Category: Uncategorized

Patman’s Wharf to become housing development

A planning application has been submitted to build houses and flats on the site of Patman’s Wharf at Upnor. Comments may be submitted on Medway Council’s planning portal ref MC/19/2361

Should you wish to object here are some of the issues that can be raised for starters:

  1. Loss of increasingly scarce recreational amenity, namely affordable boat storage and maintenance, especially for the neighbouring sailing club and other local boaters.

2. The size and mass of the 3-storey terraced houses sited directly against the river front is totally unacceptable and a detriment to the area. The reference to the 3-storey estate under the heading SCALE is not relevant as the estate is not on the river front!

3. There is a need for Affordable Housing contribution. These residential units are aimed at middle and upper income earners.

4. Contrary to the statement that the air quality will not change, the proposal suggests 17 cars on the site, without counting any visitors.

5. Two cars per unit, one behind the other, is an impractical solution. No doubt cars will be parked all over the site and in the adjacent roads, adding to the existing highways problem locally. A Highways Statement is required for the reason of the already congested traffic flows and parking within the local area.

6. Under Lighting, the suggestion that a statement is not required is concerning as there are no controls proposed over the future lighting. Without doubt the future owners will add to the exterior lighting to the balconies and gardens. Enforceable controls need to be in place to ensure that this does not happen. Light pollution is a local problem and this development will only add to that.

7. Within the Design and Access Statement the Agent suggests that there is not a demand for a boat storage and maintenance yard. In support it refers to recent years when the business has been  failing. The current operation has been allowed to fail simply to justify this proposed development. The boatyard is a valuable asset for Medway boaters and with new management could once again be a thriving enterprise to the benefit of the local river community. 

Arrival of HMS Medway, Tues 17 Sept 2019

HMS Medway. Photo Royal Navy.

HMS Medway is expected to arrive at Chatham Docks at 1400 on Tuesday 17 September. After locking into Basin 3 via the Bullnose, the warship will proceed to Basin 2 in Chatham Maritime. On Sunday 22 September the ship will be open to visitors from 10am to 4pm but no visitors will be admitted unless they have booked in advance. Visits can only be booked via www.eventbrite.co.uk from Tuesday 17 September.  UPDATE: All tickets are “sold out” but teh Navy hopes to make more available.

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PC David Lavender retires

At the MSBA business meeting last week we were sorry to report that PC David Lavender of the Kent Police Marine Unit has retired after many years of service to the local marine community.  He wrote to us in January as follows:

“I have been attending the MSBA meetings for the last eleven and a half years. I joined Kent Police Marine Unit in 2007 and one of the first things I was asked to do was to take over from Steve Elliot to become, for want of a better title, the police liaison. At the time the group was the Medway Yachting Association and Jenny Deacon was the chair. The group has gone through some changes during that time. The biggest of course was changing the name and new branding, but the group has kept the same ethos. The Medway and Swale themselves have also changed in those years, two powers stations chimneys gone! There have been a number of notable events over the years such as the Climate Camp 2008, Protester at Kingsnorth, the London Olympics, the Medway River Festival, not to mention the annual Admirals Cruise and of course Medway In Flames. I thank you from a policing perspective for your support in these, for example willingness to change race start times to avoid clashes! The marine unit has also gone through some changes during that time, which I have shared with you and you have been supportive. After thirty years of policing it is time for me to retire. I have, some of you may think, gone to the dark side and I start a new job with the Marine Management Organisation in early February. I have enjoyed the meeting and interactions, though some occasions have been challenging. Some may say this is all part of the job. I have tried to be honest and open when asked difficult questions and I know that you appreciate that. There have been things that I have achieved over the years and some I have failed to do. The lack of a proficient form of communication such as marine watch has been one of these, but hopefully when Country Eye gets into full swing this may finally happened.  I thank you for the information that you have shared with us and have been willing to pass on information to your clubs and MSBA website on our behalf. Such as stolen/boats of interest and missing persons etc. I thank you for welcome and inclusiveness. You may see me again in my role with the MMO.”

