Boyne Valley Activities boss raging at 400 per cent hike in insurance
Boyne Valley Activities in Trim is the latest local business to speak out in the face of spiralling insurance costs as it faces a staggering 400 per cent hike in public liabilty premium since 2013.
The rafting and kayaking adventure firm was closed for the last 13 days have being unable to secure the necessary insurance. It now has cover in place but the situation provoked an angry response from owner, James Murray.
“Boyne Valley Activities was forced to close its doors on 01/05/2019. Through NO fault of our own we have been a victim of ridiculous insurance hikes that are crippling small businesses in this country.
"We have NEVER had a claim on our insurance policy. We are back open again with a 400% hike on our premium of the last 6 years (and a loss of revenue for the past couple of weeks-the opening weeks of our 16 week summer season."
Boyne Valley Activities will now remain open for business until at least until the end of the 2019 season and is looking forward to honouring all its bookings for the summer months.
"We will honour all our school tours and summer camp bookings.
"We will continue to operate as usual and see can we soak up the ridiculous insurance hike we had to take. We will have a savage season and we will continue to grow but we have big decisions to make in September.
"At this rate, there won’t be an outdoor activity centre-left in the country for the youth of Ireland-and our visiting tourists. This is a disgrace.”
The Boyne Valley Activities development follows last week's news that Rathbeggan Lakes has decided this summer season will be its last due to rising insurance costs that has seen owner Dave Robinson's premium rise to an unsustainable E40,000 per year. The family adventure only opens Rathbeggan Lakes for 20-22 week of the year.
Responding to the Boyne Valley Activities' statement on Facebook, Loughcrew Adventure Centre said it had considered its own future in the wake of steep insurance increases.
"We here at Loughcrew are having to consider closing our activity center this summer due to the same reason. We are so disappointed with the lack of legislation and support from government bodies and representatives. Discover Boyne Valley are promoting the area with cycleways and the new Blue Way and outdoor pursuits.... at this rate no centres or outdoor activities will actually be a viable business for anyone."
**In an earlier version of this story, we reported that BVA was closing at the end of the summer due to the ongoing crisis around insurance. That is not the case and we are happy to correct the matter.