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Post by Deleted on Oct 11, 2018 10:03:20 GMT
I'm off to have another look. I'll take some more (mobile phone) pictures for the record.
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Post by NigelMoore on Oct 11, 2018 10:42:47 GMT
I managed, courtesy of a friend, to get at least a Word copy of the Hendry Report. It makes for sickening reading in light of the present Mayor’s actions.
Introduction
1.1 This report takes as a starting point ‘Establishment of Criteria to Safeguard Boatyards on the River Thames, February 2000’, that Adams Hendry undertook for the Port of London Authority (PLA), Environment Agency (EA), the London Planning Advisory Committee (LPAC) and other bodies in 1999 / 2000. That study identified a large number of boatyards, marinas and some of the larger residential mooring sites between Sunbury and Canvey Island.
1.2 The project brief for this study opens with the Mayor’s “duty to consider the desirability of promoting and encouraging the use of the River Thames safely, in particular for the provision of passenger transport services and for the transport of freight (GLA Act 1999, Section 41).”
1.3 The brief makes reference to the safeguarding of 50 wharves by the Secretary of State and draws attention to the fact that other support activities and facilities are also vital to delivering greater use and enjoyment of London’s waterways. London Plan Policy 4.C.18 sets out the Mayor’s approach to protecting other waterway support facilities, infrastructure and activities, including boat building, servicing and repair activities, mooring sites and posts, boat houses and boatyards, slipway, steps and stairs and other landing or stopping places.
1.4 The draft Further Alterations to the London Plan, published in September 2006, set out a commitment to commission further research on the provision of boatyard facilities, which may consider the need for recommending the safeguarding of facilities or other measures to ensure that this industry continues to operate at an appropriate level in London.
1.5 Section 2 of this study reviews and updates the original boatyard study. This study focuses on boatyards and facilities that are located in Greater London that are subject to Policy 4.C.18 of the London Plan. In addition, the current status of a number of sites outside London that are, or have been, used by Thames boat operators is also studied. The findings are set out in Section 2 and the updated boatyard record sheets are attached as Appendix 1.
1.6 Section 3 reviews the current demand for boatyard facilities as a result of consultation with boatyard users and operators. It identifies for example the seasonal nature of demand for most work on passenger boats and the way that other demands, such as the conversion and repair of houseboats, is carried out at other times.
1.7 Section 4 outlines the key findings. What is the adequacy of the existing facilities? How well do they meet the needs of boat operators – particularly those providing passenger and freight services? What opportunities are there to improve facilities?
1.8 Section 5 identifies opportunities to improve boatyard facilities in Greater London.
1.9 Section 6 deals with the role of statutory safeguarding in protecting boatyard sites from other competing waterfront uses. The report concludes that simply protecting existing boatyards is unlikely to ensure that there are adequate facilities for the growing numbers of vessels in use on the River Thames and that it is necessary to identify new site(s) for additional facilities. This need is particularly pressing for larger public passenger vessels. [my bold]
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Post by Jim on Oct 11, 2018 11:08:55 GMT
I'm off to have another look. I'll take some more (mobile phone) pictures for the record. Get in a bit closer or take your big lens, or we'll think you were trained by the Russians. That last mission wasn't very competent.
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Post by NigelMoore on Oct 11, 2018 11:16:56 GMT
More from the Report -
Table 2.3 The key boatyards in Greater London used by private boat owners
(38) Gallions Point Marina, Royal Docks
Full range of repair facilities for yachts and powered vessels.
And more in the body of the Report -
2.17 Section 3 of this report shows that boatyards in Greater London are not adequate to meet the needs of London based operators.
3.21 There is a particular problem about the lack of facilities for emergency repair. Each of the Thames Clippers requires emergency attention to the propellers on an average of four occasions per year. . . . Gallions Point Marina offers use of its lock as a wet dock with PLA divers to free fouled propellers.
4.11 Given the threats to boatyards outside London and the Mayor’s objectives in the London Plan to accommodate London’s growth in sustainable ways, it is appropriate to consider whether a greater proportion of London’s need for boat maintenance can be undertaken within Greater London.
