What happened to good old fashioned honestly.
People have a choice, use it and pay or go elsewhere.
Would anyone expect to sit in a pub all evening and not buy at least a drink, no because the place has overheads to pay, so does the mooring, lease, rates, maintenance…
Is the problem the cost, in which case you have a choice or is it the meter.
Would everyone be happier if it was just closed down to mooring again.