Pier news: decking to be replaced for £140k

More than 700 square metres of the timber decking that surrounds the central tarmac area on Herne Bay pier will be replaced in a project costing around £140,000.

Inspections have shown that while the pier's substructure is sound, the timber runners and decking are not in such good condition and have deteriorated since the pavilion was removed. The area around the seaward end has been closed off for safety reasons, but the repairs will mean it can reopen.

The council's Executive member for Herne Bay pier, Cllr Jean Law, said the work would ensure the pier will continue to be an asset for the town. She added:

"The future for the pier is looking really bright, with the success of the new beach hut village and some great events that have taken place this year – and more to come in the run-up to Christmas. We are also hoping for some exciting proposals to come through from potential operators of the main deck area. We're very pleased to be getting this work done to the decking out of peak season so that disruption is kept to a minimum and hope people like the end result."

The 12 village beach huts will remain open for business throughout the work and hut tenants are asking for the continued support of customers. The popular helter-skelter is scheduled to return for Christmas clad in lights and there will be additional children's stalls.

Santa will be at the business fair in Mortimer Street on the first weekend in December and then on the pier each weekend until Christmas, and the Pier Trust is organising German-style market stalls at the pier entrance each weekend in December. Charity groups or traders wanting a space should email david.mccormick@tiscali.co.uk

Chairman of the Pier Trust, Doreen Stone, said:

"The trust is delighted that the extensive renovation of the wood on and beneath the pier by the city council is starting and will be fully cooperating with the engineers while this work takes place. We're looking forward to weeks of activities in the lead-up to Christmas, so come and join in the fun and support your pier."

CCC website

Pier Trust EGM Minutes

I couldn't make it to the EGM on 10th July, so I asked the Trustees what had happened, and what the results were of any votes that were taken. I got conflicting reports as to whether anything had been sent to some or all of the members. I hadn't received anything, and neither had several other paid-up members.

I knew that one of the motions to be voted on was the election of Trustees. I asked who the Trustees of the HBPT now are. There was no answer. I find this astonishing and disappointing.

The Board should have published the Minutes to the membership within days of the EGM - that's simply courtesy. Given that they hadn't published the Minutes, the reply to any member asking for the identity of the current Trustees should  have been to rattle off their names. Instead, I was told that my request would be considered.

However, the day after threatening to raise the matter of Secret Trustees with the Charity Commission, the Minutes and the identity of the Trustees appeared on the HBPT Facebook page. The Minutes are reproduced below.

The current trustees are:
Doreen Stone - chair
Aileen Barker - membership and lots more
David McCormick - Health and Safety and Events
Lynn Faux-Bowyer - Treasurer
Andrew Cook - CCC appointed trustee - Company Secretary
Joe Howes - CCC appointed trustee - external liaison

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The EGM Minutes

HERNE BAY PIER TRUST
Minutes EGM 10th July 2013 Christchurch Hall Herne Bay

Present: Doreen Stone (Chair)
Aileen Barker
Lynn Faux-Bowyer
Joe Howes
Andrew Cook
David McCormick
Members as recorded on signing in sheet.

Agenda item 1:
Doreen Stone began the update announcement with the fact that the Pier Opening day was attended by the National Piers Society which is very supportive of what was being organised. They also suggested that they may consider holding their next AGM in Herne Bay.

(The meeting was interrupted by the arrival of Andy Newell, former member and trustee. When he was asked to leave because an EGM is open only to members, a member on the floor made a proposal, which was seconded, that the Meeting be suspended until he left followed by a unanimous vote in favour. He did leave and the meeting resumed.)

DS continued with the update – The Trust had been granted a Planning Permit for 18 Retail Huts (an initial 12 to be followed by a further 6). She announced that the Trust had applied for the Lease of the complete platform area now it had been confirmed that the Golf Application would not operate this year. The £2k loan money had generated 1.5 jobs on the Pier so far and one hut owner was already considering employing extra staff to meet demand for teas/cakes etc.

HBPT needed an income of £65,000 to move to the next stage of managing the platform. Work by CCC on renovating the decking where the next 6 huts are to be built would begin in Oct. She suggested the Trust should now plan for an all weather building/structure on the platform which, if it included a heritage and information centre, maybe with a sea- themed attraction? One of our members has suggested approaching RIBA (Royal Institute of British Architects) to hold a design competition for students of architecture for Herne Bay Pier.

