Pier Trust Chair criticises Pier Trust Rebuild Group

This email went to HB Pier Trust members on 29th Jan:

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Yours Views are Urgently Sort

Dear Member

This email is crucial to the future direction of the Herne Bay Pier Trust. I earnestly ask you to respond, however briefly. For too long the feedback to trustees has come from a vocal minority and now we are seeking the views of the silent majority of members.
 
You may have seen on the front page of the HB Times last week the headline “£7.50 a day!” The article outlined the contents of the Collier Report which the Trust commissioned reluctantly because we were committed to it by the decisions of previous trustees. However, the article was right in many points. I feel the time has come for trustees other than the rebuild group to speak out.
 
A  project as massive as a long pier needs a considerable period of discussion and consultation before any decisions are fixed however fast the rebuild group are pressing forwards a marina project. Since reading the report carefully, several trustees, including myself, have serious reservations about the marina being tacked onto the long pier to which every trustee is committed. The long pier is the reason most of us joined the Trust and we certainly never envisaged people paying to walk onto their pier.
 
As a charitable Trust, we have a duty to act responsibly - first in the interest of the members, yourselves, and secondly in the interests of Herne Bay. The majority of trustees do not believe pursuing a marina pier is in those best interests. A Herne Bay Marina somewhere else would be brilliant we would fully support a group set up for this purpose.
 
We have appended belowere, undoctored, a summary of the facts and figures, which appear in the Collier Report to support the marina pier, for you to read and judge for yourselves.

Our reservations are as follows:

1. The idea that 175,000 visitors will pay £7.50 and 30,000 residents paying £30 annually to walk on their own pier is unrealistic and it goes completely against the concept of a pier for the residents of Herne Bay.  The profit from those projected entry fees, even after concessions, amount  to £3.8million  -  three times the profits projected for the marina (£1.1million) . I always imagined we would build  a free People’s Pier where residents can enjoy the sea views, have a coffee, read a paper, walk a dog, etc.  The cost proposed would make this the dearest pier in UK. (Southend £3.50, Cleveland £1.50) and the projected visitors are twice the number for Southend. 
    
2. A car park at the pier head said to be “critical” to the success of the marina”(estimated at 200 cars a day @ £10) would completely change the ethos of a promenade type pier. There are no costings in the report for the two-lane road which would have to be built up the pier to reach the car park. 
    
3. The potential fire hazard of fuelling ((fuelling profits in the report are projected at £45K a year) and 200 cars a mile out to sea is horrendous. Piers and fire have a horrible habit of being associated. 
    
4. The report implies that the long pier is not viable without a marina. This cannot be so. We agree the long pier should have something spectacular to bring visitors into the town. A sea-centre with viewing tunnels has been just one suggestion. The report contains many useful facts about other attractions and funding sources we can consider and there are many creative people in HB with the imagination to come forward with alternative unique selling points for a long pier. We should like to tap into their ideas and hold an exhibition and debate in the summer into the ideas people like. This should be exciting and fun for all Herne Bay to be involved in. 
    
5. When the Trust’s long pier aspirations were entrusted by the Board to a specific  trustee to form a rebuild team but always under the authority of the Board. But, since the AGM, the rebuild group which includes ex-trustees has become, in my opinion, a pressure group well working outside the remit of the Pier Trust Board – publishing articles in magazines we do not see, representing the Trust in the press, meeting Sir Roger Gale to discuss the marina project without our knowledge, commissioning stunning artists’ impressions which have appeared in the press and on the web. We need our members to know that the rebuild group and its marina project website, no longer reflect the views of the Herne Bay Pier Trust Board.
    
6. In February 2012, the Board voted to support a gradual rebuild approach to the long pier – first establishing the short pier as a vibrant place and then finding funding to build on promenade and second platform and so on, each stage supporting the funding of the next.  Ideas for attractions such a sea-world centre with viewing bays, retro rides, restaurants, cafes, retail outlets for quality goods, entertainment platforms and function areas for weddings and performance were put forward.

Your mandate is now vital to us as a Board.  Please take a little time to read through the attached set of facts and figures supporting the marina project. Then could you please email us back your views by the 28th February 2013.  
 
1. Do you wish us to develop in stages a free pier without a marina on the end - with attractions chosen in consultation with the members and the people of HB?
 
