Update 21 November 2007
Twin bridge project put on hold
The Twin Sails Bridge was potentially due to commence work in April of next year connecting Hamworthy with the port of Poole. This second bridge was obviously not welcomed by some boat owners within Holes Bay because of the need to navigate through an additional lifting bridge. Therefore, the news of a delay will not be unwelcome as it means there will be no change in the lifting regime next season.
The council said JJ Gallagher Estate's housing development plans for Hamworthy's former power station site clashed with its vision for the area. Because the new bridge is dependant on the Hamworthy development, which will include a link road, it cannot be built until this has been approved. The government has pledged £14.14m towards the £34m Twin Sails Bridge project, but the Borough of Poole needs to raise the remaining money.
Jon Eads speaking on behalf of MDL and Cobb’s Quay said, “We have been working closely with the council and Poole Harbour Commissioners over the plans for a second bridge and our views and concerns have been well aired. Whilst we do expect that a second bridge will eventually be built, this delay will allow for further dialogue about how best to manage the navigation within Holes Bay going forward.”
Jon currently has a seat on the ‘Bridges Operating Board’ that was formed last year with the specific task of ensuring that the most practical bridge-lifting regime is maintained for the benefit of all concerned.
Despite the delay, dialogue will be ongoing with the next ‘Bridges Operating Board’ due to take place in January next year.
21 November 2007
Update 13 December 2006
Through my door arrived a letter dated 10th August 2006 from the Department of Transport’s Transport and Works Act Orders Unit concerning the application from Poole Council for the Twin Sails second Poole bridge.
It confirmed that the Secretary of State had decided to agree to the proposed Order -with some modifications – none of which were in respect of the concerns we presented to the public enquiry in September 2005.
Briefly, as an Association and as personal objectors we were concerned that, where more boats wanted to exit from, or enter, the Backwater Channel than the gap between the bridges could take (maximum approx 50) then this was a significant danger risk – for example holding station, racing for the bridge, ‘boat rage’ etc. Our view was that in these cases both bridges should be lifted to allow all boats to pass through safely.
This point has not been accepted by the Harbour Master (see the report of the meeting 4 August 2006 below) nor the Inquiry Inspector/Secretary of State.
The essence of the Inspectors view is that inconveniencing a small number of leisure boaters is not an issue when compared with the advantages offered to car drivers, commercial vehicles and cyclists accessing and leaving Hamworthy. He did not accept the point about safety issues.
The full report can be read on the DofT web site www.dft.gov.uk/strategy/twa.
Essentially the main points are :-
1. The Council would empower the Harbour Master, in the event that he considers that the number of vessels seeking transit, taken with weather and tidal conditions, creates a safety hazard, to direct that both bridges be opened simultaneously to allow free flow of vessels.
The Harbour Master does not consider there to ‘automatically’ be a safety hazard when more boats are trying to get between the bridges than the space can accommodate.
2. The in-principle proposed operating methodology has been subjected to a Marine Safety Risk Assessment by the Council. This considers a range of risks in the exchange basin, including collisions, fires, persons overboard, etc. The Assessment concludes: "... provided the Twin Sails Poole Bridge is properly managed with the correct operating procedures in place there is no reason for the current level of risk for marine safety to increase."
3. Apart from emergency situations (see below), the bridges would be operated in two modes: standard and enhanced. Standard mode would operate for the majority of the time, namely when favourable weather and tide conditions apply, demand for transit of the exchange basin is for 30 vessels or fewer.
Enhanced operation mode would apply in unfavourable weather conditions, where exchange basin demand exceeds 30 vessels
We hope that these reassurances will be honoured and that safety will be preserved by effective action on the part of the Harbour Master and the conduct of marine users.
The situation is summed up in two paragraphs in the Inspector’s Report.
The principal adverse impact of the second bridge would be on those seeking to navigate through the Backwater Channel. The need to wait in the exchange basin for a second bridge to lift would add significantly to transit times, and there would be occasions, probably rare, when the capacity of the exchange basin would be inadequate to accommodate all those seeking to transit, so that some boats would have to await the next lift.
