Help save demolition of Wells next the Sea lifeboat station

[LittleSister]

We camped in Wells a couple of times in the 1970s at a campsite pretty close to the lifeboat station. I don't remember it being quite so boxy and "functional" then - wasn't it about half that size with a curved roof?

You will be chuffed to learn the new lifeboat station will have a curved roof. It is however much bigger, two storey, and in a different position.

Clearly the facade of the building is not 120 years old and the buildings have been modified as the lifeboats have changed over the years .

Indeed. I saw a statement about the demolition and how they would deal with the various materials, but can't find it again. There is a miss-mash of various more modern material added to, and built on top of older construction. The internal floor (at least of the original part) is wooden and they suspect, but don't know for sure before they demolish it, that the foundations are wooden piles. Assuming that is correct, these piles are to be left In place, but with the tops cut off just below ground level, as they may have been influencing erosion in the vicinity and their removal might precipitate change in the shape of the shoreline.

 

[Plum]

You will be chuffed to learn the new lifeboat station will have a curved roof. It is however much bigger, two storey, and in a different position.



Indeed. I saw a statement about the demolition and how they would deal with the various materials, but can't find it again. There is a miss-mash of various more modern material added to, and built on top of older construction. The internal floor (at least of the original part) is wooden and they suspect, but don't know for sure before they demolish it, that the foundations are wooden piles. Assuming that is correct, these piles are to be left In place, but with the tops cut off just below ground level, as they may have been influencing erosion in the vicinity and their removal might precipitate change in the shape of the shoreline.

This was the lifeboat house prior to the one destined to be demolished:

and this is the one before that, that still exists as the Harbour office :


www.solocoastalsailing.co.uk

 

[PeterWright]

My only case for keeping the old lifeboat station is as an exhibition / storage / maintenance space for the two classic lifeboats based in Wells - the Liverpool Class (Lucy Laver) and the Oakley 37 (Ernest Tom Nethercoat).
Together with the Shannon in the new LB house would make a pretty unrivalled exhibition of the evolution of lifeboats in the last 70 years.

Yes, but who owns the 2 classic lifeboats, do they want them displayed in a museum and can they fund it? Basically, as MoodySabre asked, is there a business plan for this?

Peter.

 

[Motor_Sailor]

Yes, but who owns the 2 classic lifeboats, do they want them displayed in a museum and can they fund it?
Peter.

I know they are both locally owned and seem to be run as commercial ventures as tripper boats. Operating from their original site would only enhance their tourist draw as they were both 'beach boats' during their working lives. It would also vastly reduce their maintenance if they lived indoors when not taking out trips.

The sand spit where the old boathouse sits is also never going to be returned to any form of natural state. It's 'permanence' is only guaranteed by massive gabion walls, riprap and groin structures. All these and more would have to be maintained or the new LB house become vulnerable.

Any decisions about that area is also heavily influenced by the interests of the Holkham Estates. It's all their land and they operate entirely in their own interest. If they think a museum might be a money spinner, then that's what will happen.

 

[Juan Twothree]

Yes Lifeboat Man twothree , do not want to discredit your good much needed work , but at times your posts of events want to make me cry ; might suggest that you are not of that same image of lifeboatman before the changes in RNLI Managements appeared to obliterate that some of us (Posters on ere) might remember , fondley .

You as you oft state , are one of that New Breed of RNLI Lifeboatmen , maybe a modern version ?

So guess that your vision is not that of some others who have been or are still mentally atteached to the real RNLI , but things are as they are , so guess you just might agree to preserve the Vision of an earlier generation or two ? even if you cannot agree with it ?

Sorry if I don't fit your stereotype of how lifeboatmen should be, or that my posts portray a negative image of the RNLI. Would it help if I grew a beard, or got a few tattoos?

I don't think I'm particularly one of the "new breed" of lifeboatmen; I'm in my late fifties, and I've done over 30 years service. And I absolutely refute your suggestion that us "modern" types don't care about the heritage of the RNLI. We are very conscious that we follow in the footsteps of some absolute legends, and are very privileged to do so.

