More bug huggery

[nortada]

Bru said "Can you live with Hamford Water being turned into a leisure theme park?"

Interesting, because the man who runs the seals trips from the Town Creek at Walton has started a campaign to try and restrict access to some of the remote creeks of the Backwaters. Even the Titchmarsh office and the chandlery had petitions to sign in support of restricting access. I think he started this because to rival sea spotting boats started last year. Of course he thinks he should still be allowed access......

But on the other hand, the new housing behind Bedwells truly looks appalling, because it's so close to the yard. How soon before the new owners agitate to have the back yard at Bedwells tidied up? My skimming reading of this document is is a planning framework and so might help restrict the ugly overdevelopment which is happening all around Walton/Kirby and nearby currently.

Limited easy access to Hamford Water would make it an unlikely venue for a leisure theme park.

Where is the Town Creek at Walton? There is the public Town Hard but that would not suitable for boat trips.

For the past few seasons, The the Seals Trips have been run from Titchmarsh Marina and prior to that Foundry Hard.

Haven’t seen any of these petitions to restrict access to any parts of The Walton Backwaters and am not aware of any traction for such a move.

At a practical level, it would br difficult to impose any such limitations.

 

[ianc1200]

Nortada

Isn't the creek leading from the spit up to the club/Halls/Bedwells "Town Creek"? (I got the Wade wrong so I'm prepared to be wrong again).

You're correct the guy who does the trips keeps his boat at Foundry Hard but as you say now collects his trippers from the marina.

He had an article in the local paper early 2018 about this, saying certain creeks should have restrictions, boats had been going too close to the seals. There was a long and detailed reply the following week from a W&FYC member, basically saying the seals don't need protecting & the seal numbers are greater now than ever.

Then he produced the shot pregnant seal photo which appalled lots of people. I think Titchmarsh even quizzed the resident fishermen as there seemed to be an assumption that fishermen were responsible. The seal itself went to be analysed but there never seemed to be an outcome.

The petition to protect the wildlife in the Backwaters appeared - I saw copies on both the chandlery counter and the table in in the marina office.

 

[johnalison]

Although the seals don't appear to need protecting, in terms of numbers, it has been reported that they get stressed by close approach, and this is probably what is happening when they stare back at you. The seal boats and most visitors keep to the opposite side of the creek and moderate their speed, but I am not sure that this consideration is universal, though I have only been able to watch from Hamford Water. I'm not sure that draconian regulations are needed, but perhaps some reporting system for the area would help. Our relaxed approach is in contrast to the paranoia evident in Continental seal areas, such as Sweden and Germany, where you can't get within half a mile or more of a seal colony. Personally, I think they overdo it, or maybe their seals are more sensitive than ours.

One or two seal boats also come from Harwich. We spent an entertaing couple of hours on a scorching day last year when one of them suffered from engine failure. The conversation between the calm Irish-sounding skipper and the coastguard who never quite got the hang of things was a classic.

 

[LONG_KEELER]

As far as I know, the warden boat patrolled the area doing a variety of jobs such as counting wild life etc . It covered the area more or less for 12 months .

I would have thought they would kindly point out to any of us leisure boaters anything that
we should be made aware of.

It used to be based at Titchmarsh marina . I assume it still is.

 

[LONG_KEELER]

I think we can thank many land owners and farmers who keep much of our rivers free of
intensive farming and building.

It just seems a shame that our country has to follow suit with the industrialisation of farm animals. If one does it they all have to.
It's difficult to see a cow or a pig in the countryside now. It's all hidden away and it's not pretty. This is an issue where you would have thought the EU would champion . It's up to us I think to make the right choices when buying stuff.

 

[fredrussell]

...I think people are more important than animals.

You and several billion other people. Its why the latter group are disappearing fast.

 

[PeterWright]

The trouble is until everybody realises the major problem is the size of the world's population........

Therein you have the root cause of all environmental issues - overabundance of one species. I'm afraid it will take more than univesal realisation of tis simple fact, it will also require firm action to rectify the issue, which is a far greater problem.

Peter

 

[johnalison]

As far as I know, the warden boat patrolled the area doing a variety of jobs such as counting wild life etc . It covered the area more or less for 12 months .

I would have thought they would kindly point out to any of us leisure boaters anything that
we should be made aware of.

It used to be based at Titchmarsh marina . I assume it still is.

Limosa. It's still around, but is not the sort of craft to go round chasing miscreants, few though they are.

 

[johnalison]

I think we can thank many land owners and farmers who keep much of our rivers free of
intensive farming and building.

It just seems a shame that our country has to follow suit with the industrialisation of farm animals. If one does it they all have to.
It's difficult to see a cow or a pig in the countryside now. It's all hidden away and it's not pretty. This is an issue where you would have thought the EU would champion . It's up to us I think to make the right choices when buying stuff.

I am entirely in agreement, but the difficulty is putting it into practice. When we do splash out on high quality meat, it is expensive but worth every penny and I would happily reduce my meat-eating so that the overall cost was the same, but when faced with incredibly cheap meat and poultry, you can see where the temptation lies.

 

[oldgit]

" like Studland Bay where a self interest group is trying to prevent people from having access to the area so they can have the place to themselves.