These are matters of convenience, and, to my mind, the predicted additional inconvenience is substantially outweighed by improvements to journey time and reliability for road users of all kinds, including pedestrians, cyclists, buses and emergency service vehicles. I am satisfied that the Council's proposals would ensure that an acceptably safe regime would be put in place in relation to the exchange basin, and, indeed, the Agreement with the Poole Harbour Commissioner does not allow the bridge to be brought into operation unless and until it can be operated safely.
Jonathan Saunders
Chair CQBHA
Update 04 August 2006
Recently the Chairman and other members of the Association met with the Harbour Master – Peter Booth – to set out safety concerns about the practical use of the proposed ‘2 bridge’ transit of the Quay and Backwater Channel.
Whilst some additional inconvenience is inevitable and perhaps acceptable to support the growth of lower Poole, the changes should not increase the risk of accident or injury.
Briefly, for those who are not aware, the plan is to only ever lift one bridge at a time. To facilitate this, only a certain number of boats will be allowed between the bridges – into the basin – and once in, the first bridge would be shut and the ‘exit’ bridge opened.
There will be a procedure outlining different circumstances which will determine the maximum number of vessels allowed in the basin at any one time. This will initially be based on the risk assessment, is likely to vary from about 30 – 60 and can be adjusted in the light of experience.
However the Harbour Master has the authority to lift both bridges if there are safety concerns.
It is our view that in all cases where more boats want to transit the bridges than the capacity allows, there is a safety risk and both bridges should be lifted. (For example if 50 boats wish to exit the Backwater Channel and the Harbour Master has decided basin capacity is 30).
We have significant concerns that the fact that a skipper might not make it into the basin on a particular lift – and thus have a wait of at least an hour – may change the behaviour of even more cautious skippers.
We fear people will push forward, speed, have multiple boats abreast across the Channel etc. and this will result in accident or injury.
When a boat (s) doesn’t make it into the basin, it will have to turn back, hold or moor until the next lift. These actions will need to be taken in a cluttered Quay approach or Backwater Channel. This, we believe, is inherently unsafe.
The Harbour Master recognises our concerns but believes that an effective system of management combined with a policy of education and enforcement will encourage continued good behaviour. He was however clear that in cases of excessive demand in marginal conditions, he would lift both bridges to manage safety. The Association put forward strong arguments about safety and a simple solution of lifting both bridges where more boats want to transit than the capacity for that day. Despite this, the Harbour Master felt it was premature to commit to our idea of lifting both bridges automatically for the sole reason of excessive numbers.
The Bridge Operating Board (BOB) will decide on the timings and frequency of lifting of the bridges. The board will consist of 5 members, 3 appointed by PHC, who are likely to be the Harbourmaster and 2 other marine “operators” with an interest in Holes Bay, and 2 by the Council, anticipated to be the Police and a Council Officer. We should seek to gain a place on the Bridge Operating Board.
Other things discussed in our meeting were :-
- The move to hourly lifting. The Harbour Master anticipated that there will always be hourly lifts with the new bridge. However any changes will be in the gift of the BOB to implement. The Harbour Master will certainly be recommending hourly lifts and would strongly resist any premature changes without over riding safety reasons - and he cannot think of any at the moment!
- One option for the lifting regime will have an ‘in wait and out’ lifting cycle. Boats will remain in the basin being required to wait for the next planned lift of the other bridge to exit the basin. i.e one bridge opens and shuts then second bridge opens and shuts at the next planned (hourly?) lift - this allows traffic in one direction to clear completely. This will be at historically quieter times As with the previous bullet point the BOB will need to consider the appropriate sequences.
- The Harbour Master envisages signs in the Marina showing Basin capacity and air draft at the bridge, to help with the decision whether and when to go out. There may even be a booking system!
- All pontoons in the basin to the South side will be removed and there will be a temporary mooring pontoon on the North side (for ‘1 boat deep only’) while transiting the basin.
- As the Highway Authority it is the council’s responsibility to operate the bridges - it has not yet been decided who will man it in practice - Council or PHC employed staff.
- The Harbour Master is keen to involve CQ boaters and will invite participation in the appropriate workshops that will be planned.
- The Harbour Master is looking into enhanced opportunities for mooring on the Town Quay side of the current bridge – as part of your Harbour dues you get 2 hours free mooring on the quay!