Agenda Item 2: Election of Officers.
There were 2 applicants – Aileen Barker & David McCormick. They both spoke to the Meeting and the voting took place.
Ds informed the meeting and listed the Proxy votes she had received – a total of 24 supporting her choices and 1 against the motions.
Total number of votes possible (incl proxy votes) = 42.
Results: Aileen Barker total in favour - 41
David McCormick total in favour - 41.
Both candidates unanimously elected as HBPT Trustees.

Volunteers- have become essential to the running of the Trust and there was a suggestion from the floor that maybe a 2nd tier of 'management' to work alongside the Board should be considered. This was agreed and that the trust should ask the Charities Commission for advice on this.

Agenda Item 3: This motion was to confirm the ruling in the Articles of Association and the Memorandum of Association the Board of Trustees can operate within the constitutionally specified number of Trustees required at any one time with a minimum of 5 and a maximum of 11. This was agreed – 41 for and 1 proxy against.

Agenda Item 4: That the Articles of Association be amended to state that the term of office for non CCC appointees is 3 years and that they must stand for re-election after that period; trustees to be permitted to hold position for a maximum of 3 consecutive terms. This was agreed 41 for and 1 proxy against.

The Chair, Doreen Stone, thanked everyone for attending and hoped they would spread the word on the positive progress of the HBPT. Meeting closed @ 19.55

After the meeting closed some points were raised for Board discussion eg
More notices about activities on pier such as:
- Boards with Hut Vendors names listed
- Large Chalk Boards with notices
- Press releases on regular basis showing how new businesses were being supported and new employment created by the Hut Village
- The importance of integrated community involvement to raise the profile of Herne Bay.

Opening of the Retail Beach Hut Village on the Pier

Grand Opening of The Retail Beach Hut Village

Hello Everyone,

In the last few weeks there has been a lot of work carried out by both the Trust and the Proprietors at the Retail Beach Hut Village and completion is close at hand. 

The Grand Opening will now be next Saturday 6th July at 12:00 noon.

We are delighted that the opening ceremony will be carried out by Sandi Toksvig, author, comedian, radio and TV presenter and by Reculver Councillor Ann Taylor, Sheriff of Canterbury.

There is going to be a wide range of items to buy and to eat so please come along and be part of the exciting start of the new revitalized Herne Bay Pier.

I look forward to seeing you there.

Doreen Stone, Chairman, Herne Bay Pier Trust

This really pisses me off

Tourism chiefs say Herne Bay won't tempt Guardian readers after leaving it out of national advert for the district

Tourism bosses have been accused of overlooking Herne Bay after promoting Whitstable and Canterbury in a national newspaper.

Officials at Visit Canterbury paid up to £10,000 for the full-page advertising feature in the Guardian Travel Guide, with a mention for the Canterbury Food and Drink Festival, Whitstable Oyster Festival, The Beaney, Roman Museum and the Marlowe Theatre - but not the Kings Hall or the Herne Bay Festival.

Deesons and The Goods Shed in Canterbury, Jojo's in Tankerton and the Sportsman at Seasalter are also given a plug, but there is no reference to any Herne Bay venue, with celebrity favourite Le Petit Poisson, the top-rated Oyster and Chop House and new restaurant Mushy Peas all left out.

The omission was raised at a meeting of Herne Bay Area Panel by Sue Austen from BayGuide, the team staging a festival to celebrate the centenary of artist Marcel Duchamp's stay in Herne Bay.

She was speaking to support their application for funding to help promote the festival in August and said visitors were expected from America and Europe as well as all across the country.

Showing councillors a one-off design by cartoonist Ralph Steadman, she said:

"What you will get for your money is this, a specially designed poster from an internationally respected artist to promote Herne Bay. What you won't get is a full page Guardian advert about Canterbury and Whitstable that nowhere mentions Herne Bay."

The first paragraph of the advertorial refers to the district's "perfect blend of heritage, culture and coast", and it goes on to recommend a stroll along Tankerton Slopes to savour "Whitstable's beautiful sunsets" - ignoring Herne Bay's beaches just a few miles away.

It praises Whitstable's "picturesque" appearance, the harbour and the retail village there - but not Herne Bay pier, due to have its own selection of beach hut shops this summer.

