Contact: Tony Clatworthy, tel 01489 576 387

email: [email protected]

1. Summary

1.1 On 12 October 2004 consent was granted by the Executive Member for Environment to establish a Fishermen's Jetty at Warsash. The budget was agreed at £41,000 following enquiries made through the industry. A more definite figure could not be achieved without first going out to tender, which was not permissible until funding was in place.

1.2 The tender process returned a cost exceeding the estimated amount by £7,000, increasing the cost to £48,000. This increased the amount required to be allocated from the Harbour Authority from £10,000 to £12,000.

1.3 This report seeks to confirm the original allocation of £10,000 from the Harbour Authority budget and establish the increase of £2,000 to allow the project to proceed.

2. Corporate Strategy

2.1 This report supports Aims 1 to 5 of the Corporate Strategy (Maximising Life Opportunities, Stewardship of the Environment, Achieving Economic Prosperity, Building Strong and Safe Communities and Improving Services) by contributing to the statutory duties entailed in the management of the River Hamble.

3. Background

3.1 The Sea Fish Industry Technology Division and the River Hamble Harbour Master completed a Risk Assessment of the current fishermen's facilities and practices at Warsash. The assessment was centred on the facilities available for landing the catch and transferring into the cooled transport vehicles. The danger of transporting the catch by small tender, in the dark, across the main channel was highlighted as a risk that was intolerable and the practice should cease. The Harbour Master's Jetty at Warsash is not suitable to be used to land the catch. Fishermen are forced to use the Harbour Master's Jetty to complete maintenance, thereby limiting its use for leisure and other craft.

3.2 The Sea Fish Industry was prepared to arrange a 50% grant from the European Community to cover the cost of an installation to allow the safe landing of the catch. Seafish UK has confirmed that a European Community grant could be made available once the tender process was completed and there was confirmation that local government was funding the remaining 50% of the total amount required.

3.3 Prior to proceeding with a tender document an estimate from industry was obtained for the cost of the installation which would allow funds to be allocated and a budget confirmed.

3.4 The funding for the jetty will be (previous estimate in brackets):

(i) 50% grant from European Community - £24,000 (£20,500)

(this grant will not be made available

until confirmation is given that local

government is funding the remaining 50%);

(ii) 25% Hampshire County Council - £12,000 (£10,500)

Coastal Budget

(iii) 25% Harbour Authority - £12,000 (£10,000)

Total: £48,000 (£41,000)

4. Conclusion

4.1 The installation of the fisherman's jetty would allow safe landing of the catch and also allow maintenance to be completed safely. The dangerous practices of transferring the catch in overladen tenders would cease, making the operation safer for fishermen and other river users. Mooring of fishing boats would remain mid-stream, as the jetty would only be used to land the catch and complete maintenance; therefore freeing up the Harbour Master's Jetty at Warsash.

Recommendation

That £12,000 be allocated from the Harbour Authority budget to allow the project to proceed during the coming winter or spring.

450/TC