Contact: Emma Beagley, tel 01489 576387 email: [email protected]

1. Summary

1.1 This report summarises the activities and events regarding the environment of the River from February 2006.

2. Corporate Strategy

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

3. River Hamble Estuary Management Plan Implementation Forum -Change of Name to Hamble Estuary Partnership

3.1 At the last meeting of the River Hamble Estuary Management Plan Implementation Forum (RHEMPIF) the forum decided that there was a need to clarify the role of the RHEMPIF and consider changing its name. Through discussion the RHEMPIF has been re-named and from now on will be called the Hamble Estuary Partnership (HEP).

Circulation of the Minutes

3.2 At the last meeting of the River Hamble Harbour Board the Board Members requested that they, and the Management Committee Members, be added to the circulation list for the minutes of the HEP. The Assistant Harbour Master (Environment) (AHM(E)) as officer for the HEP felt that this had to be put to the partnership before agreeing formally.

3.3 At the last meeting the HEP agreed that the minutes will be circulated to those who wish to receive them, but on the understanding that they are circulated for information and that any comments or queries should be addressed to the representative on the HEP or the HEP officer.

4. Port Waste Management

4.1 The glass recycling bins that were situated outside the Harbour Office have now been moved to the Passage Lane car park. The changes to Shore Road have meant that the company contracted to empty the bins will no longer travel along Shore Road. It is believed the cobbles mean that the large lorries cannot maintain grip and are not confident in the structural integrity of the stones and their foundation.

4.2 This change of location means that the Harbour Authority will have to remove all mention of glass recycling facilities at the Harbour Office site, and also remove this waste stream from the Port Waste Management Plan. The Port Waste Management Plan is submitted to the Maritime and Coastguard Agency for approval, currently every three years, to ensure compliance with the Merchant Shipping and Fishing Vessels (Port Waste Reception Facilities) Regulations (2003/1809).

4.3 The AHM(E) will start the review and update of the River Hamble Port Waste Management Plan soon, to meet the review deadline of 31 December 2006.

4.4 The Harbour Authority's response to the consultation "Changes to the UK Legislation Governing Port Waste Reception Facilities" was submitted to the Department for Transport in February 2006. It is clear that there is a long way to go yet until any form of alterations to the current Merchant Shipping and Fishing Vessels (Port Waste Reception Facilities) Regulations (2003/1809) occurs.

5. The Barge Tim and Her Disposal

5.1 In February 2006 the barge Tim was successfully moved from her berth in Salterns Boatyard and disposed of, as detailed in the report of the Harbour Master to the last Management Committee and Harbour Board meetings.

5.2 Although the operation was very well organised by Jim Branston, the project manager, and the authorities involved deemed the operation a success, there has been one area which was neglected during the project.

5.3 Tim was a 1900s Admiralty ammunitions barge and may have been of historical importance. The Hampshire and Wight Trust for Maritime Archaeology (HWTMA) is concerned and dismayed that this operation happened with no consultation on the historical or archaeological importance of the vessel.

5.4 The questions "Is the vessel of historical or archaeological significance?" or "When does a vessel become historically or archaeologically important?" should be asked and never be assumed. The HWTMA feels that this is the ideal time to involve the Trust as it is best placed to answer these questions.

5.5 The AHM(E) requested of the others involved in the Tim operation that they profile this operation as best practice in their respective organisations. Since the comments from the HWTMA the AHM(E) has requested that in these follow up reports and discussions the issue of establishing if the vessel is of historical and archaeological importance needs highlighting. The Environment Agency officer Wesley Jones has produced a report which is being sent to their Head Office to help educate others.

6. Heritage and Archaeology on the River Hamble

6.1 Concerns have been raised yet again about the lack of consideration given to the heritage and archaeological assets on the river. The officer from the HWTMA who covers the River has said she will be discussing the issue of heritage representation with English Heritage and archaeologists in the Archaeology and Buildings Section of the Environment Department of Hampshire County Council.

6.2 On the River there is:

(i) one Protected Wreck Site, the Grace Dieu, protected under Section 1 of the Protection of Wrecks Act 1973;

(ii) a large number of maritime and archaeology sites given protection through their place on the Archaeological and Historic Buildings Record, kept by Hampshire County Council (these are shown in the attached appendix, which does not show the historic buildings in the area); and

(iii) over 250 sites of archaeological and heritage significance identified by the HWTMA for further investigation.

The Archaeological and Historic Buildings Record

6.3 This Record is kept by Hampshire County Council and can be readily consulted, but separate lists are kept by Southampton, Portsmouth and Winchester City Councils. For a site to be added to the Record sufficient data needs to be supplied, and once added the site is given protection by the requirement of the planning process to consult with the Record before granting consent for something that might impact on a site of Archaeological or Historical Importance.

6.4 The HWTMA provides a vital role in this process by providing the necessary data on the importance and detail of sites, enabling their inclusion on the record.

6.5 The HWTMA would like to see vessels like Tim surveyed by those qualified to determine their archaeological significance before disposal plans are put into action. Should the vessel or structure be of importance the Trust can then undertake the necessary survey work to compile a record of the craft, the techniques used in her build, etc before she is disposed of.

6.6 The way older vessels are thought of needs to change to ensure important records are not lost. The Solent is fortunate to have the HWTMA which takes such an active role in the area and especially in the River, and access to the expertise in the Archaeology and Buildings Section of the Environment Department, Hampshire County Council. The Harbour Authority should utilise this readily available expertise and knowledge and work to maintain and improve the working relationship already established.

7. Impact Assessments

7.1 This report provides a position statement only, therefore an impact assessment, in terms of the Race Relations (Amendment) Act, has not been undertaken.

Recommendation

That this report be noted.

907/EB