5.5 Our view is that simply seeking to protect existing facilities will not ensure that there is adequate additional capacity to meet the maintenance requirements of Thames based passenger boats, tugs and barges. This is due to the combination of the growing numbers and size of vessels and the physical constraints that existing boatyards have that limit opportunities to expand. We recommend that the Greater London Authority seeks to identify a site for a new boatyard to serve the maintenance needs of larger passenger vessels, piers (principally those operated by London River Services) and support vessels. Ideally this site should be located within Greater London to minimise the travel time to the facility, in particular for emergency inspection and repairs. Possible sites in Greater London include:
• land allocated for marine industry at Gallions Point Marina / Newham College in the Royal Albert Basin Development Framework that is adopted by Newham Council as supplementary planning guidance (this site is subject to the constraints of being in the public safety zone of London City Airport);
Very specifically –
Gallions Point Marina / Newham College Site, Royal Albert Basin
5.6 We have found only one new site in Greater London that is identified for additional marine employment uses in planning policy documents. It is at Gallions Point Marina and on adjoining land that is used for construction training by Newham College. The LDA proposes that this site be used for marine employment in the Royal Albert Basin Development Framework that was adopted by Newham Council as Supplementary Planning Guidance on 17th May 2005. The following extract from the SPG sets out the proposal:
“5.12 There is an existing building occupied by Newham College in this area. The Framework Plan replaces this higher education training centre with a boat yard and workshops more relevant to its prominent location, and with lower occupation levels to accord with the (London City Airport Public Safety Zone) PSZ requirements. There is potential for the College department to be relocated within the development sites around the Basin, or offsite to a more central Newham College base, where it can expand its range of courses.
5.13 Development massing should not exceed 2 storeys, up to a maximum 6 metres in height AOD.
5.14 The proposal illustrated includes: • 8.600 square metres of marine employment floorspace on 2.5 hectares of land; • 1700 square metres A3 use on island site; and • 1.67 hectares water lily field.”
5.7 The proposals also include in section 5.11: “ a new slipway between the locks to meet the new low tide water level creating a better point of access into the Basin and marina for small to medium sized vessels (without opening Sir Steve Redgrave bridge at a cost). This facility would also be used by the Airport’s river emergency operations, and provision could be made to station emergency craft nearby”.
5.8 The SPG makes no indication as to how vessels could obtain access to the proposed marine employment floorspace shown in Figure 5.1
5.9 There are a number of positive aspects about the Gallions Point Marina /Newham College site:
• It is in the City Airport PSZ and the site therefore is not suitable for higher value uses such as residential; • there is existing marine employment on the site at Gallions Point Marina; • Newham College occupies the former Thames House that was used by the PLA to service buoys and other marine equipment; and • the site is in public ownership.
5.10 There are, however, a number of significant constraints:
• the 6 metre building height would constrain the usefulness of buildings; • there would be restrictions on the use of cranes; • the LDA is proposing residential development on the southwest side of Gallions Marina creating a waterfront view into the marine employment site (see Figure 5.2). The SPG also proposes a bridge that would sever the existing basin in the marina that could provide a useful covered wet dock; and • the LDA has advised that it is unlikely to be possible to find a relocation site for Newham College.
5.11 It is beyond the scope of this study to do much more than identify the opportunities on this site and to make some very general indications as to what could be provided here. In the course of our research we have obtained the following observations about the site.
• It would be possible to create a facility large enough for the longest Thames Clipper (38 metres length x 9.6 metres beam) but not the Silver Sturgeon of Woods River Cruises (61 metres x 13.4 metres). • Sean Collins of Thames Clippers has advised that UKAE, the designers of the Thames Clippers, has looked at Gallions Point Marina with a view to establishing modern marine repair facilities there. However, the firm appears to have been unaware of the possible availability of land fronting the Thames that forms part of the Newham College site. • One way of overcoming the height restriction may be to create a covered slipway dry dock that is partly dug into the ground. • The PLA has endorsed the concept of improved facilities in this location suggesting that a hoist dock and travel hoist rather than a dry dock slipway would provide better flexibility in the use of the site. Eric Miller of Gallions Point Marina has said that he would have no objection to the reconfiguration of the land-based facilities on the marina site that includes an existing maintenance workshop. Generally London City Airport seeks to restrict height of cranes to 15 metres but can go up to 17 metres. Relationships with London City Airport are very good. The Marina always contacts LCR before the use of cranes and LCR always gives approval. (See Appendix 5). • the East London Learning and Skills Council (LSC) has advised that the Newham College site provides construction training through John Laing Training, a third party provider. This is not the preferred method of provision as far as the LSC is concerned. Such contracts are generally reviewed on a regular basis. Barking College opened a new building for construction training in 2002. The LSC could organise marine skills training through Newham College subject to funding.
