TEIGN riverbed owner Crown Estates has declined an invitation to attend a public meeting about mooring rights.

It was invited to hear concerns of mooring holders, claiming rights to moor for free, for a second open meeting into the debate.

But a spokesman for Crown Estates, from which the Harbour Commission holds the lease, confirmed this week that it would not be attending.

'The Crown Estates has attended public meetings on a number of occasions, but as the lease is now in place with the Harbour Commission, we feel that they are the ones to best deal with the moorings,' he said.

More than 100 people attended a public meeting last month.

Some called on the body to respond as a way forward in the moorings row.

They are among those claiming rights to moor for free in a complex issue that involves harbour acts, dating back to 1836.

Last year, a set of criteria was thrashed out for people who may be eligible for concessions, but some have questioned whether the Harbour Commission has the right to charge at all.

There has been further anger after mooring holders received letters from harbour master David Platt telling them to register their boats, pay up or have their moorings re-allocated on the long waiting list.

Since the first public meeting, a total of 69 people have made claims for free moorings, said clerk to the commission Graham Bond.

'It is certainly more that we had before the meeting. We asked people to make their claims and it seems that more have come forward to do so,' he said.

A second public meeting into the debate is unlikely without the input of Crown Estates, said county Cllr David Cox, who chaired the first public meeting along with county Cllr Chris Bray.

'We are disappointed that it is not prepared to come along, but we are hopeful that the Harbour Commission will be more flexible in its approach and that an appeals procedure for concessions can be formed with representatives of the commission and the local community.

'This will do much to ensure confidence in the process,' said Cllr Cox.

The claims are being processed by the commission and will be forwarded to Crown Estates for final assessment.