Milford Haven Docks Lock

[Coaster]

As nobody else has yet commented, I thought the forum would like to see the proposal that's been made to amend the lock at Milford Docks. The Port Authority has issued a press release and emailed it to Milford Marina bertholders. It states:

New lock gates are to be designed and installed at Milford Marina over the next two years, transforming the way the Marina can be accessed and boosting marine tourism and business in Milford Haven.

Andrew Brown, Engineering Director at Milford Haven Port Authority (MHPA) said: "At the moment berth holders just can't access and exit as much as they'd like. Our plans will reduce the locking time and make Milford Marina one of the most accessible locked marinas anywhere in Britain. From an engineering point of view this is an exciting project since the introduction of a completely new set of lock gates is a rare occurrence in British docks."

A simple plan is included:

The full text of the press release is here should anyone wish to read it.

I wonder if the new lock arrangements will actually be built, and if so whether the December 2013 completion date will be met.

 

[Allan]

Have they said where the extra pilton will be going?
Allan

 

[Coaster]

...the extra pilton...

Perhaps you could explain this term? I'm afraid it means nothing to me.

 

[Allan]

Sorry, I did that from my phone and it 'corrected' me. It should have said pontoons.
Every time I have been there the marina was quite full. To justify the cost of the changes they must expect more boats or the existing berthholders will have to pay.
Allan

 

[Coaster]

...It should have said pontoons.
Every time I have been there the marina was quite full. To justify the cost of the changes they must expect more boats or the existing berthholders will have to pay.

Thanks for the explanation. No wonder I was confused. These phone text autocorrection facilities can be very aggravating.

I have no doubt that the new management wants to see the overall number of leisure boats increase. The first step seems likely to be the dry berthing scheme, i.e. stacking small boats on a rack. Perhaps 20% of the boats now in the marina could go onto racks, although whether anyone wants to put boats up in the air remains to be seen.

The next move would be to reduce the fishing boat facilities and add to the 8 pontoons currently in place. That seems viable but there would still need to be swinging room for large vessels, unless commercial use of the docks was curtailed or ceased. Of course there are other parts of the Haven that could take more commercial activity, including Newton Noyes and Pembroke Dock although there might be problems with depths.

 

[Freshbreeze]

As nobody else has yet commented, I thought the forum would like to see the proposal that's been made to amend the lock at Milford Docks. The Port Authority has issued a press release and emailed it to Milford Marina bertholders. It states:

New lock gates are to be designed and installed at Milford Marina over the next two years, transforming the way the Marina can be accessed and boosting marine tourism and business in Milford Haven.

Andrew Brown, Engineering Director at Milford Haven Port Authority (MHPA) said: "At the moment berth holders just can't access and exit as much as they'd like. Our plans will reduce the locking time and make Milford Marina one of the most accessible locked marinas anywhere in Britain. From an engineering point of view this is an exciting project since the introduction of a completely new set of lock gates is a rare occurrence in British docks."

A simple plan is included:

The full text of the press release is here should anyone wish to read it.

I wonder if the new lock arrangements will actually be built, and if so whether the December 2013 completion date will be met.

If you base things on how long the pont-y-werin bridge took, and how long the (should have started work over 2 years ago) Hotel is taking to even progress past the planning stage (lets face it, it is still in planning until they start on digging out the foundations...)...!

Get my drift r.e. 'the marine group'???

As for "the most accessable locked Marinas in Britian", how about Penarth Marina? Accessable 24hrs from both bay and sea.

 

[Coaster]

If you base things on how long the pont-y-werin bridge took, and how long the (should have started work over 2 years ago) Hotel is taking to even progress past the planning stage...

I had not heard of this bridge. It's been about 4 years since I last went to Penarth. Was the bridge built by or paid for by Cardiff Marine Group?

The words "one of the most accessible locked marinas" seem to be near-meaningless marketing speak that any well informed person would ignore.

It will be interesting to see how Milford develops. Most people I speak to are sceptical about the extent and timing of alteration works.

 

[bluedragon]

The plan a few years back was to have a separate lock through the sea wall for leisure craft, but I guess this is more affordable. In effect it seems as though they will build a small lock within the big lock and therefore extending the number of openings for small craft without dropping the water level too much. Seems a good idea if this is what they have in mind.

 

[Freshbreeze]

I had not heard of this bridge. It's been about 4 years since I last went to Penarth. Was the bridge built by or paid for by Cardiff Marine Group?

The words "one of the most accessible locked marinas" seem to be near-meaningless marketing speak that any well informed person would ignore.

It will be interesting to see how Milford develops. Most people I speak to are sceptical about the extent and timing of alteration works.

From local understanding the Pont-y-Werin bridge was jointly funded by Cardiff Harbour Authority, The Vale Council, and Cardiff Marine Group.

I fully agree with your comment about the marketing ploy "one of the most accessible locked marinas", I felt it was worth mentioning another Marina (Penarth was the first to come to mind) to provide an example to others whom may be pulled in by the marketing ploy that there are similar, if sometimes better marina's elsewhere.

Finally in regards to the sceptical views surrounding the locks in Milford Marina, I too have heard about the idea of 'breaking through' the sea wall, I had also heard the dry dock alongside the lock was to become the 'new' lock - so we can only but wait and see what work is produced.

 

[Freshbreeze]

The plan a few years back was to have a separate lock through the sea wall for leisure craft, but I guess this is more affordable. In effect it seems as though they will build a small lock within the big lock and therefore extending the number of openings for small craft without dropping the water level too much. Seems a good idea if this is what they have in mind.

Just a thought....


Will the building of the 'new' lock gates within the existing lock prevent any access through the lock for an extended period of time i.e. excess of 1 month???

 

[Coaster]

JWill the building of the 'new' lock gates within the existing lock prevent any access through the lock for an extended period of time i.e. excess of 1 month???

Who knows? I'm sure there will be some disruption (if the plan is executed) but I'd expect it to be possible to install the new gates whilst keeping the existing ones in commission. Perhaps you could ask the Pembrokeshire Marine Group's MD, Nathan Hewitt, who posted on this forum some time ago (e.g. post 18 of this thread).