Saltash town Pontoon

I'm glad to report that yesterday the Saltash pontoon was clear of both power boats and feral yoofs. We stayed there for a couple of hours, would happily have stayed longer, but its exposure to NW force 4-5 gusts made it an uncomfortable mooring. On this occasion, the SSC pontoon was more sheltered. The family and I had a stroll up the high street. Went into a little hardware store (1/2 way up on the left) to buy some odds & sods. Had a nice chat with the owner, who sailed with the SSC. Thursday night was the club race night. Nice feeling of a good sailing community.
 
Had a look at the pontoon this evening ....... What a mess . The boats in the inner finger pontoons were just about falling to bits ,the two " visitors" on the outside pontoon looked as if they had been there for a long time . It appears that in the main it has now just become a scruffy fishing pier for those who dare venture to it And the access bridge appears to be a kids bmx cycle track . What a shame when there are precious little "free" berths along side in Plymouth area.
 
Used it twice this week to pick up and drop off "crew". No long staying visitors on the outside then but SWMBO had to clamber over bikes on the link span while the quite pleasant fisherman was most disgruntled by the yobs leaping into the water all around him!
 
To update.

Historically, the pontoon was funded by a grant (currently trying to identify the source) to provide the public a landing stage. As the provision of the structure ate some sailing club moorings the club was permitted to have the finger berths shoreward of the pontoon. Access via locked gates. A few years ago, the club rescinded this right to manage and charge for the finger berths (note finger berths, not pontoon per se).

The current situation is that Saltash Town Council has renovated the structure, appointed a couple of sheriffs, locked the access to the public. Problem being the sheriffs have other duties around the town and are not always on hand to permit access for casual users visiting, collecting crew etc, and indeed only a 9-5 basis.

As the facility was provided by a grant for public use, is Saltash Town Council acting illegally under the terms of the grant.

As a footnote, something had to be instigated to curb anti-social behaviour but the actions of the Council appear to have been delivered with a sledgehammer with no thought to the impact on the waterside eateries.
 
thanks for that update that is quite timely as I might just make use of that. on another note if the 'sheriffs' are not always there could they not just open it up at 9am and then lock up at 1700 (perhaps longer hours could be argued for during the summer) then people would have the access needed during the day without being caught one side or other of a locked gate waiting for someone to turn up with a key.
 
Scillypete said:
thanks for that update that is quite timely as I might just make use of that. on another note if the 'sheriffs' are not always there could they not just open it up at 9am and then lock up at 1700 (perhaps longer hours could be argued for during the summer) then people would have the access needed during the day without being caught one side or other of a locked gate waiting for someone to turn up with a key.
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Visitors are permitted to stay overnight or longer at the discretion of the sheriffs at the cost of £15 per day, a keyboard is on the gate so presumably you will be given the code in exchange for the fee. For the said fee, no electric, no water, no facilities. You can also buy into the trusted boater scheme for an exorbitant fee which entitles you to a electronic key and access 365,24/7.
Strange thing is that the rules state NO LIVEABOARDS, however, the rule is being blatantly abused at the moment presumably with the grace of the sheriff.

As the sheriffs are officially Town Wardens, duties take them away from the area during the day so unless they are around the "office" in the car park no chance of leaving the gate open.
 
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third engines said:
Visitors are permitted to stay overnight or longer at the discretion of the sheriffs at the cost of £15 per day, a keyboard is on the gate so presumably you will be given the code in exchange for the fee. For the said fee, no electric, no water, no facilities. You can also buy into the trusted boater scheme for an exorbitant fee which entitles you to a electronic key and access 365,24/7.
Strange thing is that the rules state NO LIVEABOARDS, however, the rule is being blatantly abused at the moment presumably with the grace of the sheriff.

As the sheriffs are officially Town Wardens, duties take them away from the area during the day so unless they are around the "office" in the car park no chance of leaving the gate open.
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Ah that's a bit more enlightening, I wonder if there is anyway of contacting them in advance or will it only be pot luck on one of them being around on arrival. I was thinking it would be handy to pick up and drop off family when I am up there to visit, maybe stumping up for the overnight would be the best option, certainly cheaper than a night in one of the marinas although I would probably anchor somewhere anyway.
 
