Month: August 2024
Sun & Rochester Pier – Further Update from Medway Council
We have today received the following update from Medway Council on activities at both Sun Pier and Rochester Pier.
Sun Pier has suffered considerable anti-social behaviour issues and vandalism over the last 9 months, which has resulted in changes to daily operational management of the pontoons, in the short term, to eliminate the primary issue of unauthorized mooring which has impacted on visitors and river boat tour operations at Sun Pier.
Long term plans for operational management of the pontoons is being reviewed with all options being considered pending a formal decision.
Sun Pier pontoons will remain open to the public via the river tour operators until dry docking and refurbishment of the pontoons has been completed which is expected in late November.
Rochester Pier – Whilst there are no immediate plans to restore this as an embarkation point for visiting leisure boats and tour operators, efforts are being made to explore all options to fully restore the pier and will be part of an overarching report on the future of all three council owned piers.
The upper section of Rochester Pier is expected to be re-opened to the public in late September.
Peter Norris, Fellow ABYA
Chairman
Medway and Swale Boating Association
Personal Water Craft – Queenborough and Swale
As you will have all seen from the recent posts on Facebook there have been
some serious incidents in and around Queenborough and in the Swale Estuary
involving Personal Water Craft (PWC) which has resulted in not only the
Harbour Patrols being launched but also the RNLI lifeboat and Helicopter.
Unfortunately, it is a small group of PWC owners that are giving PWC owners
in the area an unnecessarily bad reputation. The MSBA has agreed to work
with Kent Police, Swale Borough Council, Queenborough Harbour Trust and Peel Ports to see what actions can be taken to reduce and ideally reduce and
ideally extinguish completely the number of incidents that are occurring.
In this respect can we please ask members who witness any incidents in the
Queenborough area or in the Swale to report them to Kent Police using the
following portal.
https://kep.uk.evidence.com/axon/community-request/public/queenborough
Please provide as much information as possible, because the more information
that is provided with each report the more chance Kent Police have of
identifying those that are driving the bad reputation.
Peter Norris, Fellow ABYA
Chairman
Medway and Swale Boating Association
Rochester Pier Update
Over the past few weeks the MSBA has been in communication with Medway
Council to obtain an update on its current plans for the Rochester Pier and
the boat services that used to operate from the Pier.
Medway Council have today confirmed that they are working on re-opening, in
the coming months, the T-part of the Pier as a viewing platform which
members of the public will be able to access to see what is happening on the
River and look back at Rochester Castle.
The Council has no plans to re-instate any river services to or from
Rochester Pier. It has also confirmed that the Council are currently
reviewing the use of all three piers under its control.
The MSBA will continue to provide updates on any developments in this area.
Peter Norris, Fellow ABYA
Chairman
Medway and Swale Boating Association
Sun Pier Update
As you will be aware Sun Pier has been closed to leisure boat owners for a
number weeks. The MSBA has been seeking an update from Medway Council on
when the Sun Pier will re-open to leisure craft. It is currently restricted
to commercial vessels only.
Medway Council have today confirmed that the pier will not reopen to Leisure
craft until the drying docking of the pontoons and necessary repairs have
been completed which is anticipated to be the end of November 2024.
In the meantime, the Council have advised that it will be conducting a
comprehensive review of the Pier’s use and who has access to it.
The MSBA will be keeping a watchful eye on these discussions as this is an
asset that was repaired using Council funds for all to use and not just for
commercial organisations.
The MSBA will update members as soon as possible on developments.
Kind regards
Peter Norris, Fellow ABYA
Chairman
Medway and Swale Boating Association