Punt tours in Cambridge are big business. These days, ‘illegal punter’ refers to a punt operator who operates from land without the permission of the land owner. It is a legal debate as to whether they are actually illegal or not, but for purposes of this blog we will refer to them as illegal. Garett Hostel Lane is the current hive of business for these operators because it is the only place left in Cambridge where they can get around the law, based on the fact that it is a public highway.
History of Legal Punting
Historically, when punting wasn’t so profitable, legal punt operators often worked, without requiring anyone’s permission, from whichever river bank was available. In the 1990’s, the river tours industry boomed and larger operators reserved pitches for themselves by acquiring land. A well-located punting station can now easily fetch half a million in profit per annum.
History of Illegal Punting
It was when the larger companies claimed ownership of land that a line was drawn between legal and illegal operators.
At first, illegal operators were mainly just ‘mobiles’ – one person and their boat. Anybody could work from Jesus Green or Kings Bridge and the lucky mobiles joined the more profitable clique at Garret Hostel Bridge. Despite complaints from larger companies, the authorities mainly turned a blind eye. This was because the mobiles’ service was arguably better because they were able to offer private tours at a cheaper rate and they took more pride in the presentation of their individual craft.
As the noughties progressed, small owner-operator businesses grew. By 2007, many illegal operators were employing large numbers of sales staff and running multiple wide beam punts. Friction grew between operators both on the river and the street. The streets became like a rugby field of competing touts from one end of the river to the other.
In 2008, the council offered all illegal operators a chance to become legal via a restrictive license to have a small share in a punting pontoon at Jesus Green. It was a difficult choice to make, but for some of us it seemed to offer more of a future. In return for appearing to control illegal operators, the council created restrictions for the existing and newly legal operators. The restrictions controlled tout numbers and pulled sales staff away from the busy city center and back to the river banks.
The remaining illegal operators who didn’t sign up to the council pontoon relocated touting operations to the busy city center. Out of the way of any competition and able to intercept the tourists before they even got to the river, illegal operators thrived in their new home.
Over the next decade, various legal initiatives were launched to tackle the growing number of Illegal operators. The vast sums of money being made by Illegal operators was enough to employ the best barristers who easily deflected the legal challenges launched by the river authority and council.
Legal challenges created a real threat of prosecution and instability for illegal operators and their employees, leading to poor discipline and a bad image. This is reflected in their boats which are generally left without maintenance.
2018 and there are at least seven different illegal operators. Arguments between them, over touting areas, has caused illegal sales people to spread all over the city with touts spreading from the train station to both ends of the river. Boat drillings, ‘sawings’ and stealing are rife between rival illegal operators. Sean Cooper of Varsity tours reports that “last year, we employed a security guard every night and our boats still got axed!”.
What does the future hold for illegal operators?
It’s common knowledge on the river that an injunction is going to be introduced imminently by the council to ban illegal punting. With so much money at stake, there is the risk that history will repeat itself and illegal punters will rebut the injunction with superior legal strength.
It is a common belief among illegal punters that a legitimate punt station should be created for them close to Silver Street. This would allow the injunction to go through without resistance. If touting in the city center was successfully stopped, Silver Street would once again be the busiest touting area and could easily support 4 stations. Pessimists would argue that this would not necessarily leave Garret Hostel Lane out of bounds to illegal operators in the future.
Watch out for an update from Scholars Punting Cambridge.