5.12 Two options are set out to indicate how the site could be used. Figure 5.3 shows an arrangement comprising a draw dock slipway, wet dock and floating dry dock. Figure 5.4 shows an arrangement comprising a hoist dock, hardstanding and wet dock. Neither option strictly conforms to the Royal Albert Basin SPG because that document seeks to use the waterfront areas on the south west side of Gallions Point Marina to add value to residential development by providing a water frontage. However, for the allocation of 8.600 square metres of marine industry to be a viable proposition it would be necessary to have facilities to enable vessels to be moved into the proposed workshops.
5.13 If the Gallions Point Marina / Newham College site proves not to be a viable proposition due to London City Airport safeguarding or other reasons then the proposals should be deleted from the Supplementary Planning Guidance and determined efforts made to allocate a suitable site. The starting point should be wharves that have had their safeguarding status removed. Wharves that are unsuitable for freight, for example due to poor road access, could nonetheless be very suitable for boatyard use. Policy 4.C.15 and paragraph 4.106 of the London Plan 2004 set out criteria for the redevelopment of wharves that are no longer viable for cargo handling. The criteria include the need to give priority to water transport support facilities.
What was totally ridiculous in the Hendry Report was his assertion that the London Plan policies were proving effective –
Conclusion
6.7 Our findings show that policy 4.C.18 of the London Plan 2004 has been effectively implemented by London boroughs to protect boatyards on the River Thames. This success indicates that there is not at the moment a case to justify the statutory protection of boatyards. However, the Policy 4.C.18 has been in place for only a few years and continued vigilance will be necessary to ensure that facilities are retained.
(Since this Report, more and more facilities have been lost, with successive Mayors displaying indifference to the Policy in favour of commercial developments.)
6.8 The report also shows a 20% overall increase in commercial craft 1999 – 2006 and a 25% increase in the number of Class 5 passenger vessels licenced by the MCA. Our view is that simply protecting existing boatyard facilities through the application of planning policies is not in itself sufficient to meet the maintenance needs of the growing fleet in use on the River Thames.
As, contrary to Hendry's assertions, the existing planning policies have proved utterly ineffective, over-ridden by the Mayor himself even where local planning authorities have been supportive, the ignoring of the GLA's own commissioned Report is all the more poignant, this present instance highlighting the sad fact that the Mayor rides rough-shod over both existing and proposed policies designed to protect and improve boating facilities, whenever those threaten to interfere with the acquisition of big bucks.
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Post by peterboat on Oct 11, 2018 11:22:27 GMT
I think the bit that sticks in many peoples craw is that a boatyard/marina for mostly "ordinary" people is being destroyed to make way for development that includes .................. a flashy marina owned by a Chinese consortium for those who can afford enormous gin palaces The places aren't getting replaced so it's getting harder and harder for average people have boats. Within a generation the way we live on boats now will be gone. Oh well best enjoy it then. I am 60 Kris and need another 30 years on my boat at the very least!! fingers crossed that I get it
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Post by NigelMoore on Oct 11, 2018 11:22:37 GMT
A final quote from the Hendry Report to illustrate the facilities provided hitherto, as well as proposed -
Appendix 5
Note of Meeting with Eric Miller of Gallions Point Marina 11th January 2007 Boat Repair facilities
The yard undertakes ‘quite a lot’ of repair. Up to 8 – 9 staff work on repairs including hired in sub-contractors. All boats are taken out of the water using a hired-in crane. Large boats are repaired on hard standings within the marina small boats can be worked on in the workshop. Generally London City Airport seeks to restrict height of cranes to 15 metres but can go up to 17 metres. Relationships with London City Airport are very good. The Marina always contacts LCR before the use of cranes and LCR always gives approval.
LCR is required to close for 14 hours each weekend (currently closed between 12.30 pm Saturday to 12.30 pm Sunday) and this provides a window of opportunity for big lifts.
The Marina works in conjunction with specialist boat-lift firms to provide a service for the boat show at Excel to bring in boats by trailer and store them prior to exhibition at the London Boat Show.
The Marina does not undertake much regular work for Thames passenger boats but emergency work is undertaken. For example the Londinium is coming in to investigate something that is suspected to be wrapped around the propeller. The Marina lock will be used as a wet dock and PLA divers will go down to inspect the propeller.
On being told that owners of larger passenger vessels often made use of Denton slipways at Gravesend Mr. Miller said that Dentons is too far away down river for vessels that have a problem such as something wrapped around the propeller.