Jenny Cross, from the Friends of Herne Bay Museum, said she was disappointed with the advert. In a letter to council bosses, she said:

"We have a beach, huts, ice-cream, fish 'n chips, three art galleries, museum, festival, sailing club, yacht club, even half a pier! This summer we have a festival celebrating a hundred years since Marcel Duchamp, the most influential artist of the 20th century spent a summer in Herne Bay. Given all this, plus loads of independent shops and cafes, the least you could do is give us a mention!"​

I have no idea where this picture comes from, but it's Janice McGuinness

But Janice McGuinness, head of culture at Canterbury City Council, argued Guardian readers would not be tempted by Herne Bay. She said:

"With all opportunities to promote the district, including articles such as this, we always consider who our target market is. For the Guardian, the focus of this advertorial was on culture, heritage and food. The council's approach here was to focus on the brands most likely to catch the attention of the Guardian Weekend's readers and attract them to the Visit Canterbury website."

She said the website contained information about Herne Bay and the district's villages, and the town would be promoted "on other channels". She added:

"Our Visit Canterbury Team carries out an enormous amount of promotion for the district and Herne Bay features regularly in this work. We will promote the town and the forthcoming Duchamp and Herne Bay Festivals through other channels over the coming months when we highlight the excellent cultural programme happening over the summer in Herne Bay, Whitstable and Canterbury."

Canterbury Times 23rd May 2013

#FUCCC

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You can email Janice McGuinness on: janice.mcguinness@canterbury.gov.uk​ or Tweet her on @seahorsebella

Easter Newsletter from the Pier Trust

The trustees would like to thank you for all the support you have given us the last few months and we wish you a very happy Easter break.

There is a lot going on at present – it looks as if the planning permission for a retail village on the pier is going to be successful and we are now busy with bids for the money to build it. This is an exciting time for the regeneration of the pier. We have a vision that by next Christmas we shall all see the pier lit up like a ship with people buying their jacket potatoes, pancakes and mulled wine and browsing among the shopping units for gifts.

This spring, special thanks goes to the 87 members who replied either by letter or email to our last newsletter – many of you wrote up to a page on what you would like to happen on the pier, both short and long term. With this high level of supportive response - nearly 25% of our membership writing to us - we really feel that we now know what members of HBPT want from us and we promise that we shall do our best to implement your wishes. As trustees of a charity our first responsibility is to represent our members’ opinions.

Over the next four weeks, we aim to reply to everyone who sent in their views and answer any questions you put to us.

Best wishes, Doreen Stone, HBPT Chairman.

Bringing the Pier to Life in 2013

Do you or someone you know want to sell seaside goods? Looking for a prime outlet for quality crafts and produce? Where better than on the pier!

Come and talk to the Pier Trust about it. HBPT is inviting established and new businesses, individuals and groups to apply for one of its beach hut kiosks.

The 18 Pier Trust Retail Beach Kiosks for which we have put in planning permission will run up the right hand side of the leg and round the corner onto the platform. They will make a bright cheery shopping place much the same as the one at Whitstable Harbour but more fun and with lots more colour.

We envisage the beach hut village offering quality traditional seaside products including gifts, sweets and rock, ices, artwork, crafts, seaside gifts, toys, fish and chips, sea foods, farmers’ produce, plants, jewellery and books. However, the Trust is open to ideas and will welcome all enquiries for other sales.

Please drop a note with your contact details into the Pier Trust Gallery and Shop or email us on hbpt.office@gmail.com to discuss your enquiry.

The big advantage for the initial 12 – 14 units will be that they will be cleverly situated to utilize the existing canopy for extra protection against rain and wind with windshields in the gaps between the huts. This will provide shoppers with a sheltered walkway in all weathers. 

Despite the Trust’s reservations about the mini-golf – reservations which we sent to CCC when we first heard about the plans in mid-November - an attraction aiming to bring additional people past the beach hut kiosks is likely to make the units very viable. (Incidentally, we heard about the mini golf plans at the same time as we had just submitted our own business plans for the platform including a community stage, events marquis, café and seating.)

The retail kiosks will be decorated in traditional beach hut colours with lock-up counters and electricity. On the back walls, the huts will spell out HERNE BAY PIER .We also hope to remove, replace or decorate some of the unsightly blue panels dividing the leg of the pier.