2. Do you give the Board (with me in the chair) your mandate to take firm control of  the Trust’s rebuild group?

Doreen Stone
Chairman

Summary of facts and figures in the Collier Report 
 
The project has two key concepts :
Marina and Visitor attractions
with two hubs: The Pier Piazza and the Sea Pavilion
 
The estimated annual income comes from 3 sources: Marina, Visitors and Rents
 
Costs of project :

1. Collier figures based on the Gifford Report

 
                                                                         Infrastructure   : £32.0m
                                                                         Marina             : £2.9m
                                                                         Project fees     : £3.2m
                                                                         Additional        : £1.0m
                                                                 Total for structure : £40.1million
 
This does not include a 2 lane vehicle access to parking for 200 cars at the marina - regarded as “critical” to the success of the marina by the Report
This does not include boat lifting for winter – also regarded as essential
 
2. Additional Costs from Collier                        Hotels             : £4.3
                                                                         Aquarium        : £3.8
                                                                         Restaurants    : £1.8
                                                                         Cinema           : £3.1 
                                                              Total for Pier Piazza: £13.3million
                                                                           Hotel/spa       : £6.3m
                                                                           Casino           : £1.3m
                                                                           Marina           : £0.4
                                                                           Boutiques      : £1.3
                                                       Total for Sea Pavilion      : £9.2 million
                                                                           Kiosks            :  £0.1m
                                                                           Water sports  : £0.4m
                                                                           Boat tours      : £0
                                                                           Cycle hire       : £0
                                                                           Play park        :  £0.3m
                                                                           Ticket offices  : £0.2.m
                                                                           Function pav  : £1.0m
                                                                           Other              : £1.0m
                                                 Total for Rented property      : £3.0million
 
Therefore total estimated costs = £66 million plus cost of 2-lane road, marina car park and boat lifting facility for winter. 
 
Annual Profits
3 sources profits : Marina, Visitors and Rents

1. Marina

 
i) Annual berths
Projected annual charge : £300 per metre per boat (based on average 10 metre boat) cp Ramsgate £205, Gillingham £149 and Swale £148
 
275 annual berths at estimated likely 80% occupancy = 220 boats @ £3000 = £660,000                                       Total in Report : £528,000
 
ii) Visitors berths

estimated as 86 per day x 175 days  @ £15 per day
                                                                   Total in Report : £375, 000 

iii) Commercial berths                                Total income : £23,000
 
iv) Fuel sales                                                Total income :£ 45,000 

v) Landing charges
 estimated 99,000 annually @£2.0 ea                        Total :£ 165,000
 
                                                Total income from marina £ 1.1million
                                                                                         (to investors?)
 
2. Visitor Profits
 
i)Admission charges
Estimated 750,000 annual visitors @ £7.50 per adult Total : £4.5million
And  30,000 @ £30 annually                                       Total :  £0.8million
                                                     Total after concessions    : £3.8 million
 
 
ii) Other visitor profits
150 Functions @£2,500                                                   £0.4m
274 in playpark per day @ £5                                          £0.5m
Festival                                                                             £0.4m
Parking on marina – 200 per day @£10                           £0.6m
Fishing – 25 a day @£5                                                    £38,000
 
                                                                                        Total :  £2million
 
                                                         Total profits from visitors : £ 5.8million 

3. Annual Profits from Rentals

2 restaurants                                                   £4.3m
2 cinemas                                                       £16,250
1 casino                                                          £200,000
1 marina clubhouse                                        £60,000
10 boutiques                                                   £150,000
Kiosks                                                             £45,000
Watersports centre                                         £30,000
Boat ticket sales                                             £10,000
 
Hotels
Based on annual estimated turnover of:
120 budget rooms @£75 @68% occupancy = 81 rooms per night = £6075 per night          
70 rooms @£200 @ 62% occupancy = 43 rooms per night = £8600 per night
                                                       Total Rental profit : £810,000
Aquarium
Based on 200,000 visitors annually @£14 with concessions =annual turnover£1.6million 
                                                       Total Rent @ 12% = £196,000
 
Cycles – (100 day = £233,000 @rent 15% = profit in rental)
                                                           Total rent            £ 35,000
 
3 Adrenaline attractions 
(7,300 per year @£8 = £46,000)    Total rental @ 20% = £ 9,000
 
Gross profits summary

Profits

1. marina            £1.1million
2. rents               £2.1million
3. visitors            £5.6million

                                                                   Total £8.8 million
 
Costs

Annual Salaries £800,000
Overheads £250,000
Depreciations £130,000                    
                                                                 Total £1.1 million

                                  Total profits after costs £7.7million                        
 
Staffing and employment opportunities (estimates)

Piazza: 72 :   Sea Pavilion 76;    Marina 29;    Other 34;   Festival time 3

                                              Total : 214 full/ pt time

The Pier Trust does some explaining

A response to Shaney’s letter from Pier Trust Chairman, Doreen Stone (11th Jan 2013)

Shaney and I met up yesterday to discuss her open letter about CCC’s possible leasing of the pier platform and I think she does have a cause for grievance that a concession of this magnitude was not advertised for tenders. We agreed with her that although anyone has a right to put in for planning permission on a site whether they own it or not, the opportunity to lease the platform should have been opened to everyone.