Scillypete said:
Ah that's a bit more enlightening, I wonder if there is anyway of contacting them in advance or will it only be pot luck on one of them being around on arrival. I was thinking it would be handy to pick up and drop off family when I am up there to visit, maybe stumping up for the overnight would be the best option, certainly cheaper than a night in one of the marinas although I would probably anchor somewhere anyway.
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Or use the pontoon at Saltash Sailing Club and sign into the clubhouse as a visitor? You can stay for long enough to pick up crew and load stores, but you are not encouraged to stay overnight. There's water there as well. Its my club and sometimes the pontoon is very busy but choose your moment and its quiet enough for a quick pick up of stores and crew change.
 
Well I went and I made use of the pontoon and found it very handy, only once getting there and finding it full over a very warm and sunny bank holiday weekend, it was only full because the another boat got alongside just ahead of us but he took our lines and we unloaded across him.

The cost to stay overnight was £20 and they give you a fob to get in and out of the gate otherwise the wardens through the summer are about from 9 till 6pm and can be contacted on a mobile number if they have gone elsewhere. The trusted boater scheme seemed good value to me not that I could make proper use of it but for those that could it would be worthwhile, the pricing for it can be for as many months as required on a pro rata basis with a minimum of one month, I think it was currently £65 for 12 months, and you get your own fob for access.

Please don't all rush at once I may want to use it again sometime and I hope that this info is ignored so that I still find it empty when I get there
 
Scillypete said:
Well I went and I made use of the pontoon and found it very handy, only once getting there and finding it full over a very warm and sunny bank holiday weekend, it was only full because the another boat got alongside just ahead of us but he took our lines and we unloaded across him.

The cost to stay overnight was £20 and they give you a fob to get in and out of the gate otherwise the wardens through the summer are about from 9 till 6pm and can be contacted on a mobile number if they have gone elsewhere. The trusted boater scheme seemed good value to me not that I could make proper use of it but for those that could it would be worthwhile, the pricing for it can be for as many months as required on a pro rata basis with a minimum of one month, I think it was currently £65 for 12 months, and you get your own fob for access.

Please don't all rush at once I may want to use it again sometime and I hope that this info is ignored so that I still find it empty when I get there
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So, what do you get for your 20 squids? The sun disappearing early afternoon, wash from the seadoo hooligans, stinking facilities down by the old ferry slipway, limited choice of sustenance and liquid refreshment. Compare to circa £3 per metre in a local marina with 1st class facilities, leccy, water and wifi. No contest in my mind. Saltash Council on hallucinatory substances in my opinion. And a climb to the town a mountain goat would think twice about.
 
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I was thinking of stopping there for some refreshments ashore two weeks ago on my way up the river when I brought my new boat round from Salcombe (where I'd paid about £10 a night) but changed my mind when I saw the barrier gate so cooked a meal on my mooring instead.
 
third engines said:
So, what do you get for your 20 squids? The sun disappearing early afternoon, wash from the seadoo hooligans, stinking facilities down by the old ferry slipway, limited choice of sustenance and liquid refreshment. Compare to circa £3 per metre in a local marina with 1st class facilities, leccy, water and wifi. No contest in my mind. Saltash Council on hallucinatory substances in my opinion. And a climb to the town a mountain goat would think twice about.
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I only stayed overnight once on the Friday as I picked up family and took them for a trip up river and we got back late. I wasn't interested in facilities but facilitating easy pick ups and drop offs for the family that live that side of the river and it worked very well, with free parking for them as well. I reckon the highish price for overnight is to discourage anyone from staying too lng and cluttering up a small pontoon that is primarily intended for pick up and drop off. It was a fairly peaceful spot no sign of 'seadoo hooligans'.

There are no local marina's with 1st class facilities on the Cornish side of the river, in fact the only decent marinas are right in the heart of the city . . . . . . tis all swings and roundabouts when it comes to choices.

Other nights I spent at anchor in sand acre bay which was a lovely spot, and also in Mayflower marina because I had arranged a night out with some mates, the tidal current in Mayflower was a nightmare for manoeuvring and a three day camel hike from the pontoon to the facilities, just sayin
 
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