Issue - meetings

To consider a report of the Director of Culture, Communities and Business Services seeking Harbour Works Consent.

It was confirmed that Natural England were satisfied with the proposed plan. 

Regarding navigational safety, the Director affirmed his view that new berthing would make navigation safer. It was noted that concerns existed regarding if sufficient channels would exist to be safe for pilots, and Director affirmed that the 3 channels under the new plan were sufficient.

The Director recommended that on an environmental and navigational basis the approval should be recommended to the Harbour Board.

During questions, a member affirmed their view that plan should be withdrawn due to loss of mooring holders and would cause increased waiting time for certain categories of vessels as replacement mooring would have to be found. This member worried that this would potentially price people out of boating due to increased costs. This view was supported by several other members. The Director noted that the Crown Estate which owns the 42 berths was not going to hand over the berths for the development and has formally disagreed with the development.

The Chairman noted that this matter of the berths would be a matter for Local Authorities and for the Crown Estate and was not under the jurisdiction of the Harbour Authority. The Chairman re-emphasised the Committee’s jurisdiction and warned of potential judicial review if the Committee voted based upon views of Crown Estate and not upon a navigational and environmental basis.

Another member noted a requirement for 10% net gain for biodiversity on any new development. An officer replied that this requirement was not yet in law as it was proposed legislation.

The recommendations were put to a vote. One member abstained from the vote. All other members voted for the recommendations contained within the report.

RESOLVED:

That the River Hamble Harbour Management Committee recommends to the River Hamble Harbour Board to approve Harbour Works Consent for the proposal set out in Section 4 of his 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 4.

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

c. Vibro-piling should be used as a standard rather than percussive piling. In the event that it is necessary to use percussive piling, soft-start procedures must be employed over a period of at least 20 minutes. Should piling cease for a period of greater than 10 minutes then the soft start procedure must be repeated.

d. Percussive piling should only be permitted between 16 March and 29 November in any given year.

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