Agenda item

To consider a report of the Director of Culture, Communities and Business Services setting out an application for Harbour Works Consent.

The Board considered the report of the Director of Culture, Communities and Business Services (Item 9 in the Minute Book).

The report outlined an application, made by Marina Development Limited to extend five piers at Hamble Point Marina.

Discussion was held regarding the enforceability of the recommendations and Members were assured that the Marine Director had the authority to impose and implement any necessary restrictions at his discretion as outlined within the report. It was noted that, in reference to recommendation h, although advice from Natural England (NE) had initially been sought, officers were due to undertake further consultation with NE and the Environment Agency regarding the summer fish migration season and the timing of necessary piling works.

The Chairman proposed that a vote be taken and the majority of Members voted in favour of the recommendations.

RESOLVED:

That the River Hamble Harbour Board approves the Harbour Works Consent for the proposal set out in Section 3 of the report and subject to the following conditions:

a.     The proposal is to be built in accordance with the details, plans and method set out in paragraph 3.5.

b.     The development is constructed in accordance with the guidance given in the industry Code of Practice for the design of marinas.

c.      Hamble Point Marina conducts a revised Risk Assessment within its own Safety Management System to reflect and manage the risks of the changes made and provides self-certification that it has done so prior to any construction taking place.  That risk assessment will in particular address the management of risk of vessels entering and particularly leaving the Marina and conflicting with other vessels (especially small vessels including dinghies, kayaks and canoes) using the access channel.  This will include the following control measures being put in place prior to berths being allocated:

                                          i.    The affixing of appropriately visible signage (at least 1m in height and 1.5m width, with the wording ‘GIVE WAY TO TRAFFIC USING THE ACCESS CHANNEL’) at the exit of each Marina channel to show that vessels leaving the Marina are required to give way to those vessels using the access channel.

                                        ii.    written advice to all Marina berth holders and inclusion in the terms of berth-holders’ lease of the requirement to give way as at 9.1c.i above, coupled with the right of termination in the event of non-compliance. 

                                       iii.    Suitable advice must also be made available for visiting vessels.

d.     The beam of craft moored on the new Hammerheads will be limited to the dimensions indicated in the attached plans with no double berthing or rafting allowed.  The concomitant impact of the narrower width of the channel will be to limit the length of craft using it to 17.7m (53ft) at the narrowest point (26.6m).  Other limitations will apply to the lengths of vessels able to use the channel adjacent to each hammerhead, commensurate with the new width created, which may affect the overall berthing plan within the Marina. This must feature in the Marina’s revised risk assessment.

e.     The freeboard height of any vessel moored on the hammerheads shall be such as not to prevent adequate visibility of craft, particularly small craft, using the access channel and, in turn, to afford the necessary visibility to craft exiting the Marina.

f.    The existing Aids to Navigation marking the end of each finger pontoon should be adjusted Riverwards by MDL as appropriate and the necessary facts reported to Trinity House and UKHO, keeping the RHHA informed.  No additional lighting to be placed on the pontoons to effect or impact on the visibility or characteristics of Aids to Navigation.

g.     Vibro-piling should be used as a standard. Percussive piling must only be used if needed to drive a pile to its design depth. If percussive piling is necessary then soft-start procedure must be used to ensure incremental increase in pile power over a set time period until full operational power is achieved.

h.     Due to the sensitivity of the summer fish migration season, piling works are best undertaken outside of the summer migration period. Natural England suggests that further advice is sought from the Environment Agency with regard to timing restrictions.

i.       All equipment, temporary structures, waste and/or debris associated with the licensed activities are removed upon completion of the licensed activities.

j.    The development must be completed within 3 years from the date of the approval granted by the Harbour Board.