Support for Bradwell Marina

[Plum]

Bradwell marina want to install a beacon as a visual marker at the entrance to the marina that is visible from beyond Pewitt Island. They need planning approval from Maldon Council. Recommended you add your comments of support on the link below as they have only had 8 public comments so far
25/01095/FUL | Proposed location of Beacon Structure on land at seaward entrance to marina | Bradwell Marina Waterside Road Bradwell-On-Sea Southminster Essex CM0 7RB

 

[tjbrace]

Supported.

 

[MoodySabre]

I’ve been a berth holder for 23 years. Coming in on a dark night there is a need for a bright torch to spot the buoys in the creek. I can’t see how a beacon by the entrance will be of much help. Getting from the cardinal mark to the beacon will still be a challenge.

 

[Plum]

I’ve been a berth holder for 23 years. Coming in on a dark night there is a need for a bright torch to spot the buoys in the creek. I can’t see how a beacon by the entrance will be of much help. Getting from the cardinal mark to the beacon will still be a challenge.

Yes, with your experience and entering at night the proposed beacon may not help but I am thinking more about all those who will benefit.

 

[Jon4468]

Is there any information describing where it will be positioned and what it will look like?
I had a look on the attached document and couldn’t see any do.

 

[Plum]

Is there any information describing where it will be positioned and what it will look like?
I had a look on the attached document and couldn’t see any do.

Click here and you should see a list of documents, near the end of the list are several "plans" Civica Town - Planning Documents

 

[MoodySabre]

Is there any information describing where it will be positioned and what it will look like?
I had a look on the attached document and couldn’t see any do.

The beacon will be the item in the western end car park. It looks a bit like the base of a wind turbine.

I hope this gets a more stable base than the car park area by the dock. The concrete has dropped again and much of it is flooded by rainwater.

 

[Jon4468]

Oh,that’s what that is!
I thought it was for a wind turbine, it’s been there well over a year.
I’m not sure how helpful it would be there, visiting boats may end up running aground on Pewit island rather than actually entering the creek, but I’m sure that they know what they are doing. Years ago when the power station was illuminated 24/7 people used to aim at it and end up on the flats near St Peter’s.

The beacon will be the item in the western end car park. It looks a bit like the base of a wind turbine.

I hope this gets a more stable base than the car park area by the dock. The concrete has dropped again and much of it is flooded by rainwater.

 

[Lucky Duck]

The OP and the link mentions the entrance rather than the car park. If it is latter I’m not sure how it will help.

Does the recommended approach through the creek still mean taking the red cans the ‘wrong’ side?

 

[Plum]

The OP and the link mentions the entrance rather than the car park. If it is latter I’m not sure how it will help.

Does the recommended approach through the creek still mean taking the red cans the ‘wrong’ side?

The mention of the carpark is a red herring. The beacon is currently being stored in the carpark/boatyard while they apply for planning permission. I have taken an image from the planning application that shows its proposed location, see below. The planning applications says "at seaward entrance to marina". The beacon will be a visual reference beacon, visible from out in the main river, not a substitute for the current navigation marks. Just as, say, the Walton Tower was constructed as a day-mark for Harwich and Bateman's Tower for Brightlingsea, for example. The comments so far published are here: 25/01095/FUL | Proposed location of Beacon Structure on land at seaward entrance to marina | Bradwell Marina Waterside Road Bradwell-On-Sea Southminster Essex CM0 7RB

 

[Lucky Duck]

Thanks, this plan mentioned ‘pilot beacons’ by the bar/restaurant which I mistakenly took to be the proposal.

https://cdp.maldon.gov.uk/w2webpart...c/pagestream?cd=inline&pdf=true&docno=2387188

While I can’t see the harm in the new beacon, the Marina office tower is also conspicuous in that neck of the woods

Edit - my own view is that money might have been better spent improving the navigation marks, etc within the creek

 

[Snowgoose-1]

Edit - my own view is that money might have been better spent improving the navigation marks, etc within the creek

 

[MoodySabre]

Does the recommended approach through the creek still mean taking the red cans the ‘wrong’ side?

I don’t think it matters which side of the red cans you are. They have been in the wrong place for a long time but (so I was told) that moving them meant that they had to use proper Trinity House buoys rather than painted oil drums and they didn’t want the expense.

With no tidal gauge on the cardinal mark and the non-replacement of the withies we have got use to a minimalist arrangement that is perhaps not so good for visitors.

 

[Snowgoose-1]

I don’t think it matters which side of the red cans you are. They have been in the wrong place for a long time but (so I was told) that moving them meant that they had to use proper Trinity House buoys rather than painted oil drums and they didn’t want the expense.

With no tidal gauge on the cardinal mark and the non-replacement of the withies we have got use to a minimalist arrangement that is perhaps not so good for visitors.

It's a shame that they can't improve the buoys.

Almost impossible to navigate the creek at night with no moon for visitors.

It was easier to see where you were going when the power station was functional.

 

[Egret]

Does the Navionics chart have the channel in its current position - or has the channel moved across a bit - like it seems to be on the google satellite image - are the leading marks still relevant - and is it still advised to leave the green buoy on the Marina chart to starboard.

 

[Plum]

It's a shame that they can't improve the buoys.

Almost impossible to navigate the creek at night with no moon for visitors.

It was easier to see where you were going when the power station was functional.

Just follow the existing buoyage, including the green one, some of them are lit so not a problem at night. If you are familiar then you will know there is some variability.

 

[MoodySabre]

Does the Navionics chart have the channel in its current position - or has the channel moved across a bit - like it seems to be on the google satellite image - are the leading marks still relevant - and is it still advised to leave the green buoy on the Marina chart to starboard.

Tiller Girl is going to re-survey the creek this year. The chart on Crossing the Thames website is still pretty good.

I wouldn't rely on Navionics - just follows the cans. At lowish water go round the green buoy. Around mid-tide I never bother but I'm a local.

 

[tillergirl]

I suggest you use my download - Downloads and scroll down. I have found the jpg link has broken but the pdf is still ok so use that. As Colin says, follow the buoyage. I had checked in August last year and again I did a check in October. Worst by No 2 but if you ground there t'is nice and soft and you can wait for the tide in comfort. You can find a bit more water outside of the marked buoys as you will see on the chartlet. The issue is that there used to be a line of moorings ages ago and I doubt the sinkers were all lifted. So it you grounded there the bottom might not be nice. Navionics is not accurate there; a check of one depths last October (which was fine) would be 'on the green' on Navionics. In fairness to Navionics it is difficult for them to do that sort of data.