As Chairman of the Pier Trust, I assured her that at no point had the Pier Trust been involved or consulted about Mr Cain putting in for planning permission to build a mini golf course there. None of the trustees knew anything about it until we were told in late November, nine days before the AGM by Dawn Hudd who made it clear to me that CCC were under no obligation to consult the Trust as the Memorandum of Understanding had lapsed on June 30th 2012. At this meeting, we were given a single page artist’s concept sketch (which was not in the public domain at that time) to discuss with the Board.

The trustees’ first reaction was disappointment that it would prevent us implementing our own plans for a café, a community stage and an income from concessions on the platform including roller skating, markets and a weddings’ venue. However, as I am sure David Shepherd, our then Events Manager would confirm for me, during the summer the Trust met with so many problems including Health and Safety, stewarding, submission forms specific to each event to be submitted three months before the date of the event – that we were never able to run the farmers’ and other markets, the art weekend, the performance and music events we had hoped to organise once the pier was ready for us in June.

Also, in our 2011 -2012 business plan, we had included concessions within our income calculations. However, although we returned detailed comments and our approval for at least 6 concessions, we were never given any feedback on CCC’s final choice of only 2 concessions and we certainly didn’t receive any income from them.

So, in the light of our awareness of how little we had been able to deliver on the platform in 2012, a majority of the Board began to see the reciprocal value of a well-run attraction on the platform to increase the footfall to our retail beach hut village we are still intending to build along the leg. Three trustees requested and met – all 6 were invited to attend - David Cain mid-December (after the AGM) to find out more about his proposal and whether he would involve the Trust if CCC decide to go ahead with his proposal. We were not aware that the leasing had not been advertised so that others like Shaney could also apply.

This was our position and how we came to it when I sent out the members’ Christmas Newsletter.

Crazy golf scheme for Herne Bay pier looks set to be approved

Oh dear, it looks like a shoo-in - no surprise there...

A smuggler-themed crazy golf course on Herne Bay pier looks set to be given the go-ahead by planning councillors.

Officials are recommending that the £250,000 scheme by arcade boss David Cain is granted planning permission, despite almost 30 letters from opponents. It would see a 13-hole course, complete with theme-park style shops, caves, waterfalls and bridges, built on the empty pier platform and surrounded by a two-metre high fence.

The development would leave a two-metre wide walkway around the course, giving access to the pier for anglers and walkers. The course would be floodlit and open from 9am to 10pm most of the year.

Two letters supporting the project were sent to Canterbury City Council, pointing out that the site could benefit the whole town and be a unique attraction. They also say it would be different to an existing course, owned by Jonas Pashley, whose family run the Sandancers arcade nearby. His daughter Shaney led the campaign against it and said it could put her father out of business.

Opponents sent a total of 27 letters against the proposals, raising concerns about the impact of the scheme on the regeneration of the pier. Many also argued that there was no need for another crazy golf course.

Planning officer Steve Musk said the main issue was the impact of the development on the seafront conservation area. In a report to the planning committee, who will meet on Tuesday to consider the proposals, he said:

"The proposed development and the use of the site as an adventure-based crazy golf facility would not be out of keeping with the type of activities expected to be found on a seaside pier and would preserve the character of the Herne Bay conservation area.

It is clear that many people do not feel this is an appropriate use for the site, whilst the presence of a crazy golf course nearby has also been a source of concern. It is considered that the impact of the scheme on the locality would be acceptable, [acceptable to whom, Mr Musk?] whilst the proposed use would be in accordance with the Herne Bay Area Action plan which sets out to provide a leisure facility on this site."

Mr Musk recommends granting planning permission for the scheme, with conditions including that a structural survey on the pier platform is carried out first, and that the course must be removed when it is no longer used.

Mr Cain would still need to negotiate a lease for the site with Canterbury City Council, who own the pier. The council's ruling executive committee has already agreed that letting out the pier platform could help raise valuable income to pay for maintenance work.

