Boaters Forum Meeting Notes April 2010

[moderator]

BOATERS’ FORUM
Minutes of the Second Meeting of the Boaters’ Forum held at Nadee on Thursday, 15 April 2010

Attending (Forum Members)
Steve Taylor (NB Jenique).- Finch, Grebe, Heron
Celia Kind (NB Bluebell) - Ibis, Jay, Kingfisher, Lapwing, Moorhen
Jane Bennett (NB Janeil) – Redshank, Sandpiper, Teal, Upland Goose
Gordon Pilgrim (NB Edgewood Dirk) – Zebra Dove, Avocet, Blackbird, Albatross, Bullfinch
Jo James – Forum Secretary
Robert Neff – General Manager
Apologies
Sandy Bentham (NB Swift) – Veery, Woodcock, Xantus, Yellowhammer
Lee Bartlett (NB La Pirogue) – Nuthatch, Owl, Peregrine, Quail

1. Acceptance of Prior Meeting Notes
Members of the Forum were happy with the notes from the February meeting and had no
additions or amendments to make.

2. Items Arising from Previous Meeting
•Storage Sheds: A number of moorers would like storage sheds available to rent. In the
discussion which followed, it was suggested that not all types of sheds would need
planning permission. It was agreed they would need to be wooden, in keeping with the
Marina environment and might not be very big but there were possible options
suggested by Forum Members. Robert would look into this further.
•Tumble Dryers: Two new tumble dryers in each Facilities’ Block were due on Friday 16
April. They were higher rated and more efficient but the drying cost would remain the
same. The existing washing machines would not be changed.
•Bins: Additional general rubbish bins would be provided. It was noted that moorers
were leaving inappropriate items (e.g. old fridges) and that this was not permitted.
Such items must be taken to a recycling centre and disposed of properly. Moorers
should only use the general bins for normal ‘household’ items. Signs would be put up at
the bin sites to make it clear what was and was not appropriate. An additional bin area
would be provided near Facilities’ Block 3 when the car parking had been reworked; one
near the trees, the other at the Workshop end.
•Request and Response Book: This was now in the Marina Office and moorers were
encouraged to use it and to read it.
•Islands: The islands had been cleaned up and moorers were expected to keep them free
of dog poo. Additional dog poo bins had been ordered for placing around the site.

3. Dissemination of information from prior meeting
•Forum members said moorers had responded well to the notes from the first meeting
and that most boat owners talked to had read them. There had been encouraging and
increasing numbers of conversations between the representatives and boaters in their
areas with a number of issues being raised.
•The Forum members felt that the current dissemination methods (email list, posting of
the minutes, copies available in the Marina Office) were sufficient as things stood

4. Issues and Information
a) Chandlery: Midland Chandlers would be open for business on Saturday 17 April
and would be open seven days a week (10 – 4 on Sundays). Moorers
would get a 7 .5% discount for all goods within the store, excluding
special offers. The formal (celebratory) opening would be at the
weekend of the Mercia Open Days (July 3/4). Trade ‘n Post were
happy with the opening of the Chandlery and, in the future, would
concentrate more on providing groceries, ‘forgotten items’ and gifts
alongside their usual stock.
b) Mercia Cards: I.D. cards were being produced and these would be issued to
moorers. The first card would be free but additional or replacement
cards would cost 50p. These were non-transferable and – in principle
- would entitle moorers to 7.5% discount at Midland Chandlers, 10%
(excluding drinks) on weekday evenings at Nadee, 10% at the
Workshop, 10% at the Willows Tea Rooms. The terms and conditions
the discount at each place had yet to be confirmed and further local
shops, eateries and businesses might join the scheme. A full listing
would be available at the Marina Office and would be updated as
required. In the interim, Moorers should produce their card and ask
for a discount but be aware that the details of these had yet to be
confirmed by both the businesses and the Marina.
c) Holiday Homes: Plans for these were going well. They would be built to order. The
cost would be between £130K and £170K depending on size and
furnishings. They would be bought on a long lease from the marina
and terms and conditions about upkeep, letting out, use etc. would
be part of the contract of sale. Mercia would maintain the land and
roadways between and around the homes and the home owners
would pay a service fee. A Show Home would be in place in time for
the Open Days at the beginning of July. If moorers wish to know
more in the meantime, they are welcome to make enquiries at the
Marina Office.
d) Wi Fi: The Marina’s Wi Fi had been upgraded and all seemed to be working
well now. Mobile broadband (another option) had been a topic of
interest in the forum and engineers from one of the service providers
had visited the Marina to ensure their signal was as good as it could
be.
e) Open Days: These would be on the 3rd and 4th of July. Lucy, in the Marina Office,
was co-ordinating all activites. Parking for visitors would be off-site in
a nearby field. There would be security on the gates and moorers
would be able to drive in through the emergency gates to gain access
to the Marina. Moorers were reminded that they would be responsible
for the safety and security of their own boats during the weekend
since the site would be open for visitors to walk around.
Anyone with further ideas or suggestions about stands should talk to
Lucy. She was seeing whether a Boat Jumble stall might be possible
and Forum Members suggested a ‘swap shop’ or ‘giveaway’ stall
might also work well.
f) Fireproofing These boards would be attached to jetties as appropriate but moorers
Boards: should be aware of the dangers of running hot exhausts without a
clear area around.
g) Bike Racks: These were proving popular and more would be provided. Some
moorers had asked whether the racks might be roofed. It was agreed
that this was not appropriate.
h) Car Parks: The car park at Facilities’ Block 2 was being resurfaced with stone
chippings and it was hoped to overcome the pothole problem.
i) Craning Point: Work on this would begin on the 19th of April
j) New visitor jetty: There would be a visitor jetty alongside Midland Chandlers. This
would be for loading only and clearly marked as such. Work would
begin at the end of April.
Concern was expressed by a Forum Member as to whether this would
create problems for boats moving from the dry dock but reassurance
was given of the space available.
k)Pump Out: The modifications to the pump out points had been done
l) Facilities’ Blocks: Work on the floors and doors would begin in the week commencing
the 26th of April. Each block would need to be closed for 3 to 4 days
and notices would be put up. The order would be FB3, then FB2, then
FB1. Stands had been put in for shampoos and soaps.
m) Pub Project: Plans were moving ahead for the Pub project. This would include a
Restaurant, a 15m Pool, small gym and small Spa with beauty
therapy treatments. Designs were being looked at and the favoured
option was for a four storey ‘lighthouse’. The upper floors would be
for dining and bedrooms. There would be no function suite – in
keeping with the Marina’s intention that this project would benefit the
moorers rather than become a place for local events. The cost would
be some £2m and the sale of the holiday homes would help provide
some of the core funding.
Forum members were pleased with the planning and felt the complex
would be of real value to the moorers.
n) Spring Tidy: This was to begin shortly. Moorers were reminded that jetties were
part of the Marina’s common space and should be used appropriately
and moorers’ contracts made this clear. They were not available, for
instance, for storage of moorers’ personal items. Anything on the
jetty which the Marina considered inappropriate or unreasonable
would therefore be removed.
Spring Tidy notices had gone up and Robert felt there had been a
good response so far. The Forum Members were in agreement with
the Tidy and in ensuring jetties were used appropriately.
o) BBQ/picnic areas: There would be eight of these around the site with brick built BBQs,
Picnic Tables and seating. Moorers’ were expected to use these
responsibly – not having parties with noise and music going on after
10pm, clearing up properly after use, etc.
Forum Members were pleased with this new addition to the marina’s
facilities and would themselves keep an eye out for ‘proper’ use being
made of them.
p) Untaxed Cars: A number of cars on site were untaxed. This was not permitted and
moorers were asked to report if they saw one. It was also stated that
some cars were left on site when the boat had left for the canals;
again this was not permitted unless permission had been given in
each case by Robert.
q) Unlicensed Boats: The marina has an agreement with British Waterways that they can
come on site and check boat licenses and all boats in the Marina need
to possess a valid boat license as stated in the moorers’ contract.

