Contact: David Evans, tel 01489 576387 email: [email protected]

1. Summary

1.1 This report highlights some shortcomings in the document `Strategic Principles to Guide Development on the River Hamble' and proposes a series of measures to update the document.

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 updating the strategic guidance available to the Harbour Board.

3. Introduction

3.1 `Strategic Principles to Guide Development on the River Hamble' was published in 2004 after a lengthy drafting and consultation process. The principles were conceived as a result of public response to an earlier document entitled `Towards a Moorings Plan for the River Hamble'. The Strategic Principles were subsequently approved and adopted by Hampshire County Council as the Harbour Authority. The document has much merit but experience has revealed that there is scope for improvement and better definition of some of the terms used.

4. Aim

4.1 The aim of this report is to set out the areas where additions and amendments to the Strategic Principles may be required, in order to stimulate debate by the Harbour Board and inform wider consultation thereafter.

5. Why Strategic Principles?

5.1 Hampshire County Council (as River Hamble Harbour Authority), has been reluctant to embark upon preparing a strategic plan for development on the River because of the enormous costs that would be incurred, and the time that would be taken, allowing for all the consultation needed at the various stages. However, the County Council considered it worthwhile developing strategic principles to guide the harbour and planning authorities in policy and decision making, with regard to development on the River. Although the adopted principles do not have any statutory status, they will carry weight in policy and decision-making because they appear to have strong and widespread support.

6. Why Do the Principles Need Updating?

6.1 The original document indicates that the principles ought to be reviewed within five years, but a number of events and experiences since its publication have indicated that some updating is required before a full review is undertaken. In particular, the new Harbour Board should consider whether to embrace the principles to guide its future decision-making on development issues.

7. What Might Be Changed or Added?

7.1 There are a number of items which might usefully be added to the document in order to update it and provide greater clarity for the benefit of those charged with making decisions based on the principles. In particular, the following may be worthy of further consideration:

(i) Paragraph 1.3 refers only to moorings and associated infrastructure and might usefully be expanded to make it clear that the document also covers berths in marinas and boatyards.

(ii) Paragraph 1.6 might usefully be expanded to include more emphasis on the commercial and economic aspects of development and provide balance to the recreational and environmental considerations.

(iii) Paragraph 1.8 makes no reference to Eastland's Boatyard which lies entirely to the north of the M27 road bridge.

(iv) Paragraph 3.6 - the word `candidate' should be deleted.

(v) Paragraph 4.1 Tables 1, 2 and 3 need updating to reflect the latest figures.

(vi) Paragraph 4.3 could usefully be expanded to include a discussion of what is meant by `affordable'.

(vii) Paragraph 4.16 stops short of identifying principles for determining the future capacity of the River. This is an important issue and some agreed principles in this section would be invaluable.

(viii) A new Section F could usefully be added to deal with commercial and economic issues and the principles underlying them, in order to provide balance and clarity to the document as a whole.

(ix) A new principle should be added to paragraph 4.45 under the heading `General Principles' and worded as follows:

"There is a general presumption against buildings or structures on pontoons or jetties, unless it can be demonstrated that the building or structure is essential to a commercial operation and that there is no sensible alternative location, and the scale and design of the structure do not detract from the safe use of the River or the character of the area".

Inclusion of this new principle has already been approved by the Harbour Authority.

(x) The Appendices should be extended to include a `Glossary of Terms' with clear (and agreed) definitions. A list of terms is attached as an appendix.

(xi) A simple chartlet showing the extent of the various channels and access routes might also be a useful addition.

8. Other Areas for Consideration

8.1 The current document does not make mention of the Hamble-Warsash Ferry or the River Taxi, both of which are operated by the same company. Both services make regular use of berths and pontoons throughout the River, not least the Hamble and Warsash Jetties, and the Strategic Principles might be considered to be incomplete without acknowledging the importance of these two services.

8.2 The local commercial fishermen are not included at present and it would seem reasonable to include a principle which acknowledges their existence and their need for suitable facilities.

8.3 Finally, there is no mention of the larger commercial vessels which use the River, primarily for sightseeing but frequently as a place to embark or disembark passengers (normally at the Warsash Jetty). Any future development should consider their requirements.

8.4 The matters outlined in Section 7 and paragraphs 8.1 and 8.3 of Section 8 are relatively minor, straightforward and non-contentious, and could be made simply by using the formal channels, ie consideration by the River Hamble Harbour Management Committee prior to approval by the River Hamble Harbour Board.

8.5 However, there are a couple of additional matters that are of greater significance and potentially more contentious. These are:

(i) Paragraph 4.16 stops short of identifying principles for determining the future capacity of the River. This is an important issue and some agreed principles in this section would be invaluable.

(ii) A new Section F could usefully be added to deal with commercial and economic issues and the principles underlying them, in order to provide balance and clarity to the document as a whole.

8.6 The Harbour Board, therefore, might consider that these matters go beyond straightforward updating and more towards a partial review of the Strategic Principles.

9. Consultation

9.1 Wide consultation, including a stakeholders workshop, took place before consensus and agreement was reached on the current document. It is for consideration that a similar process might be required before changes to the document can be approved and adopted.

10. Impact Assessment

10.1 Since no formal decisions are required as a result of this report, no Impact Assessment is required at this stage.

Recommendation

That the Harbour Board use this report as the basis for debate, and thereafter determine the preferred means of achieving the necessary consultation and consensus before approving amendment to the Strategic Principles.

535/DE

APPENDIX

LIST OF TERMS FOR INCLUSION IN GLOSSARY

Local Development Plan/Document/Framework

Port Marine Safety Code

Moorings Restricted Area

Main Channel

Fairway

Secondary Channel

Access Channel

Minor Channel

Manoeuvring Areas

Pinch Points

Navigation Aids

Navigation Marks

Moorings Trots

Capacity

Tenders

Dory

RIBs

Small Boats

Fuel Pontoons

Transom

Walk Ashore Moorings

Through Traffic

Peak Times

Dry-Sailing

Self Scouring

Hydrology

Sediment Transport

Erosion

Accretion

Capital Dredging

Maintenance Dredging

Beneficial Re-Use

Consultation

Stakeholders