The development control committee will meet at 6.30pm on Tuesday, February 5, at the Guildhall in Canterbury. The meeting is open to the public.

thisiskent 29th Jan 2013

Royal Mail meeting in Whitstable

Hello Herne Bay!

The people of Whitstable want to invite you to a Public Meeting here in Whitstable this Fri (1st Feb 2013) to hear your side of the story since you lost your delivery office to Canterbury.

Royal Mail say the move is successful? I think there are some porky pies being told there.

Come and tell us YOUR side of the story. We will take all your comments directly to Royal Mail as we are fighting hard here to save our own delivery office.

Here's a short film of last Saturday's protest here and some information beneath the clip of film. Please pass on this message! There will be a story in your local press this week.

Julie Wassmer

Another peaceful demonstration by the good people of Whitstable against Royal Mail's plans to close down the sorting office in Cromwell Road. If closed, this would force users to make a 16 mile round journey to Canterbury in order to collect their packages. Royal Mail call it 'Modernisation'.

Stands available at Bay business exhibition

Businesses can raise their profile and reach new customers by taking out a stand at this year’s Herne Bay Business and Projects Showcase. The event, organised by the city council, takes place at the King’s Hall on Wednesday 6 March from 2pm to 7pm. It’s the sixth exhibition of its kind and has attracted more than 500 people in previous years.

Stands are just £50 per business, with discounts available for community and voluntary groups. The event will be an excellent way of making new contacts, networking with other businesses and finding out about current and future council and community projects in the town.

In addition this year there is a focus on employment, with partners such as Kent County Council, Job Centre Plus and the National Apprenticeship Service on hand to give advice and guidance on helping people into work.

Organisations already confirmed as attending are HSBC, Quinn Estates, Herne Bay Town Partners and the council’s Local Economy Team. This year’s event is being sponsored by East Kent College and Vattenfall.

The council’s Executive member for Herne Bay regeneration, Cllr Peter Lee, said:

"The business exhibition has now developed into one of the town’s most important events of the year. It’s an opportunity for everyone to get together and celebrate all that’s going on in Herne Bay, learn about future plans and form those business links that can make all the difference in the years ahead."

To enquire about stand availability at the exhibition, call Paul Spree on 01227 862532 or email paul.spree@canterbury.gov.uk

CCC 25 January 2013

Council keen on permanent Westgate scheme

It was confirmed by Kent County Council today (16th January) that the St Dunstan's and Westgate Towers environmental improvements and traffic management trial will continue for the full year and finish at the end of March. KCC also announced that the road layout will return to its previous configuration at the end of the trial.

The city council will – as it always planned to – assess all the information that has been collected during the 12 months, to take a view on the effectiveness of the scheme. Both councils will then work together, as agreed by the council leaders, to design and implement a permanent scheme later in the year.

Leader of Canterbury City Council, Cllr John Gilbey, said:

"It is fair to say the trial has divided the city and people on both sides of the argument raise many valid points in making their case. But I want to stress that it is our belief that the trial has been the right thing to do and that it should have been given more time for assessment. So we would have liked to have seen the layout remain as it is after March while all the data from the trial is analysed.

This would have been more cost effective and caused the least confusion for motorists, so in these respects today's news is disappointing. But at least with the trial continuing for the full year, we will have a complete set of data to analyse. We will then spend time assessing the results, including traffic flows, air quality monitoring and all the views we received during the public consultation.

We all know that Canterbury's traffic problems are complicated but we are committed to working with the county council to tackle these, lower pollution, ease traffic flows and find a permanent solution at the Westgate Towers and in St Dunstan's."

CCC 16 January 2013

Serco wins grounds maintenance contract

The contract to look after the district’s parks and gardens from April 2013 has been retained by the current contractor, Serco.

Serco won the contract following a competitive tender process in which four companies submitted a bid. It covers council services such as parks, gardens, children’s play areas, sports pitches, benches and trees. Under the contract, Serco will also take over responsibility for the council’s dog warden service.

The contract will run until December 2017 with an option to extend it for a further five years. Executive member for the environment, Cllr Rosemary Doyle, said:

“This is an important contract because we want our open spaces to look the best they possibly can. After very careful consideration of the bids, the council decided Serco offered the best value for money and we look forward to continuing to work with them in the years ahead.”

CCC 11 January 2013

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I didn't know the Council had a dog warden service...

Planning Cockup

CCC's slapdash use of their own website has limited our opportunity to comment on a couple of major local issues.

