RW / Richard Whitehouse / Chair of DLG
PS / Pat Fitzsimons / Director TEP
MT / Madeleine Tuinstra - Ralston / TEP - Minutes
TF / Tanya Ferry / PLA - presenting
MC / Mike Costaras / CEDA - presenting
SB / Steve Bewers / Environment Agency
ND / Neil Dunlop / Environment Agency
MD / Mark Davison / Environment Agency
SM / Steve Massey / Land & Water Services
BE / Ben Ellstob / Land & Water Services
JM / Jonathan Mycock / RSPB
PL / Paul Leonard / Consultant
MW / Mark Wrigley / The Crown Estate
GH / Geoff Holland / Port of Tilbury London
WS / Will Shields / Boskalis Westminster
AM / Alex Mortley / Port of London Authority
NH / Naomi Hyland / Port of London Authority
RS / Richard Simons / UCL
PK / Professor Kirstein / UCL
CR / Christina Relf / Natural England
MP / Marcus Pearson / DP World London Gateway
RJ / Rachael Jones / DP World London Gateway
Apologies / Julie Morris / Environment Agency
Richard Charman / Environment Agency
Thea Cox / Environment Agency
Bob Kidd / Boskalis
Brian Hawkins / Marine Management Organisation
Alan Gerrett / Dredging International UK
J-B de Cuyper / Dredging International UK
Mark Lee / HR Wallingford
Mike Dearnaley / HR Wallingford
Daniel Bastreri / Thomson Ecology
John Spencer / GPS Marine
Peter Mortimer / GPS marine
Sylvia Warman / Historic England
Liz Dyson / Kent County Council
DRAFT NOTES OF JANUARY 2016SEPTEMBERMEETING
1. Agree Meeting Notes, Action Points and Matters Arising from the last meeting
The notes from the last meeting on the 29th September 2015were agreed with the following corrections:
- Add Jonathan Mycock to be added as attendee
- Delete reference to Rainham Marshes on page 2
- Corrected June and September 2015 meeting notes to be circulated with Mark Davison’s guidance notes
Update regarding Alex Mortley’s presentation September 2015:
- Once the Morphology on the Thames document is finalised, it will be circulated
2. Presentation: Dredging – Digging ourselves a hole
Tanya Ferry, Port of London Authority
The presentation gave an overview of issues that arise during the PLA licencing process. Tanya explained the requirements of Section 73 of the Port of London Act 1968, the length of the process, the shift in dredging applications and common misconceptions with dredging licences.
Questions and comments
MD– How you limit negative impact on the environment?
WS – What the PLA can do in cases of over-dredging? TF: The PLA can ask the dredger to apply for a variation to the licence. Assessment is on a case by case basis and occasionally Eenforcement action is required, what type of action required is on a case by case basis.
JM – Who regulates in the Medway? TF: the MMO & Peel Ports
RW– Is under-dredging a problem?TF: In such a case the PLlA would be concerned that they might not have completed their dredging work and start dredging again outside the licence period.[FT1] Historic under use of licence volumes has causes issues with renewals and WFD assessments
WS– Is a time limit specified in the licence and do you need to re-apply for a new licence if you are unable to dredge within the specified time?TF: variations can be part of the licence or sometimes people may need to start a new campaign.licences are specific duration, one year or three years.
MP – Are there any major new sites for beneficial re-use and is it possible to share this data? TF: There are a number of sites on the river able to take dredged material, including Cliffe, Goshams & Land and Water are currently working on making Rainham Marshes also available.
TF confirmed that if the Thames becomes an MCZ it will affect dredging and there may be additional ecological assessments. CR indicated that DEFRA will be making an announcement on the MCZ designation.
AM said that education in the licencing process is ongoing, particularly when dredge licences haven’t been used for a couple of years and someone new comes to apply to the PLA &MMO.
3. Presentation: The Role of the Central Dredging Association
Mike Costaras, CEDA
The CEDA ( is an established authority and the leading independent forum for the professional dredging community, and associated industries, in Europe, Africa and the Middle East. Theyrepresent dredging professionals and organisationsin the region and promote the understanding and advancement of dredging to the wider community.
- Stakeholder engagement is becoming more important
- CEDA provides independent advice, education, technical visits and shares best practice
- 15 billion euro a year is spent on dredging
- 39 member countries, 130 corporate members and 550 individual members
Questions and comments
AM – Are there other organisations like CEDA that address the same issues? There is PIANC ( however they address mainly Waterborne Transport Infrastructure.
RS – Is there a young dredgers forum that is part of CEDA? Could someone come and speak to the UCL Coast Engineering Class?
SB – do CEDA do anything on fluvial dredging, MCO confirmed yes.
JM – The RSPB always need dredging material to raise the beds on Islands which we use for the protection of birds. Would CEDA be able to help with contacts? Is there a national re-use register?
AM – points out that dredging material is not always suitable for replenishment.
WS – In his experience bringing licencing, removal and depositing together in the same timeline – is a really complex and hard thing to do. During the Southampton Dredge we had some good material which is in storage. There is also a cost associated with reclaiming it.
4. Feedback about discussion point (June & September 2015 meetings) PLA licence requirements
Pat Fitzsimons, TEP
Following Bill Gush’s (Land and Water) presentation at the June 2015meeting, there was a discussion between Tanya Ferry (PLA) and Bill about the PLA licence requirements. It was agreed that a common approach is needed to what environmental impact measures should be included with the aim to develop a licence that is no too over prescriptive. Daniel Bastreri from Thomson Ecology, Paul Leonard and Pat Fitzsimons were going to talk to the EA about the Water Framework Guidance. However the EA said this is premature as we need to wait until the Water Framework Directive is updated. MD confirms that the updated Water Framework Directive is due out in March 2016.
5. Dredging Licence Updates
Naomi Hyland, PLA
An update is provided on current dredging, number of applications and enquiries and current consultations.
ML – suggests it might be useful to keep the current licences on there.
It is agreed that all the licences will be included from now in the Dredging Notification List.
TF – mentions that the Tideway Tunnel dredging applications are coming through
MD – Does cable laying fall under section 73.
TF – explains that this is a separate application process
Other comments:
RW - asked whether there it was a possible to receive for an update on PLA delegations of authority.
TF – informs the group that Tat the agreement with DEFRA and TFL to transfer maintenance dredging to the PLA is getting closer to sign off.
The group was informed informs the group that the Environment Agency has a new Chief Executive: Sir jJames Bevan, former High Commissioner to India.
AM – gives an update on proposed solutions to educating new dredging engineers in the licencing process.
PF – introduces Professor Kirstein who askes to group to let him know of any London Ports interested in taking part in the EC project: The Port of the Future.
Date of next meeting
Thursday April 21st, 12-3pm
Room 113
UCL, 26 Bedford Way
London
WC1H 0AP
Topics for future meetings
Delegation of authority update – Tanya Ferry, PLA
Hi Pat – this is interesting. If we were to do it, it would take the place of our 2 talks per meeting as a 1 hr thematic discussion during the DLG, leaving time for other business. We would need Paul to coral the speakers from MMO/Defra/PLA. I would be happy to chair within DLG business unless Paul needs someone else to do it. I would imagine this would generate considerable interest.
Cheers
Richard[RJSW2]
ACTIONS
Dredging and Sediment Liaison Group Meeting
[FT1]I am not sure this was my answer.
[RJSW2]This note to be removed before issue please.