Watchet Harbour Advisory Committee

Minutes of the meeting held on Wednesday 15th January 2014

5.00 pm at Watchet Town Council

Present:

Mrs Sally de Renzy-Martin – Chair WACET

James Burnell Watchet Marina

Ray Ventura Watchet Boat Owners Association

Martin Stephens Watchet Boat Owners Association

Steve Yeandle Charter Boatmen

David Mainwaring Watchet Seascouts

Donald Sutherland RYA

Loretta Whetlor Watchet Town Council

Adam James Harbour Master

Councillor Antony Trollope-Bellew West Somerset District Council Councillor

Adrian Dyer West Somerset Council

Rachel Mulcaire West Somerset Council (minutes)

No. /

Item

/

Action

1. /

Apologies

Cllr Tony Knight and Kelvin Rufus
2. / Minutes of meeting 6th November 2013
These were approved
3 / Update on West Somerset Council
Adrian Dyer advised that the new senior management team were now appointed bar two vacant posts. Adrian Dyer advised that he was filling in in the interim by attending WHAC but someone will be appointed to this committee.
Adrian Dyer introduced Cllr Antony Trollope-Bellew who was now the Council’s Portfolio Holder responsible for Harbours.
Steve Yeandle expressed his thanks to the Council for replacing the landing stage on the West Pier.
Sally de Renzy Martin asked the group whether anyone was aware of anyone going out along the Harbour during the recent weather warnings. A group in yellow hi-vis jackets were seen on the West Pier at one point.
Adrian Dyer advised that the Council had been advised that Watchet was not at severe risk but it was Porlock, Minehead, Blue Anchor and Brean that were to be the most effected. Steve Yeandle advised that the tides were significantly less in Watchet than in Minehead.
Sally de Renzy Martin questioned whether a sign on the West Pier warning people that in bad weather it is advisable not to venture out onto the Pier would let the Council out of any liability for any accidents. Adrian Dyer expressed his reluctance to do this.
It was suggested that at the next Harbours Walkabout that signage as well as structures were included in the inspections.
Adam James advised that a Planning Officer had advised him that signs at Minehead Harbour had been erected without planning permission. Adrian Dyer advised that this would be investigated.
Donald Sutherland advised that at the last meeting he advised that ‘General Directions’ could be a way of implementing changes. However further to this, he advised that these could only be used to direct craft and not people.
4 / Future of the East Wharf
Adrian Dyer advised the group that the aim is to get a report to Council before the 31st March. He is currently awaiting a valuation on the Quay West Radio building before discussing the future of the East Wharf with the Marina owner. The intention is that the negotiations with Urban Splash will not hold up the Council agreement with the Marina Operator. Due to time restraints it may be that the Council may have to agree in principle to some decisions subject to finer detail being resolved at a later date. It was noted that amendments would need to be made to the current lease to clarify proposed new arrangements.
Ray Ventura questioned whether the Urban Splash change of name would have any bearing on discussions with them. Adrian Dyer advised that the Council would only have to re-tender should what is being proposed be a material change from the original tender.
5 / Harbour Matters
West Pier Landing Stage
The replacement of the landing stage was completed in December. There were delays towards the end as the contractors, Allerford Forge, were not happy with the initial wood that they had been supplied and there were delays in obtaining replacement wood.
Other Works
Installation of a new ladder and removal of some of the fenders was scheduled for November but this has been delayed due to weather conditions and other priorities. Work is now scheduled for the first week in March.
West Pier Slipway Flood Defence Gate
Alan Bulpin, Adrian Turner and George from the Marina are meeting on Thursday 16th Jan to assemble the floodgate to ascertain what items are missing. The necessary wood will then be ordered from Dunster Sawmills. Allerford Forge are currently making a new galvanised metal store which all the equipment will then be stored in.
Adrian Dyer advised that he wished to see keys allocated to appropriate parties in Watchet to ensure that if there is a future incident where the storm boards need installing that there are people on hand in Watchet to install them. The Council would look for volunteers to install the boards but liabilities would need to be checked to ascertain the Council’s legal position around insurance and liabilities. Steve Yeandle agreed to volunteer.
Steve Yeandle advised that he liaises with the Harbour Master in regards to the lighthouse light. Normally if the light is extinguished it is due to the tripswitch. However this switch is inaccessible as it is in the Scout’s compound and keys have to be sought from the Scouts to obtain access. This causes delays and means the light in the lighthouse light is out for longer than necessary. He questioned as to whether the Council as owner of the site can make a key accessible to the Scouts compound so that the lighthouse light can be rectified as soon as possible. It was agreed that this would be investigated as the Council as landlord should be able to access this site.
It was noted that the lighthouse light has an RCD. This is because it operates the bulkhead lights as well. It was advised that there used to be a battery in the lighthouse and it was questioned whether a battery backup could be installed again.
Steve Yeandle advised that he was quite happy to assist with the lighthouse light and the storm boards. It was noted that two volunteers would be required to assist with the storm boards.
Marina Impounding Wall
James Burnell had contacted the Council to advise that the West Impounding Wall brackets were moving – where the pontoon piles are bolted to the top.
Peter Clist (former marine manager for Dean &Dyball) has studied the photos provided and has come to the conclusion that when the piles were originally put in place it was to berth five small boats and not the large ones that have been in place for some time now. His initial thoughts were that on the rise and fall of the tide the flexing of the pile with the concentrated weight of the boat is putting strain on the brackets/wall.
He has been instructed to compile a detailed report on the cause and rectification of the gaps.
Adrian Dyer requested that, although he had not spoken to the Marina Owner as yet as this information has only just come to light, that the Marina could refrain from putting the larger boats on this pontoon until the findings of the report were known. James Burnell agreed that this would be done.
Concern was raised as to the current Harbour budgets and whether they would be affected by the impending merger. Adrian Dyer advised that although staff are merging, the democracy would remain the same and West Somerset Council Members would still have control of West Somerset budgets. They would just be operated by merged staff.
Adam James advised that following the disappearance of the life buoy on the East Quay had been replaced with a spare one from Blue Anchor.
Martin Stephens advised that following the heavy storms a large lump of concrete has gone from under the steps at Splashpoint. Please could this be investigated before it deteriorated further?
6 / Marina Matters
Discussion took place about the silt in the Harbour. James Burnell advised that the dredger was going to Ireland for a week. Although this was a contentious issue he advised that the Marina did need to earn an income from the machine. The Marina will still be using the barge whilst the dredger is away.
There was conflicting opinion as to whether the mud in the outer Harbour was affecting the Marina or whether the mud that was being disposed of by the Marina was affecting the outer Harbour. Either way silt was an ongoing issue.
James Burnell advised that the work that the Council carried out last year on dredging had little effect.
It was agreed for James Burnell to contact Robert Kirby, who was on expert on sedimentation and whether he would talk to the Council and the Marina, initially free of charge, with the possibility of this leading to some work.
Sally de Renzy Martin questioned whether the oil response box was checked on a regular basis. James Burnell advised that it was checked 18 months ago but there was no formal procedure.
The meeting ended at 6:30 pm.
The dates for the next meetings are as follows:
16th April - 5pm
16th July - 5pm
15th October - 5pm

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