Evicted

[Trevethan]

Just received a rather scary letter from Exeter City Council asking me, and all other boat owners to remove their vessels from the City's canal basin by next Easter. I am doubly impacted as I live about 200 yards from the canal and keep my boat there while doing her up.

Apparently McAlpine's have lodged a planning applicatiopn to redevelop the basin, build lots of flats and houses, office space and shops (no roads to ease the 45 minute queues to leave the are mind you). A bit like Bridgewater I fear.

The plans are up for public exhibition and are pretty dire. three storey buildings that look like they have been lifted from London docklands.. lots of glass, and really not in keeping, with what is essentially a rural canal, with fields and wetlands only a few hundred yards away

Best of all they aren't offering any real alternative accommodation. Some space will be available, but likely only enough for about 25% of the boats in there. I am unsure I am going to get the refit done by then and its all rather upsetting.

I think the most galling aspect is that though the plans have onkly just been lodged, and according to the planners no decision has been made, the council are still kicking out the boat owners so that work can begin.

Makes one doubt the free, fair unbiased nature of the planning process doesn't it?

Kim,

I wonder if any of the mags want to take this up? An example of council greed taking precedence over boating and watersports facilities?
If you want give me a call and I can put you in touch with various people affecetd by the scheme. 07900 244 185

If anyone else has anything to add, feel free to get in touch.

Regards,

Nick

 

[chas]

You have my sympathy - every spare square yard of land with a view of the sea seems to be in demand for the type of housing you describe - you could always try further down the estuary.

 

[Gordon]

Bad news!

The country (and planet) is being messed up something shameful.
We have had a number of blue-sky days recently with the high pressure.
....To be reminded by all the jet trails that people have gone crazy.

 

[summerwind]

Having spent some time sitting on a planning committee (Not in Exeter) I suggest the following:

Object to the plan on the grounds of insufficient access and quoting the appalling traffic problems allready exising in the area due to the intensity of development that has allready taken place. You also need to mention the pressure on local schools, health resources etc, etc.

Write to the evening paper explaining what is going on. People hate being pushed around. The story that you are all being thrown out of the canal basin for the benefit of a big company is the sort of thing that sells local newspapers.

Organise a campaign to object to the scheme. Talk to all of your friends and make sure the other berth holders do the same. You will be amazed at how many people you will be able to write objections to the council.

Find out which councillors sit on the planning committee and write to each one personnally. Get everyone else in your campaign to do the same. The more letters a councillor gets objecting to an application, the more likely it is to be refused. Remember, most councillors were elected with a vote of less than 1500 people because of low turn-out. Getting thirty or forty letters personnally addressed to them has a BIG effect. Don't for get your own ward coucillors who may not be on the planning committee. It might be that the plan goes to full council for final decision. You need to bring as much pressure to bear as possible.

Keep up the pressure. The planning process for a project such as the one you are dealing with will take a fair amount of time. You must keep up the pressure or the plan will sneak through. The local paper is the best method of sustaining this pressure.

 

[Trevethan]

The only place opportunity to set new moorings on the Exe is at Powderham, and I wouldn't leave a boat there all winter too exposed.

The great thing about the city canal basin is that it is ideal for people doing refits, or who want to do other work on our vessels. There are some pretty substantial ex-trawlers, supply vessels and so on all being rennovated and the tourists love it. The number of people who wander around and start talking to us as we work is amazing and all say how great it is to see all the activity. Its such a shame.

Regards,

Nick

 

[graham]

Good luck with the campaign.

One word of caution is to make sure you and your friends have all payed your mooring fees up to date and keep them up to date .When Cardiff Bay was redeveloped the people who had payed all their fees got a much better deal than those who had not. Some boats spent several years in the marina FOC while others just got evicted.

 

[Trevethan]

Thanks for the advice.

We have pulled together a coalition of boat owners, local residents and so on and have been handing out objection forms.

Tonight we are going to come up with a media pack. I have already been called by Dick Durham from YM (thank you!) and we are getting some info out to him.

The RYA have been informed and we might get a bit of help from them too.

My wife works at the local paper, not a journo but in the grraphics department so she is trying to get some stuff done there.

The council will be showing the plans again tonight and Saturday. We'll be there talking to people getting feedback and urging them to action.

On the Saturday we'll try and bring a couple of good looking vessels to the head of the basin so people can appreciate what they will lose.

Any and all are welcome to come support us.

Regards,

Nick

 

[Rowana]

I'm too far away (Aberdeen) to come and give personal support, but I'll be there in spirit.

Good luck with the campaign.

Jim

 

[Endymion]

Don\'t give in!