The business plan we have now submitted is based on a monthly rental of approximately £275 per unit - less than £70 a week which includes electricity. Established businesses will also be liable for rates but new sellers with a small turnover will be rate free. As we have received a lot of enquiries from people such as artists who want to book a unit for a short term, we are currently reconsidering this.  For longer term bookings, even if the kiosk is available for 12 months, we shall only be charging for 10 months to take into account the weather conditions.

One beach hut will be reserved without charge for community groups and charities to book into.

The Trust has a lot of additional ideas for the pier area including temporary concessions, farmers’ markets, art weekends, antique markets and exhibitions. We are also still considering a ‘shared community use’ stage for live music and possibly a film or two…Jaws or Mama Mia - which one first?

Recent Events since New Year

Herne Bay Music Launch at King’s Hall 

We would like to thank Emily Edwards who contacted us last summer to discuss her and business partner, Carl Crane’s, plans to launch their Herne Bay Music with first proceeds donated to the Pier Trust. We were delighted that the musical evening of February 9th at the King’s Hall was such a success. More than 250 people of all ages attended and had a wonderfully well organised evening of music.

Trustees first met Emily, who is only 18 and still at school, when she presented a remarkably professional pitch to the Board last summer and we are glad we chose to support her plans. The managers of the King’s Hall transformed the ballroom and with the help of ex-trustee, David Shepherd, the evening was full of good humour and music of up and coming bands.

Well done, Emily and Carl, and thank you for the donation to the Pier Trust. It was a pleasure to work with you. Wait until we are ready for performance on the pier! We’ll have a venue to be proud of.

Gallery and Shop News

Come and see the new look Gallery and Shop – open now from 11.00am – 5.00pm from Friday to Sunday every week. Alan Beales, its manager, has filled it with gifts, cards, an exhibition of artists’ work on the theme of the sea front and pier. The gallery also displays pictures explaining the work currently being done on the esplanade and lots of information of the pier old and new. We are pleased to share the space with Herne Bay in Bloom who also have an exhibition of their work. If you wish to renew your membership, drop in for a chat, look at the pictures on sale or deliver a letter to us, you will be made most welcome by Alan and his team of volunteers without whom it would be very hard for the Trust to function. Another volunteer, Colin Barker, is heading up our new events team. If you would like to join either team, please pop into the gallery.

Junior News

In January, two of us spent a delightful afternoon meeting the year 6 pupils at Herne Bay Junior School. The children had, that morning, walked along to the pier and so our visual presentation which was full of pictures and questions about the history of the piers fitted usefully into their current local project.

During February, the pupils spent time drawing their ideas for the future pier cleverly using computer aided design software to remarkable effect. Some chose to construct models of their design concepts. We now have an exhibition of their work running at the Gallery and Shop in Central Parade. Come and have a look.

A Junior HBPT Club

Following our recent happy interaction with both the primary schools and Herne Bay High, we would like to start a Junior Pier Trust Club this spring. After all, continuing local pride in Herne Bay and a willingness to carry on developing the pier plans when we are finished will be in their hands in due course. We hope to involve the younger generation in events, performance and generating ideas.

Wine and Wisdom

On March 22nd we held our fourth Quiz Evening at the King’s Hall. As Peter was already booked, we were lucky to have Gideon Scott and his team in charge of the evening. Thanks Gideon. The food provided by the staff was also excellent. Thanks also to all who donated prizes for the raffle which included a fruit basket from Peter’s Produce, a cake from the Pantry, and an Egg basket from Mrs Cook. The auction of wood craft including a unique garden chair made the evening an excellent fundraising event for the Trust. 

The Pier Head

We have recently attempted to rescue our lights and equipment from the pier head but the weather conditions and rotting wood made this too difficult. However, another attempt will be made as we would like to use the equipment along the leg. There are also suggestions abroad that maybe the metal structure of the café can be rescued and reconstructed on the shore at the entrance of the pier. 

The Long Pier - a shared vision for members and trustees

The responses we received from nearly 90 members (not including ourselves) were full of ideas and strong opinions about the future of the long pier and the returns made very enlightening reading. They supported the Board’s reluctance to support siting a marina at the end of the pier and only 2 of the members’ responses voted for this option.

