Fareham's Pride

KristiferColumbus

KristiferColumbus

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Fareham\'s Pride

Since I washed up in this neighborhood about ten years ago I have been very disappointed to see all the rubbish that litters the creek bottom.There are innumerable old pipes that look like they hav'nt been used for donkeys years but come alive at times of heavy rains gushing forth God only knows what....
A stream & a pumping station that dispense raw sewage.
Old tires traffic cones old boats you name it it all ends up in the creek.
At the beginning of this year a little yacht seemed to break adrift from somewhere & wash up in one of the loveliest locations but after it had been there for a couple of weeks it became apparent that it had just been abandoned so I emailed the Queens Harbour Master Portsmouth informing him & pointing out that if it was'nt removed shortly it would become inevitably vandalized & the contents thrown into the creek.No reply.
The inevitable happened & a perfectly serviceable little yacht has now been turned into a wondering derelict.It washes back & forth & nobody seems to care at all.....

What a bloody disgrace for a wonderful location with an incredible history!
 
Re: Fareham\'s Pride

Same response from QHM ... i.e. none!

There is a yacht aground outside where we live .... now neaped .... broke free in last Mondays N.E. force 8s.

Nobody has bothered to tie it up so the next time we get a spring tide and an offshore breeze it too will be floating around the harbour crashing into boats.

I guess the Harbour Patrols are far too busy down at the entrance trying to get boats to actually hit each other whilst actually underway /forums/images/graemlins/mad.gif
 
Re: Fareham\'s Pride

I don't think these things are wholly QHM's domain. He is kind of busy with managing the safe passage of warships, ferries and the such like.
Portsmouth Harbour is one of the few where yachts and dinghies don't pay harbour dues. There is very little in the way of civilian bureaucracy in the harbour.
The best thing to do would be to report any yachts adrift to the Yacht or Sailing Club that holds mooring licenses near you, mooring holders then try to help each other out. Alternatively one of the boatyards might take an interest, as they don't want their customers yachts damaged by others.
I don't normally go far up towards fareham, but all of those boats should be paying to be moored there. I guess once a boat is neglected to the point of not being insured, its owner will be unwilling to come forwards.
But it probably came from a mooring licenced by a club, so that club's mooring officer takes some responsibility for ensuring the member does not totally neglect the yacht and its insurance.
If we do not manage ourselves, then others will end up charging us.
Of course because we are not forced to have registration numbers, it's quite hard to trace the owner of a yacht when disaster strikes.
The Harbour Patrol AKA 'Special Pedallo Force' are mostly irrelevant, but do offer a little bit of assistance to people with engine failure, and brain failure, but their management of the harbour entrance is of 'variable quality'.

As for the rubbish, that's largely in the council's domain I think?
 
Re: Fareham\'s Pride

If stray boats in THEIR harbour are not in their domain are you really telling me that they are too busy to advise us both?

What would that be ... one minute out of their busy day?

How am I supposed to know who manages a particular mooring? I actually asked that question but they couldn't be bothered to reply. To the best of my knowledge Gosport Boat Yard, Quay Lane Boat Yard, Wicor Marine, Hardway Chandlery, Hardway Sailing Club and the RNSA all hold some sort of licence but for all I know it's a private mooring (i.e. not operated by a club or yard).

QHM MUST know who manages it otherwise we would all have carte-blanche just to lay moorings where ever we wanted!

In the meantime a boat sits outside my window ready to break-up or break free.
 
Re: Fareham\'s Pride

I did wonder about a salvage claim /forums/images/graemlins/ooo.gif

Seriously though .... if I see no-one near it in the next few days I will wade out into the mud and drop his anchor over the side.

Just p!sses me off big time that a simple response from the Harbour Authority could have had the problem resolved on the day ... i.e. this mooring is managed by .......

(This is the FIFTH boat that I have been involved with in the last three years .... oh, and one potential fatality .... think I'll just keep the curtains closed /forums/images/graemlins/cool.gif)
 
Re: Fareham\'s Pride

I think you would be entirely right in a salvage claim.
Small boats in the Dockyard Port are in a bit of a funny position. We don't get much help from QHM/Harbour Patrol etc, but then we are not specifically paying for any. We are just accepted on sufferance so long as we don't get in the way of the big boys, and we get to rent mooring areas at reasonable cost from the Crown Estate.
If you want to find out who holds nearby mooring licences, the Port Surveyor in the Dockyard deals with this. Alternatively, the PLSA is an umbrella group which represents the clubs in negotiating mooring licenses with the Port Surveyor.
There are both civilian and military police launches patrolling the harbour.

Unfortunately it has always been the case that creeks are where boats go to die. Boats do get abandoned at the end of their life, which means that commercial yards do not want to get involved in case they get lumbered with it or get no thanks or payment for the work in saving it.
Is it any good?
 
Re: Fareham\'s Pride

If you're right at the top of the creek you could try Fareham Sailing Club or Portsmouth Marine Engineering. But I'd be surprised if one of theirs had got away without them knowing. There are a few privately owned DIY moorings right at the top in the Bath Lane area. My bet is that it's come off one of them.

Yes there's a lot of rubbish in the creek but raw sewage discharges are very rare. There is a large treatment works at Peel Common and all the flows from the whole area are pumped there. You'll only get raw discharges to the harbour if the pumps fail somewhere.
 
Re: Fareham\'s Pride

[ QUOTE ]
What a bloody disgrace for a wonderful location with an incredible history!

[/ QUOTE ] Couldn't agree more, what a shame that there aren't some short term pontoon moorings in at the town quay for visitors. If that dredger went then a weir would keep yachts afloat too. When you see how the French manage there small town marinas/harbours (with waiting lists) I wonder why we can't do the same.

