Sun Pier shock decision by Medway Council. Surely some mistake?

[tony_lavelle]

It has just emerged that unnamed council officials have agreed to allow an 84 foot sailing barge to moor on the recently reinstated Sun Pier at Chatham from April to October. The new pontoon is only 60 foot long so that would prevent its use by any other vessel. The pier was repaired at huge public expense to allow public access to the river as currently there is no public landing place below Rochester Bridge.

If you have views on this, please visit www.msba.org.uk and "leave a reply."

Tony Lavelle
Secretary, Medway and Swale Boating Association

 

[oldgit]

News to me !
That's just fine as long as do not mind a couple of dozen assorted charter boats and Xpilot thudding alongside and clumping across their decks at all hours of the day and night.
Not to mention any foreign visiting yachts rafting out at all states of tide.
Have just popped off an email to somebody who really ought to know whats going on.
Dim and distant memory keeps making me think "they" cannot legally prevent any crew gaining access to shore from a public pier.
Will keep you updated.

 

[Riverleak]

Sounds like a bit of backroom dealing to me!!!

 

[oldgit]

Sounds like a bit of backroom dealing to me!!!

H,mm would like to hear the facts first.Know the peeps involved in getting this project to fruition and am suprised this has been allowed to happen.
Am wondering (heaven forbid) that someone has added 2 +2 = 5.
Maybe the barge will be running leisure trips form there.
A Rib experience outfit has already expressed an interest in boarding customers from Sun Pier.

 

[tony_lavelle]

"Surprise" is hardly the word! I do hope that you are right but I have it on very good authority that mooring permission has been granted to the barge, possibly by someone in the council who perhaps didn't quite understand the implications for other would-be users of the pier. You are right that the barge operator plans to run leisure trips and that another operation has announced that they will be running RIB tours from the pier.

A meeting is to take place tomorrow at Medway Council to clarify the situation. Meanwhile (ie TODAY) any relevant comments will be forwarded to Medway Council for their consideration.

 

[Chris_d]

You would hope they have just been given permission to land and board passengers and some council official has just used the word moor incorrectly.

 

[oldgit]

Have had a reply to my request for info and will pass on any details as soon as anything emerges.
This appears to have come as bit of a surprise, not least, to those who have campaigned for years to get the pier restored !

28/02/2014......No news so far.

 

[tony_lavelle]

Apparently this problem (a misunderstanding?) has now been sorted but I have no more details at the moment.

 

[oldgit]

Apparently this problem (a misunderstanding?) has now been sorted but I have no more details at the moment.

After all the hard work that has gone into getting the pier back into service !
Just got to hope the installed security measures are enough keep the local scumbags off the pontoon.
Was personally threatened with a knife when attemping to land at the now defunct Ship Pier.
4 very nice well built policemen turned up to persuade the offender to accompany them to the police station.
Never saw him there again.
Security needs to be 100% if you are ever going to make anybody feel secure when mooring there.