The letter from the marina engineer which appeared in both local papers had clearly impressed readers with its viewpoint and his expert experience. His opinion echoed the reservations which Marina Projects, a marina company sub-contracted by Gifford in the 2011 Report, expressed when they recommended the Trust to look at alternative options for the marina other than at the end of pier. The 2011 Draft Report stated that a marina a mile out at sea was not the recommended option. While fully supporting any other group wishing to work on a marina project, the Pier Trust will confine itself to re-establishing a pier as a community asset for all residents to enjoy. 

One of the previous trustees has passed onto us the valuable work she had done on what makes a pier successful – much appreciated as we are about to start researching and contacting the most popular pier trusts in UK. Herne Bay Pier will need a unique selling point to attract investment and bring in the visitors. Armed with the information in the reports and having subsumed the rebuild objective back into the Board, we shall be working hard this year bringing our existing pier back to life.

We have a busy year ahead but now the trustees and members have a shared vision.

Pier Trust Chair puts her case

Doreen Stone (co-Chair of the HBPT) posted this on the "official" Pier Trust Facebook site, in response to Graham Cooper's letter.

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Hello members and friends,

I am responding to Graham's post I understand from the HB Times that rebuild were contacted by Liz. The facts and figures were extracted without doctoring or special selection to make a point. the basic facts that we would have to pay to walk on our pier, that all the attractions can be there without a marina tacked on and that the car park essential for the marina with its 2 lane road would spoil it for everyone else are clear for everyone to see.

My optimism in November was proved wrong - since then the rebuild group have contacted the press, met Sir Roger Gale, sent articles and statements that none of the trustees have seen to numerous magazines without any checking with the Trust. They have become a pressure group to push forwards the views they have held before they resigned as trustees over a year ago.

It has now come to my notice that a draft of the 2011 Gifford report, a much more detailed and intensive report, which neither the then chairman or most of the trustees ever saw is very clear that a marina at the pier head was not its recommended option. Gifford recommended a marina much nearer shore with 8hr access. It also pointed out that as the windfarms had invested so much money in Ramsgate facilities that probably only 1 or 2 O&M vessels at most would use Herne Bay as a base.

If those who are supporting a marina at the end of the pier take over the Trust our chances of building a long pier for the people of Herne Bay will be squashed. all the trustees are working many hours a week because we are committed to a long pier but we believe it should be the type of pier the people of HB also want. We are going to open out the debate to all the creative people in HB to come together in an exhibition of their concepts and designs for everyone in the town to view and choose preferences.

Incidentally, I sent the rebuild group our list of reservations the week before the press release was written and before we wrote the letter to members. Liz on the Times will conform that after Jason phoned me I told her I would hold back for a week. However, the time has come for more than the usual vocal minority to have their say.

Pier Trust Rebuild Group put their case

Graham Cooper (formerly an HBPT Trustee, currently part of the Rebuild Group) posted this on the "official" Pier Trust Facebook site:

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Dear All,

Many of you will have no doubt seen the reports in the papers this week. Sadly the rebuild group were not asked for any comment or given the opportunity to repond by the Times. Here is a copy of a letter we sent to the Gazette, when they did ask us for comment.

The volunteers on the rebuild group are shocked to discover that the Trustees had already decided as early as February 2012 that their preferred option was a gradual rebuild and not the pier/marina proposal. Neither we nor the membership have been informed of this, even at the November AGM. We are also very disappointed at the rather sensationalist headlines in last week's HB Times and more recently the rather confused and unclear letter sent to pier trust members this week, both of which state a number of assumptions and figures which are taken out of context and both of which conveniently leave out the projected £18million injection into the local economy that would result from the pier/marina.

We have offered on a number of occasions to respond to any trustees queries in order to clarify what the report is saying. The Trustees have had the report since last November! However before we had a chance to respond to the concerns expressed by the Chair of the Trust, she has informed us that she will not communicate any further with us until she has sent a letter to members and presumably got their feed- back.

We are very concerned that last week's story and the Trust Chair's recent letter to members are giving a very one sided view of things and as a we are effectively unable to communicate our response to members in any other way, in the next week or so we will be publishing an open letter, providing a fuller response to concerns raised.

