Wallasea Jetty

Dan Tribe

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I see that they are about to dismantle the Crossrail mud jetty on the Crouch. I understood that they were keeping it maintained until more spoil could be obtained, presumably muck is now in short supply. I don't think it has been used for some years and must have cost a few bob to keep maintained and lit.
Has anyone got any experience of the pros & cons of this scheme? It seems to have had less detrimental effect on the tidal flow than I had feared, but I haven't yet seen much evidence of the benefit to wildlife.
The RSPB site only reports what a marvellous and unmitigated success it has been.
 
What a waste, it would be good if the local community could come together and keep the jetty open for boating use. Its in a great position, some alternative use would be great.
 
What a waste, it would be good if the local community could come together and keep the jetty open for boating use. Its in a great position, some alternative use would be great.

Yes, it does seem a waste of a resource, but there is zero chance of the RSPB putting people's interest before birds.
 
What kind of use is envisaged? Its not like it is conveniently situated for a local pub or in a particularly sheltered spot.

Perhaps it could have been converted to a themed restaurant.
The restaurant at the end of the universe or back of beyond. Speciality dish, wildfowl casserole or Brent goose breast?
The conveyor belt could have been converted to carry the customers.:)
 
It's close to the mouth of the crouch, would cut down journey times from the marinas and clubs further up the river for boats wanting to get out to sea. 24 hour floating access with power, water etc.
 
I wonder whether it is being removed because there is now little likelihood of the north-south cross London line being built because of the delays and expense of Crossrail, HS2, and the desperately needed cross Pennines upgrade.
 
I suspect there is plenty of 'competition' for the material - for example the arising for the Northern Line extension works went by barge to a former landfill site near Rainham.

That is the crux of the matter

How they originally got the deal for the Crossrail spoil is anybody's guess but they didn't get as much as expected because somebody at Crossrail realised that any inert material suitable for landfill capping is a marketable commodity
 
That is the crux of the matter

How they originally got the deal for the Crossrail spoil is anybody's guess but they didn't get as much as expected because somebody at Crossrail realised that any inert material suitable for landfill capping is a marketable commodity

I went to a public meeting before the scheme started, and asked how much landfill tax they would be paying. The RSPB man said he didn't think tax would be payable. It would have been nice to know for sure.
 
Lets be honest about it. The thing is a theme park for anoraks with binoculars to look at birds instead of train spotting.
It took huge areaas of the best agricultural land out of use. No one but the RSPB could get planning pemission to destroy such huge areas of productive land for a hobby.

And now it isn’t even completed. So for all the fuss and having an "artist in residence" etc, it doesn’t even do what it says on the tin.
 
Lets be honest about it. The thing is a theme park for anoraks with binoculars to look at birds instead of train spotting.
It took huge areaas of the best agricultural land out of use. No one but the RSPB could get planning pemission to destroy such huge areas of productive land for a hobby.

And now it isn’t even completed. So for all the fuss and having an "artist in residence" etc, it doesn’t even do what it says on the tin.

:encouragement:
 
Lets be honest about it. The thing is a theme park for anoraks with binoculars to look at birds instead of train spotting.
It took huge areaas of the best agricultural land out of use. No one but the RSPB could get planning pemission to destroy such huge areas of productive land for a hobby.

And now it isn’t even completed. So for all the fuss and having an "artist in residence" etc, it doesn’t even do what it says on the tin.

For once, we're in total agreement!
 
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