An Appology..

Tomahawk

Tomahawk

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My thread about Brightlingsea seems to have stired a bit of Loungish emotion. Whilst provoking debate and inviting thinking about how a small town adapts to a changing world was intended.. The general upset was not.

If it helps, I do hope I am wrong..
 
Tomahawk said:
is offered...

My thread about Brightlingsea seems to have stired a bit of Loungish emotion. Whilst provoking debate and inviting thinking about how a small town adapts to a changing world was intended.. The general upset was not.

If it helps, I do hope I am wrong..
Click to expand...
Its a mark of the ECF that you even felt the need to write this post... good man though for caring enough to do so.
 
MikeBz said:
Well done sir, I hope you haven't been put off coming to Brightlingsea. They don't really have a lynchng tree these days :)
Click to expand...

We have been trying to get there for a while... but things like the house needing s full repaint after the previous paint caused the whole lot to start peeling off keep getting in the way. (All will be revealed on s thread in the Lounge)..
 
Well said Mr T, we do tend to get a bit emotional here when people mock our little town but please be advised that we too have our misgivings in certain areas about what happens locally.
Problem is, it's a bit like criticising family, we can do it but no-one else is allowed to !
Come back soon !
 
Grumpy,
I am not mocking the place, Indeed I love it. I hope you don't mind if I describe it as a bit of a dump but a lovable dump.

The problem is that through my previous work in planing I have seen other towns fall by the wayside and slide gently into economic and social oblivion with the attendant deprivation, vandalism, drugs etc etc. It will be all to easy for Britlingsea to do the same.

In this background I must confess that I am a very logical person. I analyse in terms of cause and effect. I am a bit like Spock and am not very good at touchy feely & group engagement. It is perhaps character fault of mine. So when I say that the town will suffer economic decline unless the fundamentals that are causing the present situation are addressed, it is a statement based on wide experience much like "if you drink two bottles of wine you will get a hangover". Blunt, to the point and perhaps not an effective message.

I understand the general feeling in the town and the distrust of many things "new". Cell block H is perhaps the epitome of the problem. I think it is out of place and scale. However it does comply with national planning policy, (which in itself is poorly thought out). And it came onto the market at exactly the worst time imaginable just when the property market was going into freefall. At the moment it stands as a visible expression of every reason to distrust change. I am not surprised people do not welcome the idea of a full service marina.

However, can I observe that the same national planning policies that were applied to justify Cell Block H will apply to the commercial wharf unless there is a better alternative. Please be under no illusion. There is a national housing shortage whilst at the same time a general objection to "covering the countryside in concrete". This is creating the economic pressure to develop old wharfs for housing. Have a look at the thread about Mistley Quay. I would suggest that under these circumstances, the only way to protect the commercial wharf from becoming another yuppy block of flats is to develop a viable commercial model that attracts a non housing use. So we get back to the harbour plan.

I would be very happy to come and have a chat if anyone wants.
 
I followed the original thread with interest but refrained from commenting as being 'boatless of Brightlingsea' at present, felt my opinions were not really valid...BUT nice one Tomahawk and as Mike says please visit soon...the Lynching Tree is no more!!!
 
Cobra...

First of al I think that boatless in Brigthlingsea does not make you invalid.. it is your home:)

Second, we hope to sail to the laying out supper and, depending on work to call in on the way back to the ditch.
 
Tomahawk said:
Grumpy,
I am not mocking the place, Indeed I love it. I hope you don't mind if I describe it as a bit of a dump but a lovable dump.

The problem is that through my previous work in planing I have seen other towns fall by the wayside and slide gently into economic and social oblivion with the attendant deprivation, vandalism, drugs etc etc. It will be all to easy for Britlingsea to do the same.

In this background I must confess that I am a very logical person. I analyse in terms of cause and effect. I am a bit like Spock and am not very good at touchy feely & group engagement. It is perhaps character fault of mine. So when I say that the town will suffer economic decline unless the fundamentals that are causing the present situation are addressed, it is a statement based on wide experience much like "if you drink two bottles of wine you will get a hangover". Blunt, to the point and perhaps not an effective message.

I understand the general feeling in the town and the distrust of many things "new". Cell block H is perhaps the epitome of the problem. I think it is out of place and scale. However it does comply with national planning policy, (which in itself is poorly thought out). And it came onto the market at exactly the worst time imaginable just when the property market was going into freefall. At the moment it stands as a visible expression of every reason to distrust change. I am not surprised people do not welcome the idea of a full service marina.

However, can I observe that the same national planning policies that were applied to justify Cell Block H will apply to the commercial wharf unless there is a better alternative. Please be under no illusion. There is a national housing shortage whilst at the same time a general objection to "covering the countryside in concrete". This is creating the economic pressure to develop old wharfs for housing. Have a look at the thread about Mistley Quay. I would suggest that under these circumstances, the only way to protect the commercial wharf from becoming another yuppy block of flats is to develop a viable commercial model that attracts a non housing use. So we get back to the harbour plan.

I would be very happy to come and have a chat if anyone wants.
Click to expand...

I understand that you are a fan of B.Sea and would like to keep your boat here Mr T unfortunately, many of the things raised at the Harbour meeting, are rather unrealistic. I have spent quite some time with the Harbour Master and even he is unconvinced about a lot of the proposals being made.
The reality is that Brightlingsea is a Creek not a Marina and as such, we are obliged to keep it flowing freely to prevent sedimentation etc. The idea of more pontoons to the East would involve a huge capital dredge and yearly dredging to keep them serviceable.
As can be seen by the condition of the 'Hard' which is now mainly a quagmire, schemes which are brought in hurriedly, ie the new 'Marina Development' have historically not taken account of the limitations of the creek and it's tidal flow/ self sedimentation clearing etc.
Unfortunately decisions taken within the Harbour office do not only affect Brightlingsea, they also impact on communities farther upstream such as St.Osyth Boatyard and Flag Wharf. Both of which are now filling up with mud at a rate which will probably render them unnavigable within the next fifty years.
The general concensus at the meeting was that a poorly conceived set of ideas had been proposed by a pair of Marina developers from the South coast and were being wholeheartedly encouraged by the ' Foreigners' of the harbour commission.
The local people have seen what is happening both to the harbour and it's neighbours and are understandably concerned that ill conception and poor execution of 'Strategic Studies' will further deteriorate what we have right now.
I have no doubt that were you to go and speak to Steve Chick our new Harbourmaster, he would be more than happy to talk to you one on one as he has done with both myself and a number of other concerned residents.
We look forward to seeing you at the CYC laying up and hope your welcome will be a lot more cordial than it was at the BHC Meeting.
All the best,
GOG
 
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