Brightlingsea in Essex is presently under threat from the re-development of an old shipyard. I have posted here requesting support for our cause in the past, and thanks to all who have helped...we are hoping to get the application "called in" at the moment!

Nick, you have a struggle on your hands...don't give up...you can beat them or at the very worst get the scheme changed to something much more amenable to the locals.

It would be a good idea if the likes of YM and PBO could start to champion these causes on behalf of their readership. All support is needed to beat this never ending desire of developers to create their Dockland style developments. When will they learn, not all of us want this sort of monstrosity?

If you would like further details of the Brightlingsea campaign just ask!

Endy

 

[Trevethan]

Re: Don\'t give in!

Really interested in your methods. We are trying to set up a fighting fund in order to hire a brief.

Ideally would like to find one that is also a resident of teh area and so has a vested interested in the case and perhaps responds to the words pro bono without frothing at the mouth!

I think everyone accepts something needs to be done to renovate the existing buildings and we as berth holders would like to see the area rejuventated.

I think the problem is that the developers are forgetting the basin is quite a small area and in its 400 odd years has developed in a piecemeal fashion. a similar approach should be adopted to maintain the character of the area and no the brick and glass monoliths proposed.

regards,

Nick

 

[Robin2]

Also, make contact with the developers and let them know what you are at. They might strike a deal with you to make life easier for them. If they get your boats out do they intend to leave the place empty? Surely your boats would be an attractive asset adding to the ambience of the area!

 

[Bejasus]

What if the developers intend using the basin themselves as part of the attraction of living there. ie private mooring/marina?

"I am the master of my fate: I am the captain of my soul."..........I think????

 

[seaesta]

Re: Don\'t give in!

Why hire a brief - first consider hiring a planning consultant who may give you a lot more bangs per buck!!!.

 

[seaesta]

Re: Don\'t give in!

Why hire a brief - first consider hiring a planning consultant who may give you a lot more bangs per buck!!!.

 

[Trevethan]

The developers want the boats out for three years. They'll plug the end of the basin with concrete and use it as a bridge for moving plant and equipment about. The artists impressions following completion show lots of boats, nice shiny plastic ones which would never come up the canal because of the 30 foot air draft limit imposed by the M5 motorway bridge.

The picture even show a vessel over a 100 feet long tied up and looking pretty. Of course the basin is is only about 80 feet wide so its a long trip astern to get back to the sea.

We are worried that they will do the same here as they did in Bridgewater. Same pretty piccies of boats and people following the dfevelopment. Except in Bridgewater they never removed the plug so there are no boats in the basin, the water is stagnant and consequently there are no people there either.

Thanks for the support!

 

[Endymion]

Hope that this might be of some help!

Nick

Have a look at this site

<A target="_blank" HREF=http://LINK>http://www.brightlingsea-town.co.uk/bseaaction/</A>

The full story of how we are going about it can be seen here...together with the plans of the proposed destruction of our seafront!!

We have enlisted the support of our local MP Bernard Jenkin who is doing an excellent job in fighting our corner!

Like yourselves, we appreciate that the site needs something done to improve it, but not at the cost of the destruction of our historic waterfront.

The more that I think about it, the more I am sure your idea of getting the magazines to start championing the causes would really work!

Endy

 

[Trevethan]

Re: Hope that this might be of some help!

thanks! really helpful. I have printed the site and will pass around the commitee to see if we can set up a similar site.

 

[whisper]

I absolutely agree with Summerwind's plan of action having had to go through two planning battles myself. It is tiresome and frustrating work dealing with often inept officers along with very amateur councillors, but it has to be done or else you will have no chance.

Make absolutely certain that you regularly inspect the Application File at the Planning Office as modifications by the applicant sometimes get accepted by the Officers without consultation. This seems to be on the basis that "they know best" and the applicant is being open and honest. The latter instance is, sadly, rather rare as a lot of profit can hinge on minor alterations to a plan.

Furthermore in my experience you have to be willing to continue to fight over very many months in order to get even a compromise solution at the end of it all. Form yourself into a committee, gird your loins, sharpen your pencils and don't give up. Good luck.

 

[oldgit]

We had exactly the same objections in our part of the world from the usual nimbys.
The development which went ahead bringing jobs and investment was a great improvement on the run down area that previously existed.Despite all the doubting thomas wailers who said it would not be a sucess and no one would want to live there. I was one of the moaners.I was wrong.

Just hold tight dear it will not be so rough when we get round the corner,trust me.

 

[LeonF]

Good luck. at Gravesend Sailing Club we are having to ensure our future amidst the development of the industrial buildings around the former Medway canal basin. The club committee are involved with endless meetings etc. but we hope to win through. Don't give in!

L.A.R.Ferguson