We sincerely wish Dave success and satisfaction in his new role. It’s not clear at the moment who, if anyone, will replace him as our police liaison person.

CA Winter Warmer: Chris Jeckells, Thu 14 March

Chris Jeckells, MD of Jeckells the Sailmakers of Wroxham Norfolk and 7th generation of the sail making family will be visiting to tell us more about the history of Jeckells, a company that has been going since 1832, and the modern methods of sail making, including different types of cloth, panel configuration, etc Chris will also be giving away a FREE Jeckells crew jacket worth £129.99 to the first person drawn at random from entries on the evening, where you simply have to answer 3 questions correctly. All the answers will be contained within the talk.

Other forthcoming Kent Cruising Association “Winter Warmer” talks: ◾11 April: Dick Holness, East Coast Pilot More information on the CA Kent Winter Warmer 2018 – 2019 programme… We are all invited to these excellent talks, which are held at 8pm at the Dog and Bear, Lenham, near Maidstone. It’s a good idea to book a meal (by 5pm please) on 01622 858219 for 7pm before the talk. A special CA 7-choice menu is available for £9.95

Frostbite Race, 23+24 March

Mike Wood, Cruiser Captain of Greenwich Yacht Club, invites us to join the annual Frostbite Race from Greenwich YC to Erith YC on Sat 23 March and back again on the following day. This is a well-established open event. For an entry form, sailing instructions etc please email Mike at cruiser@greenwichyachtclub.co.uk or visit http://www.greenwichyachtclub.co.uk/activities/racing/open-racing-forms/category/frostbite

Medway and Thames 2019 tide tables now online

Thanks to Roger Clark for sharing this information.

Sheerness tides: https://www.peelports.com/media/4134…ess_2019_p.pdf

Chatham tides: https://www.peelports.com/media/4133/chatham_2019_p.pdf

PLA tides: http://www.pla.co.uk/assets/pla-tide-tables-2019.pdf (loads of useful info – distances, bridge heights, barrier information etc as well as tides for Walton, Margate, Shivering Sands, Southend, Tilbury etc) 

Only a few days left to get your tickets for the MSBA Conference…

Boating is changing and our clubs need to adapt to survive. Our 2019 conference on Sat 9 March will focus on the future of our local clubs, which still form the core of active boating on the Medway and Swale.  For more information click here.  To book tickets click here.

CA Winter Warmer Talk, 8 November

On Thursday 8 November 2018 Peter Norris, Managing Director of Clarke and Carter Interyacht (Kent) Ltd, will provide an overview of what has been happening to UK boat sales and listings over the last 12 months and provide an insight to what is envisaged might happen when the UK leaves the EU in 2019

One careful owner!

Peter will also try and dispel the myth that the life of a yacht broker is a glamorous and easy life. Peter will give an insight into some of the issues a yacht broker faces when listing a boat for sale. What owners can do to make the listing of their yacht and thus sale easier. Peter will include some examples what can and does go wrong during a pre-purchase survey and sea trial.

Peter will give us an insight into some of the issues a yacht broker faces when listing a boat for sale,  what owners can do to make their “pride and joy” more attractive and thus a sale easier. The many anecdotes, I am sure, will make it a fun, interesting and worthwhile evening. Maybe one day you will be glad that you heard this talk

Other forthcoming Kent Cruising Association “Winter Warmer” talks:

  • 13 December: James Collier, RATS (CA Regulations and Technical Services)
  • 10 January Des Crampton, trip to Svalbard
  • 14 February: Roy Brooks, Scotline
  • 14 March: Chris Jeckells, Jeckells the Sailmakers
  • 11 April: Dick Holness, East Coast Pilot

More information on the CA Kent Winter Warmer 2018 – 2019 programme…

We are all invited to these excellent talks, which are held at 8pm at the Dog and Bear, Lenham, near Maidstone. It’s a good idea to book a meal (by 5pm please) on 01622 858219 for 7pm before the talk. A special CA 7-choice menu is available for £9.95.