New marinas

[pillingslock]

There are waterways enthusiasts that are "anti" new rural marinas because they are detrimental to the waterways they are enthusiastic about.

 

Progress is all very well but when you are dealing with a piece of national heritage, as important as the canal system, and vital wildlife habitats, progress is not the most important consideration.

Well, I do feel better that the fields used for our development were used for breeding Shetland Ponies (native?!) prior to development - also that a few million tons of aggregates were taken away to build new roads/houses/offices before we got there too!

 

Hundreds of metres of new soft edges have attracted many waterfoul, the fish population don't seem too unhappy either - there can be a positive effect to digging up a few fields and packing a few hundred boats in the middle!

 

Apart from raising donations to Peter Le Marchant Trust and other charities, I'm also keen that when we do eventually get some spare time, we start investigating how much of the Melton Arm we can assist in restoration to help develop the local network. If anyone's involved with the trust, I'd like to speak to them as soon as we get this credit-crunch-recession thingy out of the way.

 

Time will tell, but it's something good to aim for!

 

And I'd happily support smaller "No-Frills" marinas being developed locally too - it could mean in time that we can create a full-time job selling Gas/Coal/Diesel and doing service work rather me & Dad than changing hats every half hour!

[Overwater]

Hi, my husband, father-in-law and I are the family who just got planning permission to build a marina near to Audlem, Cheshire and I note with interest many of the points raised in this discussion thread. I am very concerned to hear one person stating that "the developers have lied" - please could you let me know what this is about as I am happy to discuss ANY aspect of our application. Just to clarify - on the advice of the local planning office we used a marina development company to produce our planning application. The next step for us is to invite companies like GJP and Land and Water to provide tenders to construct the marina. We feel that the site that we have is ideal and are aiming to provide a quiet, peaceful environment for people to moor their boats. Our plan is to build with soft edges where possible as this fits in with the surrounding environment. We employ 3 people plus family members on our farm and this project is a means of diversifying our business to ensure it's future viability. The site is approx 1 mile form the centre of Audlem and I have already been approached and given support by a number of businesses in Audlem. If anyone has any questions please do not hesitate to ask.

 

Janet Maughan

[Lewis 53]

In the present climate how can anyone raise the funds to build a marina, even if DERA and all the other funding bodies become involved. RCR couldn't raise £15000 to fund a small expansion of their business from "normal" sources. The only people able to get money at the moment are the banks. So irrespective of the pros and cons of the desireability of this development good luck with the funding.

Lewis

[journeyperson]

Hi, my husband, father-in-law and I are the family who just got planning permission to build a marina near to Audlem, Cheshire and I note with interest many of the points raised in this discussion thread. I am very concerned to hear one person stating that "the developers have lied" - please could you let me know what this is about as I am happy to discuss ANY aspect of our application. Just to clarify - on the advice of the local planning office we used a marina development company to produce our planning application. The next step for us is to invite companies like GJP and Land and Water to provide tenders to construct the marina. We feel that the site that we have is ideal and are aiming to provide a quiet, peaceful environment for people to moor their boats. Our plan is to build with soft edges where possible as this fits in with the surrounding environment. We employ 3 people plus family members on our farm and this project is a means of diversifying our business to ensure it's future viability. The site is approx 1 mile form the centre of Audlem and I have already been approached and given support by a number of businesses in Audlem. If anyone has any questions please do not hesitate to ask.

 

Janet Maughan

 

Well I wish you success with your project and look forward to seeing it take shape. I've just acquired a mooring the other side of Nantwich for three years, so by the time that comes to an end I may be ready for a move into a marina .

[bastonjock]

Sticling with the topic of new marinas,there was an announcement in the Spalding news paper that the hunt was on for a site for the new marina.I dont know who will own the marina,weither or not it will be owned by spalding town council or those motivated purley by proffit.The money is coming partially at least from the EEC.The whole thing is part of the project to link up the Witham,Welland,Nene and Ouze

 

it would be a pleasant thought that some marinas could be built with affordable moorings such as housing estates are built with affordable housing.

 

the world is full of money grabbing penny pinching farmers Mrs Maughan,if your marina generates enough money to make your business profitable,will you then stop claiming EEC subsidies?

[Overwater]

Sticling with the topic of new marinas,there was an announcement in the Spalding news paper that the hunt was on for a site for the new marina.I dont know who will own the marina,weither or not it will be owned by spalding town council or those motivated purley by proffit.The money is coming partially at least from the EEC.The whole thing is part of the project to link up the Witham,Welland,Nene and Ouze

 

it would be a pleasant thought that some marinas could be built with affordable moorings such as housing estates are built with affordable housing.

 

the world is full of money grabbing penny pinching farmers Mrs Maughan,if your marina generates enough money to make your business profitable,will you then stop claiming EEC subsidies?

 

I think the issue of farm subsidies is a little off topic here, and to a degree out of date as we now have a single payment scheme for anyone who owns land (not just farmers) which compensates land owners for the range of environmental management they must adhere to. I have to say we would welcome the end of any form of subsidy if we were paid a little more for our milk (we calculated this would be the equivalent of half a pence per litre) as it would make life a lot less complicated and regulated. Like religion and politics it is a subject you could argue about for hours! If you would like to visit the farm to discuss it over a cup of tea we do offer educational visits which are part of our countryside stewardship scheme (now called HLS) and you are welcome to see the amount of work which goes into producing our milk (my husband averages 70 hours a week).