When it comes to advertising any planning applications in the district, our Council is only obliged to put public notices near the site in question, and in a local paper. They use Kent on Sunday, so that must be OK, because everyone in Herne Bay reads Kent on Sunday. Right?

The Council does have a section on its website dedicated to publishing Public Notices such as planning applications. However, they didn't publish any of December's planning applications on their website (in the Public Notices section) until 20th December.

So, what did we miss out on during this period of cyber-silence? The Altira Sainsbury application, and the mini golf on the Pier application. The closing date for comments on the mini golf on the Pier application is Monday 14th January, so if you've got something to say, say it soon.

Town Councillors

On Tues 15th, our councillors will PUBLICLY discuss issues that matter to our town. This happens rarely, so don't miss it - the Salvation Army Hall in Richmond Street, starting at 6:30pm.

They only do this half a dozen times a year, so it's almost a special occasion. If you're quick about it, you can put your own questions to the councillors about issues that you think matter to our town - details are here, in the "Public Question and Answer" section.

On the Agenda:

• the increase in parking charges in Herne Bay and across the district
• turning Herne Bay Library into a "gateway"
• the traffic problems around the new Tesco in Sea Street
  
• KCC's Flood and Drainage strategy
  
• funding for a barrier across Mortimer Street, and for the Umbrella Centre
• the Town Centre Manager's report on the state of the town

Their next meeting will be on 12th March.

Unleash the creative writer within!

Creative Writing Course

This is a six week course for those who have always wanted to write but don't know where to start. The programme looks at several aspects of creative writing, autobiography, short stories, poetry etc.

What you will need: A4 pad, a pen, access to a word processor or photo copier (you will need several copies of your work for the class to function).

Aim: To write something you are proud of!

The course costs £39 to be paid in the first session, and starts on 15th of January 10.30AM - 12.30PM at Beach Creative, in Beach House, on the corner of Beach Street and King's Road near the William Street car park.

Please book your place by email at jen.cross@talktalk.net.

Parking Consultation - another brilliant response

Mr Hudson spells out what the Department of Transport says "controlled parking" is for, and compares it with CCC's approach.

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7th December 2012

Ref:- Canterbury City Council (Off-Street Parking Places) 0rder 20l3

Dear Mr. Carmichael,

I wish to OBJECT to the above Order concerning proposed raising of car parking charges. I believe that Canterbury City Council (CCC) made a profit of around £2.5 million in the last financial year from an overall turnover of approximately £7 million in car parking charges.

I would like to quote you a few passages from the Department of Transport Operational Guidance manual on parking and have enclosed a copy of the front page for identification.

From page 14:

"But raising revenue should not be an objective of CPE (Controlled Parking Enforcement) nor should authorities set targets for revenue or the number of Penalty Charge Notices (PCNs) they issue."

Also:

"The judgement in R v LB Camden (ex parte Cran) made clear that the Road Traffic Regulation Act 1984 is not a revenue raising Act".

Also:

"The objective of CPE should be for 100 per cent compliance, with no penalty charges"

As you are aware CCC issued 25,275 PCNs in 2009/10 and this obviously accounts for considerable income.

From page 24, when talking about parking objectives it states:

"keep traffic moving, rather than raising revenue".

Page 112, once again it repeats:

"Authorities should never use parking charges just to raise revenue or as a local tax"

and goes on to state what should happen with any surplus income:

"In such cases local authorities must ensure that any on-street revenue not used for enforcement is used for legitimate purposes only and its main use is to improve, by whatever means, transport provision in the area so that road users benefit".

Page 135, it repeats again when talking about surpluses

"They can use any surplus to improve off-street, or, where this is unnecessary or undesirable, for certain other transport-related purpose and environmental schemes".

To sum up, Canterbury City Council is already making a hefty profit from its parking regime and any further increases seem to more of about general revenue raising, which this manual seems to clearly indicate is not the stated aim of parking regulations.

What benefits have drivers gained from previous years' profits?

I would like a written response to my objection letter concerning the issues raised.

Thanking you for your time.

Yours sincerely,

Mr. Terry Hudson

Parking Consultation - brilliant response

Mr French thinks Council employees should pay for their parking, just like the rest of us. Marvellous idea!

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Sent: Thu Dec 13 15:37:29 2012

Subject: Parking Charges Consultation

You say that parking costs in Herne Bay have not been increased since 2010 (which is incorrect) & thrown in the cost of enforcement - a look at the balance sheet will show a profit not a loss arising from parking.

