This is a bit of a strange one that begs the question,
what's really going on? By this I mean has Chris Wells made up one story and
the council officers made up another while in reality it was. What? A council
balls up? Suggestions on a plate please.
Chris says The Waverley Paddle Steamer has dodgy insurance.
"Chris Wells said...
Perhaps I can help. It would appear that in previous years
this vessel has been accepted in to Margate harbour without the necessary
insurance or statutory requirements being fulfilled.
We have now made it clear to the operator the documentation
and level of notice we require for them to berth in the harbour, none of this
information has been provided, we have also offered them the use of Ramsgate
Port at a reduced rate, but due to the nature of the vessel and the fact that
it has two fixed paddles they would need a tug to manoeuvre, a cost they are
not willing to incur.
October 07, 2015 6:28 p.m." (see his comment on http://thanetonline.blogspot.co.uk/2015/10/thanet-district-council-divert-tourists.html )
The council officers say that Margate Harbour Arm has got into
such a bad state since The Waverley Paddle Steamer visited Margate last year that
it would be dangerous to do so this year.
" Hi Michael,
Please find our statement on this below:
The Harbour Arm at Margate is not in regular commercial use
and unfortunately Waverley Excursion Ltd. did not allow sufficient time to
notify us so that we could arrange the necessary works and processes to ensure
a safe operation.
Waverley Excursions Ltd. was offered the use of Ramsgate
Harbour, which could safely accommodate such a vessel; however the operator
elected to coach their customers to join the vessel elsewhere.
The council is fully aware of the benefit that such vessels
can bring to our district when the operation is appropriately managed to allow
a safe entry and exit from the harbour. We are working with Waverley Excursions
Ltd. to ensure that a safe process can be agreed to facilitate future use of
the Margate Harbour Arm.
Many thanks,
**** *****
PR and Publicity Officer
Thanet District Council
PO Box 9 ¦ Cecil Street ¦ Margate ¦ Kent ¦ CT9 1XZ
Direct line: 01843 5770**
E-mail: *******@thanet.gov.uk
Visit our website – www.thanet.gov.uk
Follow us on Twitter – @ThanetCouncil
Find us on Facebook – Thanet District Council"
To be honest this is very like my experiences yesterday
tying to buy a campervan, eg. the one on ebay is described as in good condition
and nothing in the listing mentions the body of the thing being anything else. Having
arranged insurance and turned up at the appointed time with the money the body
is so rusty you can put your fingers through it, and yes it did have an MOT.
I have just checked the two fixed paddles business, as I am sure this couldn’t have been right and assumed all paddle steamers can reverse either set of paddles independently. I was also pretty sure that when we used to sail on her from Ramsgate no tug was used. She can indeed turn on her own axis and the paddles can be reversed independently.
I have just checked the two fixed paddles business, as I am sure this couldn’t have been right and assumed all paddle steamers can reverse either set of paddles independently. I was also pretty sure that when we used to sail on her from Ramsgate no tug was used. She can indeed turn on her own axis and the paddles can be reversed independently.
To me cllr Well's version did not add up an its was another case of him thinking he could hoodwinkle the public. No doubt the council officer will be told to say he got his facts wrong.
ReplyDeleteNot sure really Dave, while I don’t want to shoot the messenger and have been giving the new UKIP group a lenient time here while they bed in, the message has to relate what actually happened.
ReplyDeleteMaybe the Walerley will get in the way of all the other ferry movements at Ramsgate! With the port loosing £900k a year its looking like the infrequent car ferry arrivals will only make a small dent in this loss but maybe it will encourage other operators to use the port.
ReplyDeleteThe car ferry business is looking for drivers to unload the cars - £7 per hour, minimum of 4 hours paid and you have to be available on an adhoc basis. It might suit some that can drop everything at the drop of an anchor but not exactly going to take anybody off of JSA.