Proposed charge to use launching ramps in Whistable and Herne Bay

The good thing about issuing a pass to allow launch is that you can take it away again if they misbehave. However, it is difficult to see this working without manning the ramp - issuing keys/passcodes is too open to abuse.
 
They did that in Brightlingsea a few years ago, and B'sea Council allowed local rate payers free launching. However, that complicated matters, because it became a question of whether it was free for the B'sea boat owner, or whether a B'sea crew got a free pass. It was decided that if either the skipper or crew were local, they could launch free. Then some locals went through the gate with the boat as crew, but never sailed
 
Over the years that I have been sailing I have noticed a steady reduction in our right of access to water. Many launching places I remember as a kid and youth are now removed, blocked off or gated and a fee is charged. We may see this as a short term advantage to us as it stops water skiers, PWCs etc, but once a right of way is removed it is unlikely to be reinstated. This seems at odds with our supposed identity as a seafaring nation.
 
Dan Tribe said:
Over the years that I have been sailing I have noticed a steady reduction in our right of access to water. Many launching places I remember as a kid and youth are now removed, blocked off or gated and a fee is charged. We may see this as a short term advantage to us as it stops water skiers, PWCs etc, but once a right of way is removed it is unlikely to be reinstated. This seems at odds with our supposed identity as a seafaring nation.
Click to expand...
wot he said
 
Dan Tribe said:
Over the years that I have been sailing I have noticed a steady reduction in our right of access to water. Many launching places I remember as a kid and youth are now removed, blocked off or gated and a fee is charged. We may see this as a short term advantage to us as it stops water skiers, PWCs etc, but once a right of way is removed it is unlikely to be reinstated. This seems at odds with our supposed identity as a seafaring nation.
Click to expand...

You used to be able to park a Ford Prefect and trailer any old where. Now it's all double yellows.

W. Mersea and Brightlingsea are a nightmare to park . I expect Herne Bay is the same. New homes are where the old industries and slips used to be. I would guess that pay to launch areas have pay and display car parks nearby.
 
LONG_KEELER said:
You used to be able to park a Ford Prefect and trailer any old where. Now it's all double yellows.

W. Mersea and Brightlingsea are a nightmare to park . I expect Herne Bay is the same. New homes are where the old industries and slips used to be. I would guess that pay to launch areas have pay and display car parks nearby.
Click to expand...

Indeed the Herne Bay slip is in a pay and display, though many launch and then park along the congested roads.

There was a death not too many years ago nearby due to a collision, but despite yellow buoys attempting to separate swimmers and jet skis, enough of them pay lip service to it. I was swimming off Herne Bay a few weeks ago and there was a jet ski performing doughnuts perhaps 1/3 of the way out to the yellows, As he came past me I gesticulated to move further out, so as to be in no doubt as to whether it was ignorance or attitude, and he gesticulated back - definitely attitude.

And that is before you consider the residents having to listen to the racket day in day out over the summer. There are many other parts of the coast with low density of housing.

Medway is just as bad, and no doubt many, many other places.

Those who think it is a matter of training and information exchange to solve the problems are living in a dream world.

Without limiting access somehow, how else do you provide a safe and pleasant water area for all water users? We (try to) do it on the roads, so why not the water?
 
If PWCs are the problem, the slipway authority should ban them. Big signs that say NO PWCs.

This annual charge means that people who want to visit the area and launch a boat for a spot of cruising or fishing will no longer be allowed to. The main benefit of owning a trailerable boat is the ability to explore new areas, but this is being eroded more and more every year. I wanted to launch a small boat on the SE corner of Britain for a quick Channel dash, but there is nowhere from Dungerness to Ramsgate that is suitable, and by suitable I mean has a slipway that I am allowed to use and a place to park the car and trailer for 2-3 days.
 
Councils are hard up, very hard up. Perhaps they think that the cost of maintaining slipways should be borne by those who use them. Like car parks etc.
There aren't many around here but they are not free. The one at Shoebury has, in the summer, a channel of buoys so that PWCs etc are directed away from the immediate beach area.
 
I noticed a big difference in Australia. Usually where there is a suitable launching area, there is a wide concrete slip, a jetty to board from, a large carpark with long bays to take car and trailer, a hose for engine flushing and often stainless steel fish gutting tables and usually some free barbecues. It's almost as if they want you to enjoy yourself!
 
Dan Tribe said:
I noticed a big difference in Australia. Usually where there is a suitable launching area, there is a wide concrete slip, a jetty to board from, a large carpark with long bays to take car and trailer, a hose for engine flushing and often stainless steel fish gutting tables and usually some free barbecues. It's almost as if they want you to enjoy yourself!
Click to expand...


We down here have a launch site at Gillingham.
The hope is that making a decent launch site available will help dissuade PWC users from launching elsewhere.
the council spent a few quid tidy it up and putting up sign advising users about safety and where to use their craft.
Webcam | Medway Cruising Club
Medway and Swale Boating Association
 
Dan Tribe said:
I noticed a big difference in Australia. Usually where there is a suitable launching area, there is a wide concrete slip, a jetty to board from, a large carpark with long bays to take car and trailer, a hose for engine flushing and often stainless steel fish gutting tables and usually some free barbecues. It's almost as if they want you to enjoy yourself!
Click to expand...
We could have all that if we paid for it
 
Seems to me in you are a ratepayer in the borough and apply for a permit to display then local householders should have free access with say admin charge to produce but those from other areas should pay for the privilege or move to the area. No different surely to parking permits ?
 
ashtead said:
Seems to me in you are a ratepayer in the borough and apply for a permit to display then local householders should have free access with say admin charge to produce but those from other areas should pay for the privilege or move to the area. No different surely to parking permits ?
Click to expand...
Brightlingsea tried that, but it did not work. Se post #4
 
You must log in or register to reply here.

Other threads that may be of interest

Baggywrinkle
Test run of the Lithium system that has been sitting in my cellar for most of this year.
Replies
16
Views
626
Baggywrinkle
Baggywrinkle

Share this page

Top