I think however that the greatest injustice here is the fact that all of this is justified by officials who park their cars for free at Military Road - a site that is on the Park Ride route & a few minutes’ walk from the centre of Canterbury. In days of "going green" how can this be justified?

Why don't your officials pay for on-street parking permits or pay for the use of the  Military Road Car Park? You can all have your change ready every morning for the ticket machine and have your nice uniformed ladies & gentlemen ticket offending vehicles.

Perhaps we should begin a campaign to make the officials pay like everyone else. I suggest that you firstly change the rules for your own parking and you pay the going rate before putting up parking charges any higher.

Some of you may be essential car vehicle users but then plenty of other people are as well.

I would appreciate your response justifying why you think you shouldn't have to pay but everyone else should - oh and pay more - yet again!

Chris French

Independent Financial Adviser, 139 High Street, Herne Bay, Kent, CT6 5NG

Work to start on Herne Bay sea defences

Canterbury City Council has received approval and funding from the Environment Agency to start improvements to the sea defences at the central part of Herne Bay.

The £900,000 project includes a £80,000 council contribution, and work is due to start on site at the end of January. Breheny Civil Engineering has been awarded the contract, and all improvements should be completed by the end of June this year.

Work on the sea defences will involve raising the rear wall by 300mm and renewal of all the coping stones. All gaps will be closed by the use of floodgates, and a new rear wall will be built across the back of Neptune car park. The car park will also benefit from a barrier which will be installed at its entrance and can be closed at night, making the area secure.

Three new groynes will be constructed at the western end of central Herne Bay, where beach erosion has become a regular problem. The project will upgrade the standard of the sea defences to meet a one in 200-year storm event, such as the storm surge that occurred in the winter of 1953.

Originally scheduled for 2015, the council was able to bring the sea defence work forward due to a swift design and tender process that made the funding available. The project was designed and will be managed on site by the East Kent Engineering Partnership (EKEP). This is a partnership of Canterbury, Dover, Thanet, Shepway and Swale councils’ engineering teams.

The council’s Executive member for engineering, Cllr Peter Vickery-Jones, said:

"The council is absolutely committed to investing in the future of Herne Bay, and to have secured this funding for a significant project is wonderful news. The country has seen recent unprecedented inland flooding and this has led to extra demand to combat the problem. Therefore we’re pleased to have been able to convince the Environment Agency of the importance of the need for our scheme. Thanks to our involvement with EKEP, the Canterbury engineering team has worked on an array on different projects, including work for other local authorities. This expertise ensures we can turn projects round quickly, efficiently and to exceptionally high standards."

Breheny Civil Engineering is currently working on the Margate sea defence scheme near the town’s Turner Contemporary. This is another EKEP project involving engineers from the city council.

CCC 8 January 2013

Pier Trust still has some explaining to do...

One local business owner has some strong opinions and a lot to say about the handling of the "mini golf on the Pier" shambles. Read it carefully, then act.

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Dear Pier Trust Members and Herne Bay Residents,

My family and I have lived and worked in Herne Bay since 1953. We have been members of the Pier Trust for quite some time and we are all avid supporters of Herne Bay and the Pier Trust's aims to reclaim, regenerate and rebuild the Pier for the benefit of the whole of the Community.

It has come to my attention that recent plans for the development of the Pier, proposed by David Cain, are in direct contradiction to the original functions of the Trust and, therefore, arguably harmful to the town as a whole. I have been over the "Memorandum of Association" put forward by the Trust on their website. In this document, the "Objects" of the Trust are outlined as:

3.1 The preservation, renovation, reconstruction and enhancement of Herne Bay and the surrounding areas…

3.2 The promotion and use of the Pier for recreational purposes and as a community and heritage building for the general use and benefit of all inhabitants of, and visitors to, the town of Herne Bay and surrounding areas.

I next examined the "Powers" of the Trust and the first piece of information available was that these powers, "may only be exercised in promoting the objects as quoted above." The plans put forward by Cain's Amusements date back to April 2012, and multiple members of the trust, myself included, have only recently learned of this mini golf proposal. The fact that Trust members have not been made aware of these plans, directly contradicts the "objects" of the Trust and the way it is supposed to be run. If Trust members are not made aware of future plans for the Pier, how can it claim to be run for "the benefit of all inhabitants"? This breach of the Trust's constitution is morally unbecoming of the organization and detrimental to the Trust's success.