But for now, it is important to convey a few key messages to members and the public alike. Firstly, the Collier report is intended to offer a workable solution for a rebuilt pier and to demonstrate business viability. It is designed as a conceptual report and certainly not definitive in any particular detail. The report does offer an excellent insight into what is feasible and we should remember that Collier are one of the top three property and destinations experts in the world, that is why we hired them.

Secondly, we are puzzled as to the motive and timing behind these recent stories and the Chair's letter to members and refusal to communicate further with the rebuild team. This all certainly flies in the face of Doreen Stone's comments of the Trust's Facebook page last November:

"the Trust's Board is more stable at this time than it has been for a long time with ex-trustees and current trustees working together on options for the future of the pier. Two weeks ago we had a very friendly and useful meeting with John Gilbey, Leader of Canterbury City Council, who remarked on the unity of our team. There is a great deal of hard work and cooperation going on at present".

As far as we can see the only thing that has changed since last November is the excellent publicity and supporters that the pier/marina idea has attracted, why this should present the Trust with a problem we fail to understand.

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

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.

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.

---

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

Piratical display lights up the pier

People power – and a pinch of piracy – is behind a festive lights display erected more than a kilometre out to sea. A Christmas tree of light, made from around 1,000 lights, appeared on the stranded head of Herne Bay pier just before Christmas.

Pier Pirates claimed responsibility for the seasonal display and said the lights were a symbol of the town's future. A spokesman said:

"Ahoy! Me 'n' me hearties have put these lights up as a symbol of the unity that Herne Bay needs to display to overpower the tyranny of our current rulers. We believe that this be necessary to get our fair share of the treasure includin' gettin' the pier rebuilt to its original length smartly. There be many lubbers 'bout who have chosen to ignore the hopes 'n' aspirations 'n' determination of the people."

He said the project was inspired by the volunteer groups working to improve the town, including the Bay Promo Team, Beach Creative and the Kent Pier Marina Team from the Herne Bay Pier Trust as well as the people of Herne Bay themselves. He added:

"The town Christmas tree lights was voted the worst in the land 'n' news spread far and wide. Me and me hearties thought we should step in and gift the town the best offshore Christmas tree lights in the UK. All ye pirates mucked in and helped, including local suppliers."

Partygoers at the BayPromoTeam's Christmas ball were impressed by the lights and a spokesman said:

"They look fantastic and everyone was saying how impressive they were. We can only sum them up as a festive delight."

Jason Hollingsworth, of the Kent Pier Marina Team, which is working on plans for a marina around the old pier head, added:

"I think this shows that the people of Herne Bay are proud of their town and are willing to get involved in the Government's Big Society. This is truly a beacon of hope for the future of the town and for the pier. I think the sense of community is at an all-time high and this shows beyond reasonable doubt that Herne Bay is powered by its people."

HB Times 4th Jan 2013

Christmas message from the Pier Trust

Good News for the future of the Pier

Three trustees of the HB Pier Trust attended the executive meeting of Canterbury City Council last Thursday and although they arrived smarting from the negative vibes in the press about an ultimatum to "shape up or ship out", they were pleasantly surprised by the positive attitude of the councillors at the meeting. Anyone wanting to hear what actually happened and what was said can listen to the recording of the executive meeting on the CCC website.

Repairs to the Existing Pier

The first item on the agenda relating to the pier was what actions should be taken about the poor condition of the wood in the substructure - not the planks you see when you walk on the pier but the wooden joists underneath them. The Pier Trust and CCC had already discussed this problem and it was mutually agreed that the Trust is not in a position financially to tackle repairs on this scale. This was a major reason for the Pier Trust preferring the management of the pier to remain at present with the council. Until it has established the hut village as a regular source of income, it knows it is not ready to take on management of the pier.

The 4 options to fund the urgently needed repairs ranged from a 2 year patch-up to a major overhaul and the good news for Herne Bay and the Pier Trust is that the executive unanimously voted for the best option which will cost in the region of £200,000. It will be carried out in stages with minimal disruption to the short term plans to progress activities on the pier.

That Report!

Dawn Hudd, the Culture Officer’s report was the next item about the future of the pier and it also contained 4 options: close the pier, hand over management to the Pier Trust, CCC to retain management, or a combination of the latter two options. Both the CCC and Pier Trust favoured this recommended option 4 – that the CCC retain control including maintenance costs until the Pier Trust is in a sufficiently strong financial position to take over management. This, especially in the light of this year’s huge maintenance bill, is seen as the only realistic option for us this year.