The Marina lock This is operated by the Marina and provides access to the River Thames about 5 hours either side of high water for vessels of up to 1 metre draught. There is an outer flood defence barrier that is operated by the Marina following a phone call to the Environment Agency. Charges for use of the lock are £5 - £10 and these are passed to the Royal Docks Management Authority (RoDMA) who are responsible for the Royals infrastructure. The Marina provides access to the River Thames for training exercises for the two LCR rescue craft (2 x 6.5 metre rigid inflatable boats). However, the lock would not provide suitable access in an emergency as it takes about 20 minutes for vessels to lock through.
The idea of a covered drydock slipway on part of the Newham College site
Mr Miller said that he would welcome more in the way of facilities in this location. It would provide more marine repair employment and help to replace the loss of facilities elsewhere. For example, at South Dock (formerly part of the Surrey Docks) the area of hard standing is being reduced to provide land for residential development.
Mike Adams explained the idea of a slipway using the former dock entrance adjoining the Newham College building. Mr. Miller said that the Newham College building was previously used by the PLA for repairing marine equipment, buoys etc. Mr. Miller would be happy to give up part of the Marina site adjacent to the workshop if it is necessary to extend a slipway / building into the Marina site to obtain sufficient length. This would require re-routeing the access road.
Mike Adams said that the Royal Albert Basin Framework Plan specifies a height limit of 6 metres for buildings in the flight path for the airport in this location. Mr Miller said that he is allowed vessels with masts up to 100 feet high at the eastern end of the Marina site and 75 feet (22.85 metres) high towards Steve Redgrave Bridge (i.e the same height as the lamp columns on the bridge).
Mr Miller said that LCR would be interested in a slipway on the site that would enable it to launch rescue craft into the River Thames. It takes about 20 minutes for the rescue craft to access the Thames through the lock at the Marina. This is too long to be of any use in an emergency.
Mike Adams Adams Hendry 11th January 2007
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Post by patty on Oct 11, 2018 12:31:08 GMT
thanks again Nigel, makes an interesting read.
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Post by Deleted on Oct 11, 2018 12:57:14 GMT
The site has been repossessed by GLA and handed to RoDMA management and owners of items on site must contact them by 26th of October. I was told today that it will remain a marina as it currently is and it will not be cleared because its under the flight path and no development is permitted. I still think the site will be cleared. Notice on gate
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Post by Deleted on Oct 11, 2018 13:07:03 GMT
Also this politely and considerately worded notice posted beside the other one. The one with green tape has also been posted on all the boats. One for naughtyfox there
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Post by Deleted on Oct 11, 2018 13:15:40 GMT
I'm off to have another look. I'll take some more (mobile phone) pictures for the record. Get in a bit closer or take your big lens, or we'll think you were trained by the Russians. That last mission wasn't very competent. I was trained by the Russians. I was also very fearful of the dog units so did not want to get near them. Some of the blokes had tattoos. Scary.
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Post by Deleted on Oct 11, 2018 13:35:46 GMT
Thanks Nigel for your posts. Unfortunately there was only one tiny little bit which I believe will end up being relevant
"...seeks to use the waterfront areas on the south west side of Gallions Point Marina to add value to residential development by providing a water frontage"
Sadly the average person looking for a "water frontage" will not want to have a working boatyard outside their window. It just doesn't mix. There may be building restrictions but I had a look at the "phase 1" new build which is only a few hundred metres from the actual Marina and I would say the same could be built the other side of the flight path.
All very sad it seems to be part some sort of property bubble happening in London. They are putting in new build blocks of flats everywhere. Every where. The scale is unbelievable..
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Post by JohnV on Oct 11, 2018 13:49:51 GMT
I "liked" Andrews post but the whole thing makes very depressing reading so "like" was not possibly the right word
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Post by naughtyfox on Oct 11, 2018 14:32:04 GMT
Yes, Master.
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Post by naughtyfox on Oct 11, 2018 14:36:12 GMT
Has anyone contacted City Hall to say Sadiq Khan has 'gone rogue'? Has anyone contacted Khan to let him know he's acting against the wishes of Londoners? Well, Londoners voted for him - sometimes you get what you ask for.
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Post by Deleted on Oct 11, 2018 15:01:23 GMT
Jericho, in Oxford, was cleared out eleven years ago, with all the strife that created.
The development has still NOT begun.
Rog
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