One of the main areas that I don't believe is working is the relationship between the Pier Trust and Canterbury City Council. This relationship is dictated in The Pier Trust's "Memorandum of Understanding" with Canterbury City Council, a document also available on the website. This document also features many broken promises, made between the Council and the Trust. It reads:

"The Trust will be treated by the City Council as the principle trustee within the town in relation to Pier matters. The City Council will actively consult with the Pier Trust on all aspects of the future of the Pier, including the Pier Pavilion building, the Pier head, the maintenance of the Pier structure and any proposals for the future use or development of the Pier.

The Trust and City Council will respect each other's views and will work together in the interests of the Pier and the town generally."

This agreement put forward in 2008 has been compromised. It's a very frustrating read. I cannot see how the Trust and the Council can "respect each other's views" if those views, and in this case, plans, are not revealed to Trust members. Dawn Hudd of Canterbury City Council has consulted directly on and has carried out a site visit to advise on the mini golf planning application. The date on those plans are April 2012. This suggests the council were in full knowledge of these plans but failed to share the information with the trust or its members while the "Memorandum of Understanding" was still in force.

I personally, have been in email contact with Dawn Hudd of CCC since May 2012 as I was one of 2 concessions granted on the Pier last summer and wanted to keep abreast of any plans for the Pier for the following year. Even though I asked directly by email, on 2nd October and 21st November 2012, if there were any plans, I was not told anything other than that a report would be going to Executive on Dec 13th. There has been no mention of this planning proposal to me or of the councils desire to "off load" the Pier to a mini golf operator or any other long term sole operator.

We all attended the HBPT AGM on 27th Nov 2012, which I'm sure you will all agree did not go as intended, no plans for the mini golf were mentioned there either. The trust put forward a short term plan for a Beach Hut Village which would be in place until the long term Marina Plan was developed and was ready to go ahead.

The first time the mini golf planning application was mentioned to members in an official capacity was in the Christmas newsletter, emailed to members on 20/12/12. In this newsletter under the title "The Adventure Golf on the Platform" the Trust talks of a "crowd pulling" attraction that the trust is happy to collaborate with. This statement was made without consulting with any Trust Members and certainly not with the only trust member who currently runs a mini golf and has in fact held a fund raising day on the mini golf for the benefit of the trust. Was this statement made by the co-chair, who also happens to be a councillor, who also happens to be on the Executive Committee that decided to keep the running of the Pier away from the Trust and in the councils control on 13th Dec 2012? This was 7 days after the planning application went in and was based on a report, criticizing the ability of the trust to run the Pier and recommending the council reclaim control, written by… Dawn Hudd.

I am not aware that the views of the Pier's close neighbours were sought. Our business has received no correspondence on the matter and even if the rules make no obligations for our views to be solicited, common courtesy dictates that they should have been sought or that we should, at the very least, have been informed.

I also can find only one notification in the local papers 13-12-2012.

Many of the declared goals of the Trust would no longer be possible were this planning application to be granted, such as :-

1. To create a community space to host a wide variety of events which could be enjoyed by the whole community and in which they can participate.

2. To rebuild a Pier that would ensure that Herne Bay would return to its former prominence as a desirable seaside destination in its own right.

I want to know why these plans seem to have gone so far without official consultation with any Pier Trust members? Why there have been no official or public consultation meetings with the people of Herne Bay, either by the council or the Trust. Also mentioned in the newsletter is Mr. John Gilbey's comment that the CCC "did not want to stand in the way of any sustainable ideas and only wanted what was right for the Pier". This comment seems unfounded as the Council had already met with David Cain and pre plans for the mini golf have already got underway with no consultation or approval from the Trust. If this project goes ahead the rebuilding of the pier prospect will be dead in the water. No investor would consider a project that would be hindered by a 10 year single leaseholder.

This is another issue in contention, the leasing of the Pier and the length thereof. I believe the Trust agreed the Council should not market the Pier as a long term commercial opportunity. The lease options that were suggested between the 2 parties were leases of only 1-2 years. I reiterate, any lease of such a length currently being proposed, would stop any rebuild prospects from proceeding in any way.

The Council is dismissing the Pier Trust and the Pier itself as a liability that they seek to get rid of at the first and easiest opportunity with no thought or consideration for what the people of Herne Bay want or what is best for the town's future, from attracting new residents, to tourism, to attracting new businesses which would all go to vitally boost our local economy.