It's true that there are differences in today's crews as opposed to yesteryear, but that's nothing to do with any policy of RNLI management, it merely reflects the type of people who apply to join and serve in the RNLI, and also changes in society generally. We have no fishermen left on our crew, but that's because there are fewer boats, and none of the fishermen still working live locally. Many of our crew work for the other emergency services, or increasingly are people who work from home (which is great as it usually means they can provide cover in the daytime).

As long as they are well-trained and fully competent, does it really matter if the person who comes to rescue you has logged off from their computer when their pager bleeps, as opposed to running across the beach in boots and oilskins?

 

[penberth3]

...........The removal of the existing building within 6 months of the new lifeboat station coming into use was a condition of the granting of permission for the new lifeboat station. The formal reason given by NNDC for that condition was -
'Reason:
To protect and enhance the visual amenities of the area and ensure that cumulatively the proposed new lifeboat station does not give rise to an unacceptable level of harm in a highly sensitive and valued landscape, while ensuring stability of the coastal defences in this area, in accordance with the requirements of Policies EN 1, EN 2, EN 3 and EN 10 of the adopted North Norfolk Core Strategy.'

Seems reasonable enough to me!

Ah, some facts! Reasonable, and a fairly standard planning condition.

And "no representations received" - so the petitioners missed their chance to get involved.

 

[Major_Clanger]

GB has a track record of sweeping away its maritime heritage, something that's been regretted on many occasions.

I don't think this is one of those times though; the building is too far altered from its original state and has little in the way of architectural merit.

If you really want to support a worthy cause then consider protesting about the intention to scrap ST Cervia. Due to commence this autumn unless a firm plan can be made.

 

[LittleSister]

The other dimension to it is that the RNLI own neither the old building, nor the land it is on.

 

[Capt Popeye]

GB has a track record of sweeping away its maritime heritage, something that's been regretted on many occasions.

I don't think this is one of those times though; the building is too far altered from its original state and has little in the way of architectural merit.

If you really want to support a worthy cause then consider protesting about the intention to scrap ST Cervia. Due to commence this autumn unless a firm plan can be made.

Oh and why kind Sir should the ST Cervia be more worthy of saving than the ex lifeboat Station in question ?

 

[LittleSister]

Oh and why kind Sir should the ST Cervia be more worthy of saving than the ex lifeboat Station in question ?

Because it's more interesting, more beautiful, and much, much rarer than what is in reality a very mundane shed.

That it doesn't have to be kept in a ecologically sensitive, flood/erosion risk area designated for its national importance for landscape and natural beauty also helps.

I don't know much at all about the ST Cervia, but I imagine that money (and especially a reliable, ongoing supply of lots of it) is the only thing preventing its loss. That's not the case with the former lifeboat station.

 

[Major_Clanger]

Oh and why kind Sir should the ST Cervia be more worthy of saving than the ex lifeboat Station in question ?

The answer would be self-evident if you research Cervia. She's a big ocean-going steam tug built for the Admiralty to a wartime design (though she was commissioned shortly after war ended). Her dimensions are hugely impressive and her steam expansion engine a sight to behold. She's the last really big steam tug left. She could be put back in steam potentially too, though her hull needs plating.

Rumour is that the owner wants to scrap her because of the high value of her non-ferrous parts, and that is exactly what will happen unless a real miracle is performed. It's terribly sad.

Wells already has two preserved lifeboat sheds, it doesn't need a third. Most especially when the one in question is dramatically altered from its original state.

 

[Major_Clanger]

Here's another building under threat of demolition; the old Saunders Roe hangar at East Cowes. We all know it, it's iconic, classic art deco, unique and, at least IMO, rather beautiful....... The plan is to flatten it and build shops/offices/yard for the proposed new marina.

Cowes desperately needs a new marina, but this building should be saved and incorporated in the scheme. Real history was made here.