5. Any Other Business (issues raised by Forum Members from discussion with their areas)
1) Jetties: Moorers were concerned about slippery jetties and had asked whether
chicken wire might be an option. Robert said this type of covering had
significant safety problems – the wire tended to snag or snap and
lead to trips and falls. The jetties would be jet washed when
necessary and the sand bins were now available at each group of
jetty entry points. Moorers had also enquired about handrails for some of the flights of
steps down to the jetties (eg. Redshank). This would be attended to.
2) Nightlights: It was felt that there needed to be better lighting around Facilities
Block 2. Robert would look into this.
3) Ladders: More emergency ladders were requested and their siting made
obvious. Robert would see to this.
4) Trolleys: A query had been made from one moorer would the possibility of
having a trolley available at group jetty points to help with moving
luggage onto boats. It was agreed that this was not practical; they
might be used for other purposes (e.g. Elsan cassette transport),
would probably never be in the right place at the right time and
would require maintenance. Moorers usually bought their own
collapsible trolley and kept it on their boats.
5) Vermin: Rats had been seen recently and it was recognised that the feeding of
the birds and ducks provided a good food source! Robert said the
exterminator, who had visited in the past, would be called again.
6) Car speed: Cars were still travelling far too fast around the perimeter road.
Robert had responded to some reports by talking to the drivers
concerned. He was keen that all such instances be reported to the
Marina Office.
7) Algae: The green and brown weed in the marina waters had concerned some
moorers who thought it was effluent. It had been properly identified
as bulrush fluff and would be dealt with by the Marina.

6. Next Meeting
The next meeting would be mid-June. All moorers were encouraged to talk to their
representatives or tell the Marina Office if they had matters they wanted raised.

[moderator]

A couple moorers have queried the situation regarding parking when out cruising. The comment in the notes about car parking was directed solely at ex-moorers, not existing ones.

The matter was raised by a forum representative and the reply was that when, for example, a winter moorer leaves the marina at the end of the term they are required to remove their car as well.

It is perfectly acceptable, of course, for moorers maintaining their berth to leave their car in the Marina when out cruising, alhtough if the cruise is extended it would be considerate to move it away from the prime areas.

all the best
Robert Neff

[daveves]

having read the minutes. of Aprils meeting ....... I note you had a sheduled a mid june meeting.. are the minutes to this meeting available or have I missed them, How regular are you now having these meetings once a month or every quarter

Look forward to seeing the minutes

[Voyager - Jo & Wynne]

There was a meeting on the 24th of June and the Notes/Minutes were emailed out to all those who have given their email address to Robert. There's obviously been a delay in getting them onto the Forum and the website. Perhaps you could email Robert and ask for the Notes/Minutes to be sent to you in the meantime? Or ask in the Office; I believe a couple of hard copies are kept there for people to read.

The Forum meets every two months - the next meeting will be on Tuesday 31 August.

Jo