The executive councillors expressed very supportive comments about the current Pier Trust. They wished us well with the plans we are submitting for a beach hut village up the leg of the pier. The executive viewed the pier as an integral part of the regeneration plans for Herne Bay. Mr John Gilbey, Leader of CCC, said he had attended our AGM and assured us that CCC did not want to stand in the way of any sustainable ideas and only wanted what was right for Herne Bay and the Pier. We three trustees thought the comments at the meeting fair and positive.

The Adventure Golf on the Platform

Last week, we met with Mr Cain to discuss his plans for a crowd-pulling tourist attraction on the tarmac of the platform. The Trust is happy to work together with Mr Cain and the beach hut village and the Smugglers’ Adventure Golf will be mutually beneficial this year both bringing in tourists and locals. There will still be full access for walkers to enjoy the walks on the pier. Mr Cain will be investing a large amount in the pier and hopes to attract over 5000 visitors to the pier in August. Maybe next winter we shall see the pier lit up with lights and a Christmas Market complete with Santa on the pier.

Looking forward to 2013

Thank you for all your support this year. Don’t believe all you read in the press – we have come to realise that a good story built on a few disconnected comments is often a priority for journalists – we are learning, with difficulty, to take it as modern media speak.

A special thank you goes to our volunteers who have been standing in the cold this month outside supermarkets meeting members, collecting subs, manning the office and the Santa’s grotto in the bandstand and doing so much to keep us going. Their help is much appreciated by us. Thank you.

The Office in the Pier Gallery on Central Parade is now up and running and we are in the process of sorting out the administrative problems that we have suffered in the last year. Hopefully 2013 will be a good year all round for the Trust.

We are moving the Wine and Wisdom date from the 4th of January to a later date as general opinion indicates that was too near Christmas. We shall email you the new date as soon as possible. The bands event specifically aimed at the younger audience will take place at the King’s Hall on Feb 9th and tickets will be available at £5 each in the New Year – we shall email you with details then.

If any Member wishes to stand themselves or wishes to nominate another Member to stand for the role of trustee next year we are looking specifically for members with expertise in the following areas : legal experience, promotional expertise, financial and fund-raising (big fund-raising!) expertise.

Lastly but by no means least come down to the Bandstand at the weekend and find out more about the 2013 on the Pier. We together with other community organisations will be there between 11:00am and 4:00pm. Santa will also be there so bring the kids or grandkids and they will receive a free gift. All we ask is that you bring a few tins of food as a donation to the parcels that will be given to the less fortunate at Christmas.

Happy Christmas

Doreen Stone & Joe Howes - Joint Chairmen

Herne Bay Pier Trust reveal plans for country's first pier marina

This is how Herne Bay's Victorian pier could look if a £70 million plan to build a marina around the derelict old pier head goes ahead. The ambitious scheme was unveiled last night by the Herne Bay Pier Trust and would be the first of its kind in the country.

Members also announced a raft of short-term plans, which include creating a beach hut village and restaurant on the existing platform and to allow weddings on the pier.

Trust member Jason Hollingsworth, part of the group tasked with finding ways to rebuild the pier, said the key was to make it financially viable. He said:

"A heritage pier based on the past would be a lovely idea but when you look at the economics, it is not going to happen."

But he said the team had been speaking about the marina concept - known as Kent Pier Marina - to trust fund managers who wanted long-term investments for pension funds.

He said it would be an "attraction of national significance" and could include hotels, an aquarium, conference facilities and boat trips. Mr Hollingsworth said:

"I am convinced the project can be delivered and bring extensive benefits to Herne Bay and the wider area. There are investment opportunities for a private sector developer but the scheme will also need public sector funding."

The marina would have 275 berths and, because it would be so far out to sea, offer 24-hour berthing for sailors because it would not be affected by tides. A road would run along the pier with parking for 150 cars at the end.

The marina was given the official stamp of approval in a consultant's report which concluded it was the best option for the long-term future of the pier. The trust plans to publish the report and more details of the scheme on a website to be launched next month and will then begin formal public consultation.

More trustees are needed, particularly those with expertise in law and fundraising. Those interested should send details to the Pier Trust gallery in Central Parade, Herne Bay.

thisiskent LCrudgington

Future Pier design?