 

Getting back to the marina I appreciate the need for affordable moorings. We have visited many marinas around the country and seen many different levels of facilities. It is very useful to get feedback on the type of things you all want to have in a marina and those which would make no difference. On this subject - how many of you currently moor in a marina?

[msgreen44]

I understand from my sister that excavation of the marina has started in the last few days.

 

Progress can be followed here 'www.overwatermarina.co.uk/'

 

Martin.

[Dutch]

<br />I understand from my sister that excavation of the marina has started in the last few days. <img src="http://www.canalworld.net/forums/style_emoticons/default/smile.gif" style="vertical-align:middle" emoid="" border="0" alt="smile.gif" /> <br /><br />Progress can be followed here 'www.overwatermarina.co.uk/'<br /><br />Martin.<br />

<br /><br /><br />

Looking at the site of the marina i can only say it just destroying the countryside for profit..The blurb is what you would expect

Mick

[msgreen44]

<br /><br /><br />

Looking at the site of the marina i can only say it just destroying the countryside for profit..The blurb is what you would expect

Mick

 

 

Having previously visited the location, the whole of the marina itself is contained in a virtually empty field, sandwiched between the canal and a disused railway line. If it develops as I hope it will, it will be a beautiful location.

 

Martin.

[Dutch]

Having previously visited the location, the whole of the marina itself is contained in a virtually empty field, sandwiched between the canal and a disused railway line. If it develops as I hope it will, it will be a beautiful location.

 

Martin.

 

So an empty field can not be beautiful??But a feild now full of boats can??

[msgreen44]

So an empty field can not be beautiful??But a feild now full of boats can??

 

I didn't say an empty field wasn't beautiful. It is to the eye of the beholder as to which might be preferred.

I do know that a conserable number of trees will be planted, which may soften the view. only time will tell.

 

Martin.

[Tiny]

One place where we moor the odd night - currently in the middle of no-where has a nice view across fields of cattle to the didtant hills. It's an especially pleasant view near sunset. Now they plan to stick a Marina in the view - one of 5 new ones in 20 miles. At least one of the other ones is less than full but chances are this one - idealy placed on a lock free bit will be popular. Bang goes the middle of no-where and the view.

[msgreen44]

One place where we moor the odd night - currently in the middle of no-where has a nice view across fields of cattle to the didtant hills. It's an especially pleasant view near sunset. Now they plan to stick a Marina in the view - one of 5 new ones in 20 miles. At least one of the other ones is less than full but chances are this one - idealy placed on a lock free bit will be popular. Bang goes the middle of no-where and the view.

 

It is a tricky one. Go back several hundred years and a lot of these places would have been dense forrest - not a lot of view.

As has been said earlier on the thread, people probably said a similar thing when the canals were first built.

Similar issue with windfarms now.

Its just change - some good, some bad, depending on your point of view.

 

Martin.

[homer2911]

What is needed is a range of provision especially the cheaper end of the market because otherwise a lot of people will be forced off the water especially pensioners. I would be prepared to mooch about rather than give up and be forced out, I dont mind anyone being better off than me but in a modern civilised country there must be adequate provision made for the less well off too.

 

Trouble is, 'the less well off' inevitably encopasses the 'don't want to work'!

[msgreen44]

Water Going in!

 

 

Martin.

[Barry]

Trouble is, 'the less well off' inevitably encopasses the 'don't want to work'!

 

What nonsense!

 

The less well off encompasses those who have worked all their lives and are now living on a pension

 

It encompasses those who would like to work but can't for a variety of reasons

 

Somewhere in there will inevitably be those who don't to want to work but they will not be in the majority as you imply

[Laurie Booth]

I think the more marinas the better. More marinas = lower mooring fees.

Try finding a marina on the Bath end of the Kennet & Avon canal and if you do the price!

[Naughty Cal]

I think the more marinas the better. More marinas = lower mooring fees.

 

That will depend on the area.

[Laurie Booth]

That will depend on the area.

Hence the mention of the K&A canal.

[msgreen44]

Sorry - This ones on the Shropshire Union - Bit too late to move now

 

Martin.

[Naughty Cal]

Hence the mention of the K&A canal.

 

I dont think any new marina berths on the K&A would be cheap

[deletedaccount]

There's berths free a few miles out of bath at saltford. But you need (a) piles of cash and ( B ) no kids. The miserable gits.

Edited November 30, 2009 by deletedaccount

[Naughty Cal]

There's berths free a few miles out of bath at saltford. But you need (a) piles of cash and ( B ) no kids. The miserable gits.

 

I agree with B

[Laurie Booth]

There's berths free a few miles out of bath at saltford. But you need (a) piles of cash and ( B ) no kids. The miserable gits.

Typical Saltford people. Load of stuck up toffs.

 

I dont think any new marina berths on the K&A would be cheap

I agree but I would like to see a bit more competition instead of the price cartell they all run.

[Nightwatch]

Hungerford is getting a new marina on The K&A.

 

Too far for the bath employed though so they will have to stay where they are.

 

Martyn