Presume we mean the yachting fraternity ?
We have always anchored here, its our god given right,its also dead handy and means we dont have to go far for quick jolly.
In addition we refuse to accept we may be causing any damage, whatever the evidence and hope if we shout loudly and hysterically enough the nasty Green lobby will go away.
Dream on. ?

 

[Tomahawk]

The green lobby are like an glacier. They never give up demanding more and more space for themselves.
A cursory glance at google maps Nd local plans shows they have succeeded in designating almost the entire coast as their domain for preservation of their hobby.

 

[Bru]

The green lobby are like an glacier. They never give up demanding more and more space for themselves.
A cursory glance at google maps Nd local plans shows they have succeeded in designating almost the entire coast as their domain for preservation of their hobby.

And I'll ask you again ...

Do YOU want the coastal areas we enjoy subject to unrestricted development and exploitation?

Do YOU want wildlife such as seals, wading birds etc. etc. to be driven away from the Thames Estuary, perhaps driven to the point of extinction?

Do YOU want virtually continuous marina, holiday park and / or housing development along the banks of the Orwell and / or Crouch?

You keep ducking this question and simply repeating rants about one single unnamed interest group (presumably the RSPB?) when the reality is that these controls have come about at the behest of multiple interest groups one set of which is those such as the RYA and local groups who represent OUR hobby

Nor have you addressed the point raised by several posters, myself included, that in fact the document you referenced at the start of this thread makes no (direct) mention of restrictions and controls on OUR hobby, it addresses the matter of mitigating the effects of development in the areas surrounding protected sites

Without controls we will end up, in time, seeing the very things we as sailors enjoy - unspoilt stretches of coastline, quiet anchorages, the wildlife etc. - eroded and eventually disappearing

Stop ranting and start thinking!

 

[Kukri]

I visited the Hamble recently and I absolutely don’t want the Orwell to turn into that.

Still less the Backwaters.

 

[photodog]

The green lobby are like an glacier. They never give up demanding more and more space for themselves.
A cursory glance at google maps Nd local plans shows they have succeeded in designating almost the entire coast as their domain for preservation of their hobby.

It’s awful isn’t it???

Why just yesterday I was commenting on how the a14 is being turned back into natural woodland....

Now it's only fields and trees.

Where, where is the town? Now, it's nothing but flowers!

The highways and cars Were sacrificed for agriculture.

I thought that we'd start over, But I guess I was wrong!
Once there were parking lots...Now it's a peaceful oasis!

This was a Pizza Hut, Now it's all covered with daisies!

I miss the car dealers, Burger kings, and pizza expresses..

You know, as things fell apart, Nobody paid much attention.


I dream of cherry pies, Candy bars, and chocolate chip cookies.

We used to microwave, Now we just eat nuts and berries.

This was a discount store, Now it's turned into a cornfield.

Don't leave me stranded here, I can't get used to this lifestyle. :disgust:

 

[Tomahawk]

Bru,
Would I like for people to have the opportunity of living somewhere pleasant instead of a dreary housing estate that could be anywhere? Yes.
For the many not just the rich few to look over the the vistas of the coast and see the morning sun rise over the horizon... yes

Do I think that whole swathes of land being made into a theme park for a rich minority is good use of land? no ... Where would you rather live? A small terraced house in a shabby industrial town in the middle of the country or somewhere with space and light where you can actually see further than the other side of the street? For someone from a left wing background, I am confused you want to preserve absolute priveledge for the rich minority.

 

[Bru]

? For someone from a left wing background, I am confused you want to preserve absolute priveledge for the rich minority.

Still not answering the question ...

Do YOU want the coastal environment we all enjoy as part of OUR pastime to be the subject of unrestricted development?

As for your last sentence, it is nonsense

Environmental protection does not reserve anything for anybody it PRESERVES the best and important areas of the environment for EVERYBODY

 

[Tomahawk]

Protect the environment for everyone... The ususal argument trotted out... selling a dream when the reality is a nightmare.

How does a kid living in a block of flats in Clapton N Hackney get to benefit from the so called natural environment?

 

[photodog]

Protect the environment for everyone... The ususal argument trotted out... selling a dream when the reality is a nightmare.

How does a kid living in a block of flats in Clapton N Hackney get to benefit from the so called natural environment?

Bees. Clean air. A future that isn’t a desolate wasted barren planet devoid of life.

Which is what’s gonna happen if you get your way apparently.

 

[Bru]

Protect the environment for everyone... The ususal argument trotted out... selling a dream when the reality is a nightmare.

How does a kid living in a block of flats in Clapton N Hackney get to benefit from the so called natural environment?

Parks, open spaces (Greater London has more of both than any other city apparently), holidays at the seaside etc. etc.

And that's just the direct benefits

Any chance of you addressing the questions you've been asked by the way hmm?

 

[johnalison]

Coastal property is always going to sell at a premium. There are only two ways round this. Firstly, to nationalise property and distribute it 'fairly', which would of course mean following Mugabe's example. Secondly, there is Tomahawk's method, which is simply to allow desirable places to be despoiled so that they lost their attraction, and the undeserving rich would have to put up with it or go abroad.

I see a lot of people out on the water and enjoying the coast from the land. The percentage that is wealthy is minuscule. If the poorest people from cities were to be relocated to the coast, they would find no work available for them.