Tidal Thames - Public Meeting

[boatone]

The PLA are holding a public meeting on May 19th on HQS Wellington.

http://www.pla.co.uk/News/index.cfm/flag/2/id/179068/site/News

Can any of our downriver friends make it and report back?

 

[DogsBody]

Well, I'm not one of the "downriver friends" anyway but will not be able to get there, not enough time between me finishing work and the meeting starting.

Feasible for those who work in London though.

Darren.

 

[MiskinDriver]

Sorry, I've been away so missed this request. I was at the meeting - though largely wished I wasn't. The evening began with a PLA introduction and mentioned their financial performance and forecasts (a surplus of £1.6m last year - all going towards covering the deficit in the PLA pension fund); the new bye laws (including the propsed 12kt speed limit from Barking up river and the new Thames Recreational Users Guide (available free through their website/leisure microsite).

These issues were ignored by the meeting though as questions/comments from the floor focused entirely on the charges to residential boat owners and others holding PLA work licences (this includes commercial piers large and small) on the Thames. While these do seem pretty arbitrary, and I have some sympathy with the difficulties those concerned face, nevertheless it did get a bit pointless as the same points were raised again and again to receive the same answer of further investigation and consideration from PLA Chair.

I confess I left around 8.15 as there didn't seem much point in staying.

Will keep an eye out for the next meeting (which is scheduled for Essex) and should (hopefully) look at least a bit at the navigational issues.