Record of meeting on Saturday 15th February 2014 to discuss the potential reopening of the Bethany Street public hard and to discuss other potential public access options to the river Colne.
Meeting commenced at 1200hrs and was chaired by Cllr Neil Lodge (WTC) with Cllr Kevin Read (WTC) also in attendance. Wivenhoe Quay Ward Borough Councillor Cyril Liddy was also at the meeting.
Invitees were residents of the Quay area in the vicinity of the Bethany Street hard and members of the Wivenhoe canoe or kayak clubs.
Cllr Lodge asked for all attendees to speak their views in turn around the table and below is an overview.
Bethany Street;
Some people were supportive of the re-opening of Bethany Street. It was said that there is currently approximately 100 people via Wivgigs and clubs alone wishing to use the river.
Concerns and objections raised were:
The costs involved in the excavation of the mud and that the old hard might be in disrepair and would need upgrading plus ongoing maintenance costs.
Increase in traffic of vehicles and pedestrians impacting on congestion getting to the public hard.
Storage space for potential trailers and trolleys for canoe and kayaks (and mentioned later was that the trolleys for canoes and kayaks folded away and stored in the vessels).
Although public access would be denied for jet skis and alike concerns were raised over how this would be monitored and the costs involved. It was suggested by some that the lay of the river and shallow waters would not be inviting for people with jet skis.
A suggestion of a gate or form of restriction for sizable vessels would be helpful.
Other sites
The new Cook’s slipway would be ideal but currently falls short of mid-tide by some 30-40 metres. A suggestion that the money that Bethany Street clearance would cost should be allocated to Cooks to produce a simple platform access.
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The possibility of adjoining the ferry jetty with an access platform was suggested. Some people suggested that this may cause problems for the ferry operation and in the summer it is already a busy pedestrian area.
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Wivenhoe Sailing Club (WSC) old slipway (bottom of Anchor Hill). Nearly all attending suggested that this would be the most obvious, lease costly option.
WSC had been approached previously by a canoe/kayak club who were denied free access but were offered to join the club (fee to be determined) and was ongoing.
It was mentioned that joining of the sailing club would be the answer but it was raised that free access is the desire and this would allow visitors to come to Wivenhoe with canoes and kayaks and access the river.
A suggestion was that the opening of the gate to the hard would allow free access to and from the river.
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Everyone agreed that safe and convenient access to and from the river was required.
Cllr Lodge then asked everyone that if Bethany Street was not to be opened what would they like done with it.
A suggestion put forward was for it to be made as a viewing area with chairs etc.
Cllr lodge said that the investigation and consultation process was nearing a conclusion and once done he and Cllr Read would present to Wivenhoe Town Council their findings and proposal.
The meeting closed at 1300hrs.