Many trustees, who freely give up their own time, have left, due to frustration and disillusion with regard to the Council's interference, lack of support and manipulation of the Trust. I have personally experienced the council telling me the lack of progress was wholly the fault of the Trust. This obviously has a negative and demotivating impact on the Trustee's who try to follow the ethos of the Trust's constitution, for the good of the town as a whole and not just what the council wants. These enthusiasts "giving up" impacts on the efficiency of the Trust and its ability to achieve its goals.

This is not merely my opinion as it appears to be shared by virtually all of the local people and businesses that we have canvassed.

Whether you agree with my opinion or not, I urge Pier Members, Herne Bay residents and anyone who cares about the future of the Pier and Herne Bay alike to please register your opinion by writing or emailing the Pier Trust at: piertrust.office@talktalk.net also Mr Steve Musk, Development Control, Canterbury City Council, Military Road, Canterbury, CT1 1YW or by emailing development.management@canterbury.gov.uk

Please quote Planning Application Number CA//12/02132.

Any objections to the planning application must be in by 14th January 2013.

Please feel free to contact me by email to: shaneypashley@sasamusements.co.uk

Produced in Kent appoint new manager

Edwyn Martin

Agriculture and exploration expert joins the team

Local food promoters Produced in Kent has announced the Edwyn Martin as the new manager of the group. Edwyn will take charge of the long-standing team that has seen Produced in Kent grow from strength to strength since it was re-established by Kent County Council in 2005.

The new chief was born and raised on a North Devon hill farm where home cooking and farm produce was an essential part of life. After a west country schooling, he graduated as a geographer and travelled widely as an exploration geologist and field scientist.

His first job was working for Sir Ranulph Fiennes on his epic three-year expedition around the world via both poles, known as The British Transglobe Expedition, this was the first time this had ever been done. Having lived and worked in extreme climates and obscure locations in many parts of the world, Edwyn has had ample opportunity to discover and taste all manner of local produce, some not to be repeated.

Edwyn trained as a chef in his student days and worked in a number of restaurants and commercial kitchens and this experience later resurfaced when he opened a cafe in London’s famous Borough Market, meeting and working with stallholders and producers from all over the country as well as a number of food writers, TV chefs and restaurateurs.

After moving to Kent, he worked as a chef in Canterbury before setting up an independent research and development company exploring issues and opportunities in land use, conservation and agriculture, both in the UK and globally.

During this time he was awarded a diploma in countryside management by the University of London. He is also a member of the Kent Wildlife Trust, a Fellow of the Royal Geographical Society and lives in Faversham.

William Opie, chairman of the Produced in Kent board said:

“I am delighted to welcome Edwyn onto the Produced in Kent team. Never has the time been better to promote our great local produce and I very much look forward to working with Edwyn as we take PinK forward during challenging but very exciting times ahead.”

yourcanterbury 7th Jan 2013

Park and ride fares to increase in Canterbury

Shoppers using Park and Ride buses to avoid congestion in Canterbury could soon have to pay £3 per car. Councillors are considering increasing the charge from £2.50 as part of a review of parking charges across the district.

Fees in the Kingsmead Leisure Centre car park would also increase to £3 from £1 in a bid to deter people who are not using the centre from parking there. Those who are can have the cost refunded.

Holman's Meadow car park would cost £1.30 per hour Sunday to Friday and £1.50 per hour on Saturdays, up from £1.10 all week, if proposals to list it as a "premium" car park are approved.

And the cost of permits for residents and businesses would also increase by about 10 per cent. Canterbury City Council's transportation manager Richard Jenkins said:

"The cost of parking at Park and Ride sites has not increased since 2008 and since this time significant increases in the cost of fuel have contributed to the increasing cost of running the bus service. The costs of maintenance of the car parks and equipment has also increased. The parking policy is to encourage all-day parking at Park and Ride sites rather than city centre car parks and even with this increase it is significantly cheaper to park all day at Park and Ride sites, particularly as Canterbury is one of the few authorities to charge per vehicle rather than per person."

In Whitstable, most car park charges would increase by 10p per hour. The maximum charge in the Gorrell Tank car park would be abolished and fees in the swimming pool car park would be unchanged. A 10p per hour increase is also proposed for most Herne Bay car parks.

But there was good news for shoppers in Faversham after Swale Borough Council's cabinet agreed to freeze the short-term parking charges at 80p for the first hour, £1.50 for up to two hours and £3 for up to four hours.

Councillor Duncan Dewar-Whalley, cabinet member for finance, said:

"Fees are bridging the gap between what the council wants to spend and what central government provides."

HB Times 7th Jan 2013