Advisory
Body to
Navigation
House, the Docks, Sharpness,
Minutes
of a meeting held on Tuesday 11 May 2010 at Navigation House, The Docks,
Sharpness
Present: See attached list
Apologies: John Christie, Edmund Dorman, Alan Sutton, Duncan
Forrester. Martin Quaile
1 MINUTES OF PREVIOUS
MEETING
The minutes of the Advisory Body meeting
held on
2 GHT
STAKEHOLDERS’ LUNCH
As a
AB members agreed that this was a
worthwhile opportunity and would like to be invited to the next lunch. Consequently, they reviewed the pattern of
their meetings, currently May and November, and concluded that the January
lunch should replace the November meeting, with a second, formal, meeting at
the end of June. There would be an
opportunity to discuss any urgent matters after the January lunch if necessary.
Reports
which highlighted matters of interest to GHT had been circulated prior to the
meeting.
·
Navigation Aids
The
Marine Officer reported that work had been undertaken on a number of old
navigation aids to bring them up to
date and comply with modern health and safety standards. The old latticework tower at Shepderdine rear
light had recently been replaced by a modern lighting column and similar work
was scheduled for Chapel Rock in the very near future. Experience had shown that the lighting
columns were better than buoys in the long run as they required less
maintenance and were therefore more cost effective.
·
The
Dr Lynch explained that there was considerable concern in
Minsterworth about the number of boats riding on the Bore which were spoiling
the spectacle for spectators on the bank.
Recent publicity had drawn large numbers of people, some from a
considerable distance, to the area and their disappointment widely expressed on
the internet could damage tourism in the area.
He had been tasked by the local parish meeting to lobby local councils,
media organisations ands other relevant authorities to raise awareness of the problems
and attempt to educate people about proper behaviour on the Bore.
The Marine Officer commented
that GHT had been concerned for some time that press and publicity material about the Bore did not
supply guidance on how to act in order to maintain the spectacle and safety of
the bore for all participants and onlookers. It was pointed out that motorboats
trying to ride the bore could destroy the wave and that they should always be
some way back from it. GHT did not have the resources to direct these events,
but would press the media and other agencies on the need to draw attention to
proper behaviour expected of participants in order to preserve the spectacle
for participants and onlookers alike. He also planned to design flyers and
safety signs and would encourage the owners of the private slipways where most
of these boats launched to draw these to the attention of boat owners before
they set off on the river. He would also
make these available to Dr Lynch.
Graham Turner commented that
Minsterworth Water Ski Club did all it could to promote safety. All boats had to display visible numbers and
any violations would lead to expulsion from the club. The Marine Officer would provide material to
be included on the club’s website to reinforce the message.
AB members discussed this
problem at some length and agreed that publicity and education was the best way
forward. They endorsed the Marine
Officer’s proposals to ask the EA and media organisations to include usage advice
in their coverage of the Bore; to encourage local slipway owners to display
usage and safety information; and to support Dr Lynch to raise the profile of
this issue, particularly in the lead-up to the next large Bore expected in
August.
3 OPEN FORUM
·
Tallards Marsh
Heny
Hodges flagged up local concern that Welsh Water wanted to get the old boats
off this land and hoped that it would not lead to them wanting to keep people
off the water.
·
Chepstow
Don Sutherland commented that Fairfield
Mabey were planning to move out of its current site near the river, which was
likely to be developed for housing, which could lead to an increase in boats
and moorings in that area.
·
Finding Sanctuary
Don Sutherland explained that this
partnership project was working on developing a network of marine protected
areas around the coast. The
·
Barrage
It
would be for the new Minister to consider the proposals from the feasibility studies
and there had been no indication when any decision might be made.
·
Oldbury
Horizon
had already indicated that the scheme at Wylfa would go ahead first should permission be given to build nuclear
power stations. Planning was continuing
for Oldbury, but at a much slower
pace and GHT continued to be consulted about the practicalities of bringing in material by sea.
4 PRESENTATION BY THE HOVERCRAFT CLUB OF
Ian Brookes explain that the HCGB had been
in existence since 1966 and now had a membership of about 1,000. Hovercraft had been using the
New members were offered progressive
training on land and in boat handling skills to ensure that they became
competent operators and understood the importance of carrying the right
equipment. Advanced RYA qualifications
including navigation, passage planning, first aid and VHF skills were also
available. Locally, the Berkeley
Treasure Hunt was used as a fun way to hone these skills.
The club had its own code of conduct. Hovercraft were not allowed to operate on
beaches (apart from access), and stayed clear of canals and rivers as the noise
could annoy neighbours.
Modern hovercraft were now bigger with
better engines than 40 years ago and consequently much quieter. However, noise was a problem, but club
members used their expertise to analyse individual problems and make
modifications where possible. Although
cheap hovercraft were often advertised on the internet, these were of poor
quality and generally bought by people who didn’t know what they were doing and
gave hovercraft a bad name. A decent
second hand craft would be in the order of £5,000, whilst new ones would cost
between £12-15,000.
Ian and Brian enjoyed the
cruising aspect of hovercraft – they had grown out of racing which led to
crashes and injuries and was only for adrenaline junkies.
5 DATE OF
Meeting
commenced: 19.00
Meeting
concluded: 21.10
ADVISORY BODY
MEETING –
Present
Jean Hanks Gloucestershire
Association of Parish & Town Councils (
Nic Price Maritime
Volunteer Service
Graham Turner Minsterworth Waterski Club
Wendy Turner Minsterworth Waterski Club
Don Sutherland RYA (South West) / BCYA
Colin Crick
Henry Hodges Chepstow
Town Council
Anthony Lynch Minsterworth
Resident
Ian Brookes Hovercraft
Club of
Brian White Hovercraft
Club of
GHT
Mike Johnson GHT
Rosemary Elsey Clerk
to the Advisory Body
Apologies
John Christie Lydney
Yacht Club
Edmund Dorman GHT
Chairman
Martin Quaile
Alan Stanley SARA
Duncan Forrester Minsterworth
Waterski Club
Copies
for Information
Matthew Riddle South Gloucestershire Council
Colin Evers Gloucestershire
Association of Parish & Town Councils (
Andrew Francis Tintern Community Council
Keith Hadley Severn
Estuary Fishermen’s Association
Bill Payne
Fred Larkham Larksham
Ships
Hartley Everett Severn
Estuary Fishermen’s Association
Andrew Blake Wye
Valley AONB
Sue Howard Countryside
Council for
Charlotte Pagendam Natural
Stuart Ballard
Paul Hooper Inland
Waterways Association (Glos/Hereford Branch)
Bob Breen Severn
Sands Ltd
Stephen Phillips British
Canoe
Graham Robertson Institute
of Chartered Shipbrokers
Paul Senior Environment
Agency
Dane
Jonathan Calderbank Sport
N Phillip Barry
Yacht Club
Jon Phillips Government
Representative
Jim Clune
Capt Neils Westberg Bristol
Port Co
Steve Grist D
& B Shipping