How about some free short term pontoons to tie up to in Gosport, say just south of the ferry terminal. Bound to draw visitors to the town who then spend money.

Pete
 
Re: Fareham\'s Pride

Right, I have written to the Council, pointed out this thread to them and I await there reply /forums/images/graemlins/ooo.gif

What else should they look at for the waterfront at Fareham?

Pete
 
Re: Fareham wreck

Sorry to read this. Have always had support from QHM Portsmouth, including removal of dangerous jetsum.
Please PM me with details and I'll see what can be done - but no promises!
 
Re: Fareham wreck

OK I have read all the replies up to this point.
First point;Surely all moorings pay a percentage to the Crown Estates who then do what in return?....I imagine that part of that money goes towards the appointment of the Queens Harbour Master Portsmouth who in common with all Harbour Masters to my understanding is responsible for all activities below the high water mark.
That little boat I suspect was deliberately abandoned by a marina that I think I identified as having deliberately abandoned a dory earlier in the year & having informed the Queens Harbour Master about it he did something about it on that occasion or at least someone did.(I believe this to be an entirely irresponsible selfish act to just abandon yacht/boats just because the owners no longer pay the mooring fees & become a liability).

Fareham creek is a lovely untouched natural place at least above the gravel wharf & I think it would be a tragedy to interfere with the natural flow of the elements by introducing a weir.Natural habitats of that quality are almost unique now & that one has been designated a triple ssi or some such thing.

Despite what you say DJE I suggest you take a look at that stream that enters into the creek beside the gravel wharf after a heavy rain storm.It is quite shocking & I suspect it stems from "a holding tank."Also take a look at the seawood side of that pumping house by the electricity pylons ( a few years ago there was a 'bog' of raw sewage there).The stream that flows past Portchester castle yacht club can also be a bit of an eye opener!

I have had contact with Mark Hoban & Council employees/officials in the past but it is a bit like trying to push water uphill.They make token gestures but then the problem continues.....Nobody seems to be taking responsibility for that creek!
 
Re: Fareham wreck

Those outfalls should be surface water only but Southern Water do have a bit of a record with illegal storm overflow discharges from some of their sewage pumping stations. Take photos if possible and contact the Environment Agency.

I agree that short term visitors' pontoons would be great for many waterside towns. Local Authorities seem to run a mile from anything that might involve running and/or maintenance costs though. One look at the town centre tells me that there isn't a lot of creative thinking going on at Fareham Borough Council so I wouldn't be too hopeful.
 
Re: Fareham wreck

Maybe I'm alone here, but my first reaction in both of the cases mentioned would be to do something myself to secure the boats in question, maybe get on board and drop anchor, tow to a safe place, beach, put on mooring etc. then start trying to find owner or someone else to take responsibility.

Not having a go at anyone, different strokes for different blokes and all that.
 
Re: Fareham wreck

[ QUOTE ]
That little boat I suspect was deliberately abandoned by a marina that I think I identified as having deliberately abandoned a dory earlier in the year & having informed the Queens Harbour Master about it he did something about it on that occasion or at least someone did.(I believe this to be an entirely irresponsible selfish act to just abandon yacht/boats just because the owners no longer pay the mooring fees & become a liability).



[/ QUOTE ]
This is appalling. Can you substantiate this? I'm sure the owners and insurers of any boats damaged by drifting wrecks would be keen to know.

Southern Water has a lot of problems with sewage in very heavy rain conditions, I imagine they are prioritising keeping it out of people's houses (with only limited success) over Fareham Creek.
 
Re: Fareham wreck

[ QUOTE ]
but my first reaction in both of the cases mentioned would be to do something myself to secure the boats in question

[/ QUOTE ]
The problem with this is that boats don't tend to beach in the most convenient of places - usually it is knee deep or worse in sticky mud ... so you do need to consider whether or not is worth the risk of needing to call out the emergency services for yourself ...
 
Re: Fareham wreck

[ QUOTE ]
Those outfalls should be surface water only but Southern Water do have a bit of a record with illegal storm overflow discharges from some of their sewage pumping stations. Take photos if possible and contact the Environment Agency.

Thanks for your advice but I am sure that the Environment Agency are fully aware of the problem.I have often seen the creek at that point & close to a lot of those outflows or whatever you call them turn brown/black & stink to high heaven after strong downpours,you don't even need rain for that little stream next to Portchester castle to be appalling.
I thinks those holding tanks are designed to overflow & discharge in those conditions otherwise I do not know what a possible explanation can be.
 
Re: Fareham wreck

[ QUOTE ]
Maybe I'm alone here, but my first reaction in both of the cases mentioned would be to do something myself to secure the boats in question, maybe get on board and drop anchor, tow to a safe place, beach, put on mooring etc. then start trying to find owner or someone else to take responsibility.

Not having a go at anyone, different strokes for different blokes and all that.

[/ QUOTE ]

Sounds a bit like conceit to me.
I did consider towing that little yacht round to the public hard or mooring it to one of the mooring trots just off the main fairway where I first suspected it came from but that boat was marooned at the top of a spring tide & it would'nt have been an easy thing for me to remove it single handed with my little boat + I suspected that if I did that then I would get the blame for abandoning it.
We employ the authority's to do that sort of thing for us & as it is I go out of my way to pick up old bottles & rubbish that wash up on the fore shore.I think it is about time they stood up & were counted.
It makes me very angry to see a wonderful natural environment spoilt by selfish irresponsible people.
I would like to see the owner of that little yacht prosecuted.
 
Re: Fareham wreck

Ah but the owner of that little yacht may either not be aware that it has cut loose or may be hearbroken because their pride and joy has disappeared, presumed stolen / sunk.

I think prosecution is a bit harsh in those circumstances don't you?
 
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