchase a Pass?
Further information on how to obtain a Pass can be found at www.visitanglainwaterways.org along with an application form. For current Environment Agency boat registration holders you can call the renewal line on 0330 159 1983. For general enquiries call 03708 506506.
Do I get a discount if I buy the pass later in the year?
No. The Pass prices are fixed for the year starting 01 April to the following 31 March.
Can I buy a Pass at any point during the year?
Yes, but the price remains the same at whatever point you purchase the Pass.
Is there a reduction in price if I only visit one additional navigation/I can only access one other navigation?
No. The Pass is a fixed price for the unrestricted visitor access to all three navigations, whether you choose to or can only visit one other navigation.
The Pass balances the costs of different visiting trends. For example, a boater may only visit the Cam, but they may do this on a very regular basis, whereas someone else may only take a two week holiday all year and travel across all three navigations during this time.
I think the pass is expensive/I paid a lot less to visit the Cam in previous years.
We feel the Pass is a simple, fair and cost effective system for our boating customers and for the three navigation authorities to operate. Providing one Pass for boaters to visit one or more additional navigations, means the administrative work involved and consequently the costs to our boaters reduce. However, all three navigation authorities still need to ensure we all receive the income required to provide our respective navigation and services.
We feel the costs of the Pass are very reasonable, compared to visitor/short-term registrations/licences, especially for unrestricted, all year access to one or more additional navigations. The costs of the Pass, also provide the navigation authorities with a more realistic income to contribute to the maintenance of our navigations.
Do I have to buy a Pass to visit the Nene, Great Ouse system, River Cam or Middle Levels?
Not necessarily. If you are visiting Environment Agency or Middle Level waters you can still purchase visitor/short-term registrations/licences, if you so choose, you do not have to purchase the Pass. However, unfortunately, the Anglian Pass is the only option for visiting the Cam Conservators navigation. If you do not qualify for the Pass, and wish to visit the River Cam above Bottisham Lock, you will need to contact the Conservators of the River Cam to discuss your options.
I have a gold licence, which runs from January to December. The pass runs from April to March. how does this work?
Providing you renew your Gold Licence in January, or purchase another annual registration from the Environment Agency, Middle Level Commissioners or Conservators of the River Cam that covers January to March, the Pass will remain valid. However, if you do not have a valid registration covering you for January to March, not only will the Pass not be valid, you may be subject to enforcement action, for non-registration by one or all of the navigation authorities.
Can I purchase a Pass if I have a standard licence with the Canal & River Trust?
No. You will need to purchase the appropriate registration/licence from the navigation authority’s waters you are visiting if you want to purchase the Pass.
Can I purchase a Pass if I have a registration/licence with a navigation authority that is not one of those listed?
No. You will need to purchase the appropriate registration/licence from the navigation authority’s waters you are visiting.
My boat is registered as ‘commercial’. Are there different prices for the Anglian Pass for commercial boats?
No. The Anglian Pass is the same price for private and commercial powered boats.
Is my tender covered if I buy a Pass for my ‘parent’ boat?
If you intend to use your tender when visiting another navigation, you will need to ensure you have purchased a separate Anglian Pass (if the boat has an engine/ powered) or a visitor registration/licence if it is manually propelled.
Do I get a discount on my tender, or if I have an electric engine?
No. There are no discounts on the Pass. The cost is fixed for the full year, whenever the Pass is purchased.
If I sell my boat part way through the boating year can I get a refund on the Pass?
No. There are no refunds on the Pass. If the boat remains on one of the partner navigations the Pass can be transferred with the boat.
Why can’t I purchase the Pass through my ‘home’ navigation authority, when I register my boat? / why do I have to go to another navigation authority to purchase the Pass?
We are always working hard to keep the cost of administrating the Pass to a minimum, which means this reduces the costs to you. By having one authority administering the Pass this meets this requirement. The Environment Agency are currently administrating the Pass, as they have a Call Centre in place that can deal with a high volume of calls.
If the Pass was not in place you would still have to contact a different, or two different, navigation authorities to obtain visitor registrations/licences.
With the Pass, you only need to apply once a year for the Pass. If obtaining visitor registrations/licences, you may have to apply for these on multiple occasions, to multiple navigation authorities throughout the year.
Who do I contact for further information?
In the first instance go to www.visitanglainwaterways.org . If you have further general questions about the Pass contact the Environment Agency’s National Customer Call Centre on 03708 506 506, or email boatreg@environment-agency.gov.uk
How do I contact the Middle Level Commissioners?
For all Pass enquiries, in the first instance go to www.visitanglainwaterways.org . If you have further general questions about the Pass contact the Environment Agency’s National Customer Call Centre on 03708 506 506, or email boatreg@environment-agency.gov.uk
If you want to contact the Commissioners regarding another matter;
Middle Level Commissioners, Middle Level Offices, 85 Whittlesey Road, March, Cambridgeshire, PE15 0AH
01354 653232
www.middlelevel.gov.uk/contact/
How do I contact the Conservators of the River Cam?
For all Pass enquiries, in the first instance go to www.visitanglainwaterways.org . If you have further general questions about the Pass contact the Environment Agency’s National Customer Call Centre on 03708 506 506, or email boatreg@environment-agency.gov.uk
If you want to contact the Conservators regarding another matter;
Cam Conservators, Clayhithe Office, Clayhithe Road, Waterbeach, Cambridge, CB25 9JB
01223 863785