So where now?
Well, in the next month or so there should be a decision about the new bridge. Our best hope is that the Inquiry Chair requires both bridges to be lifted where demand to use the bridges exceeds the capacity of the basin.
Failing that, we need to lobby the Bridge Operating Board – ideally from the position of a member.
Update 28 September 2005
The inquiry opened yesterday at the Poole Civic Centre, with Poole Council presenting their evidence in favour of the application for the proposed development. Objectors are allowed to ask questions of clarification but not cross examine at this stage. Cross examination of the Council witnesses will begin on 6 October and during the week of 11 October when MDL will present their objection.
Poole Council and MDL are both represented by Queens Council. Individual objectors (and supporters, of which there are two who gave evidence today) will present their evidence to the Inspector personally.
The MDL QC will make objections on 11-13 October.
The Poole Council evidence presented thus far is substantially that which is available on the Poole Council website, and still prioritises the road traffic flow over marine traffic without compromise.
On a point of clarification William Brook-Hart confirmed that it was not the intention to raise both bridges together, even on peak days, unless the Harbour Master deemed it necessary to preserve marine safety. The practical involvement of the Harbour Master in day to day bridge operations has yet to be determined.
Update 05 September 2005
The Borough of Poole has submitted to the Secretary of State for Transport, its application for a second lifting bridge and an application to change the regime for the operation of the existing bridge.
This application is a formal application for a Borough of Poole ( Poole Harbour Opening Bridges) Order under the Transport Works Act 1992.
If granted the Council will be able to commence the next phase of the regeneration project, alter the opening times at the existing bridge and commence the construction of the second opening bridge.
CQBHA, a number of individual members, and other objectors (about 90 in all), have lodged objections to the application. The majority of the objections are focused on the impact that the scheme will have upon the marine activity in Holes Bay.
The objections were judged significant enough by the Department of Transport (DOT) to warrant a public inquiry.
The public inquiry is now scheduled to commence on 27 September 2005 and objections will be heard over a four week period.
CQBHA have formulated a written objection on behalf of its members and this has been submitted as the CQBHA Proof of Evidence for consideration by the Inquiry Chairman.
MDL have committed substantial funds to develop and present their case and have secured the services of a Queens Council (QC) for this purpose. The MDL case covers very similar objections to those of the Association. We have therefore withdrawn our request for inquiry time to make a separate verbal representation and added our support to the MDL objection.
This has been agreed by your committee as being the most positive way of representing the Associations concerns at the inquiry.
Davis's boatyard have also followed the same course of action.
The CQBHA Proof of Evidence can be downloaded by clicking [here].
A number of individual Cobbs Quay berth holders have also produced a formal objection and intend to present this at the Inquiry.
This Proof of Evidence can also be downloaded [here].
The draft Transport Works Act Order can be downloaded [here].
We will keep you informed via this page of the progress of the inquiry. A decision on this would normally be made by the DOT before the end of February 2006.
Key items of relevance
The new bridge will be in addition to the current lifting bridge.
The Council proposals give priority to road traffic at the expense of marine traffic.
The proposed air height of the new bridge will require the bridge to lift for the majority of vessels at Cobbs Quay.
It is proposed that the two bridges will NOT lift at the same time.
Substantial delays are predicted for marine vessels.
There will be a restricted holding basin between the bridges where vessels will have to wait between bridge lifts.
Proposed holding arrangements at bridge approaches and within the basin are judged to be inappropriate.
With the proposed design, both halves of the new bridge have to lift for marine traffic to pass.
Hourly bridge openings are proposed at busy times. There are no early or late lifts proposed.
The revised opening regime will put additional pressure on the, already unreliable, existing bridge.
Comprehensive operational procedures for marine traffic have yet to be developed.
It is not clear that the Council have fully considered the marine risks involved.
Projects of this type have a poor reputation for on-time and on-budget delivery.
The predicted completion date for the new bridge has now slipped back to 2008/9.
More details of the plans can be seen on the Gifford Consulting website at:
www.gifford-consulting.co.uk/twinsails and Poole Council website.
Latest Poole Council website (June 2004) [click here]