Cardiff Marine Group & Milford Marina

Good evening Nathan,

Nice to see that you are interested in finding out what people are saying about the proposed developments. As i am sure everyone would agree, such a development would be wonderful to see, bringing new life to milford haven town and the surrounding areas. I am sure you will have noted from the comments in some of the earlier posts there is a hope for success. However, personally i beleive there is also a degree of scepticism over the plans amongst some of the local boaters given recent suggestions put forward by the authority.

As coaster said. short and factual is the way forward if you intend to avoid a backlash against such a development. Its a small county in which i have now lived for some time and i have come to understand that change is not always viewed positively and rumours do get out of hand very quickly!!!

I do not wish to speak on behalf of others but my own personal views present me with a slight sense of apprehension. I can clearly understand the wish to develop the marina and recreation in general. My fears would be that a development of £5m and the company cruises between Cardiff and here are aimed at attracting non redisdent berth holders. Whilst this is accepted it would be a shame if this were to the detriment of the local boating community. The county is not as affluent as other areas someone will have to pay for the development in the longrun and that is likely to be the current berth holders initially.
 
MDPMG said:
Hi, I am glad to see that you are all taking an interest in the exciting plans for Milford Marina. I would like to introduce myself. I am the MD of the new Management Company and would be more than happy to discuss the proposals with you via this blog, phone or email.

You can be assured that Pembrokeshire Marine Group and Cardiff Marine Group have a long term commitment to Milford Marina and we look forward to developing the business and assisting other businesses to thrive.

We look forward to promoting Milford Haven town as a destination to the benefit of the local community and Pembrokeshire.

Nathan Hewitt
Managing Director
Pembrokeshire Marine Group
Click to expand...

Like has been mentioned above, it would be good to know what will be happening the with lock at Milford Marina?

My question would be, what do you have in mind for Milford Haven town, and do you have any plans regarding Castle Pill?

Thanks,
hp530
 
Good morning Nathan,

As you'll note I am new to this forum and joining has been prompted by this topic. Unfortunately my initial post appears to have gone astray so i'll start again but keep it short.

Personally i have some concerns. It would of course be wonderful to see a thriving marina and associated business. However i fear that a development to the tune of £5m is potentially going to price out the local boating community. The development will need to be funded and one would assume that some of this cost will be bourne by the current berth holders.

Given the commercial interests around the docks what is a realistic timescale for the development. I would imagine that new locking facilities would take a substantial proportion of the said investment ammount and be a lengthy process adding yet more inconvienience to the berth holders not to mention the commercial vessels.

I was also interested to read the cover of the Milford Mercury yesterday and it would appear that there is a wider sceptisim of the project which expands beyond some of the boating community.
 
Here's my take on it...

First look at the words in the official statement:

"Plans being considered include the introduction of a new locking system to enable access to the Marina and Docks at all states of the tide. Subject to market demand, Milford Haven Port Authority and Cardiff Marine Group are also also considering a joint investment in a new dry stack berthing facility"

Notice the words "being considered". The new locking system was "being considered" about 3 years ago...a great idea, I'm not knocking it, but this isn't new.

Also, the dry stack berthing is being "considered" and is "subject to market demand".

Hmm...so what is definitely going to happen. Well it seems that MHPA retain ownership of the assets but are outsourcing the management of the marina to Cardiff Marine Group. I.e. they offload the people and admin as probably this never really fitted with the commercial docks operation anyway. Cynical? We'll see...
 
What's happened to the much-announced plans for Pembroke Dock Marina? Does anybody know?

PS - the new locking system being proposed some years back was from the deep water channel directly into the marina through the sea wall. That would mean pleasure craft would not have to use the existing commercial lock. Great idea, but it's going to be costly I imagine. I think it was to be funded by a housing development / marina village (or similar??) i.e not by MHPA. So, who would carry the cost of it now? The bertholders might have valid cause for concern. Perhaps the new MD could tell us more?
 
bluedragon said:
Here's my take on it...

First look at the words in the official statement:

"Plans being considered include the introduction of a new locking system to enable access to the Marina and Docks at all states of the tide. Subject to market demand, Milford Haven Port Authority and Cardiff Marine Group are also also considering a joint investment in a new dry stack berthing facility"

Notice the words "being considered". The new locking system was "being considered" about 3 years ago...a great idea, I'm not knocking it, but this isn't new.

Also, the dry stack berthing is being "considered" and is "subject to market demand".

Hmm...so what is definitely going to happen. Well it seems that MHPA retain ownership of the assets but are outsourcing the management of the marina to Cardiff Marine Group. I.e. they offload the people and admin as probably this never really fitted with the commercial docks operation anyway. Cynical? We'll see...
Click to expand...

What's cynical about that? Of course these changes are subject to market demand - you dont invest lots of money if there isnt a demand for what it will provide. And right now at the bottom of the recession, there probably isnt.

But Cardiff marine have a track record and have invested serious amounts of money in Cardiff bay. And operate there with reasonable charges too. So I wouoldnt be too negative. After all MHPA have hardly done an outstanding job
 
hp530 said:
Like has been mentioned above, it would be good to know what will be happening the with lock at Milford Marina?

My question would be, what do you have in mind for Milford Haven town, and do you have any plans regarding Castle Pill?

Thanks,
hp530
Click to expand...

It is now the new year, and we are all eager to hear what is in line for Milford Haven & the estuary!
 
hp530 said:
It is now the new year, and we are all eager to hear what is in line for Milford Haven & the estuary!
Click to expand...

I suspect you'll be waiting a while before hearing anything definitive. Think at least months, not days. There will be continuing comment and speculation but I doubt that PMG (Pembrokeshire Marine Group) will be in a hurry to make substantial decisions.

One of the first things I'd like to see is a written definition of what the responsibility of PMG is and what stays with MHPA. There may be quite a big grey area. It might even be in PMG's interest for the extent of its responsibilties to remain obscure as that reduces the likelihood of criticism and blame when matters go wrong.

Perhaps Nathan Hewitt will respond, as he was kind enough to post earlier in this thread.

On an allied subject, did anyone attend the meeting in Milford during December? I had a last minute invitation but was unable to drop all and undertake a 400 mile round trip that evening.
 
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