Agenda and minutes

To receive any apologies for absence.

Apologies for absence were received from Councillor Ioan Ceredig Thomas (Cabinet Member - Economy), Cllr.  Louise Hughes (Gwynedd Council), Mr John Johnson (Barmouth and Cardigan Bay Sea Fisheries Association), Cllr. Rob Williams (BRIG), Dr John Smith (Barmouth Viaduct Access Group.

To receive any declaration of personal interest.

The following members declared a personal connection for the reasons noted:  

(a)          Cllr. Gethin Williams - member of the Community Trust 

(b)          Cllr. Julian Kirkham - related to one of the ferry operators

(c)           Mr Mike Ellis - member of the Three Peaks Race Committee

(d)          Mrs Wendy Ponsford – member of the Yacht Club, member of the Community Trust

(e)          Cllr. Rob Triggs - member of the Community Trust, member of the Yacht Club 

(f)            Mr Martin Parouty – a commercial operator in the Harbour, member of the Yacht Club and the Community Trust  

Members did not vote on the matters that dealt with their personal interest. 

To confirm the minutes of the previous meeting of the Barmouth Consultative Committee held on 23 October 2017.

(Copy enclosed)

Submitted:     Minutes of a meeting of the Barmouth Harbour Consultative Committee held on 23 October 2017.

Resolved:       To accept and approve the minutes as correct, subject to the following amendments:

Item 6(b) – Reference was made to the minute and Cllr. Rob Triggs wished to note that there was no strop failure.

In response to the above, the Maritime and Country Parks Officer explained that the documentation needed to be reviewed and he stressed the importance of receiving current and correct evidence regarding the condition of the moorings.    He added that every boat owner had a responsibility to ensure that moorings were fit for purpose.   It was confirmed that the Council's moorings were suitable and of a high standard.

In response to a query regarding the risk to the Council with the condition of moorings, the Maritime and Country Parks gave an assurance that there was no risk at all to the Council.  However, it was emphasised that it would be a cause of concern, and would have an impact on the insurance premium of boat owners, if the privately owned moorings were not up to standard with relevant evidence to back this up.  

Matters arising from the minutes:

(a)    Item 6(d) - Maintenance

It was noted that the Senior Harbours Officer and the Harbour Master could update Members on the winter maintenance work programme.

(b)    Resolution (b) in Item 6 - Emergency Telephones

In response to an enquiry from a Member, the Maritime and Country Parks Officer explained that the Emergency telephones service had not been used for over two years and that mobile phone signals for 999 was available in each of the locations where these telephones are sited except for Porth Ceiriad in Dwyfor.

Resolved:       To convey to the relevant Cabinet Member, the Consultative Committee's approval to remove the Emergency Services Telephones at Barmouth and Fairbourne due to the costs involved and the lack of use.    

(ch) Item (iv) - Parking Safety

The Maritime and Country Parks Officer reported that he and the Senior Transport Officer had discussed the section of land coloured with yellow lines near the SS Dora building and he had received confirmation that it was part of the parking order.    The owner of any vehicle parked on the area in question would receive a parking ticket from the Enforcement Officer.

It was added that no further decision had been made regarding a road adjacent to the compound.

(c)    Events

It was reported that the minute was misleading in terms of organising events in the Harbour and that the minute should read that "organisers should contact the Maritime Service first to get permission to hold activities".   

(dd) Cordoned-off activities area

The Maritime and Country Parks Officer reported that the area under the bridge, near the old lifeboat station had been identified as an activities area and that a row of yellow buoys would be placed there to keep boats from this specific area, and to trial this  ...  view the full minutes text for item 3.

To consider a report by the Maritime and Country Parks Officer.

Submitted:     The report of the Maritime and Country Parks Officer, Mr Barry Davies, updating the committee on Harbour management matters.

(a)  Alison Kinsey, Coordinator of Cardigan Bay Fisheries Local Action Group, who had requested to attend the meeting, was welcomed and she explained the purpose of FLAG (Fisheries Local Action Group).    The following main points were noted:-

·         That there were four groups operational in Wales for the purpose of supporting the fishing industry and communities:   St Dogmael's to Barmouth, Anglesey and Gwynedd, Swansea Bay and Cleddau to the Coast

·         That FLAG received European funding and approximately £160,000 was available until 2020 and it was trusted that this could be used to assist small community led projects.

·         That a strategy had been created based on local need

·         Priority was given to funding projects that: 

Ø  add value

Ø  create jobs

Ø  attract young people, and

Ø  promote innovation at all stages of the supply chain from fisheries products

·         Financial revenue support can be offered towards new projects such as:  

project development, pilot projects, feasibility studies, training, mentoring, facilitating and consultation.

Examples were given of the types of activities that could take place with FLAG assistance:

·         Seafood Festival on the quay

·         Seafood cooking competition between the chefs of local hotels

·         Send out a fleet of fishermen to sea to catch fish

·         Encourage the local school to take part in a seafood cookery competition

·         Working with a group of local fishermen to hold activities, etc. 

To conclude, the Coordinator explained that Mr Neil Storkey from Aberdyfi, worked closely with her and having a representative from Barmouth Harbour Consultative Committee would be advantageous to be part of future FLAG meetings.

In addition, reference was made to Cywain which was part of the Menter a Busnes projects developed to support the development of products and markets for agricultural and fisheries produce.  

During the ensuing discussion, the following points were highlighted by individual Members:

·         That Barmouth had excellent restaurants and it would be ideal to host a seafood festival on the quay

·         That the Cambrian group actively collected plastic material that is washed up onto the beach

It was proposed and seconded to nominate Cllr. Rob Triggs as a contact point from this Consultative Committee and the Coordinator promised to contact him directly with any further information. 

Resolved:       To approve the nomination of Councillor Rob Triggs to represent this Consultative Committee at FLAG group meetings in the area. 

(b)  The Chairman noted that it was not necessary for the Maritime and Country Parks Officer to guide Members through the contents of the report and he asked Members if they wished to raise or highlight any matters stemming from the contents of the report.     To this end, the following matters were highlighted from the report of the Maritime and Country Parks Officer

(i)    Sand Removal - after many years work to keep afon Ysgethin flowing, it appeared that the sand dunes were disappearing into the sea and Natural Resources Wales were not willing to do anything about  ...  view the full minutes text for item 4.

(a)          Barmouth Town Council

·         Moorings

·         Sand tipping areas

·         Sand clearance on causeway and promenade for disabled access

·         Sand clearance along path at top of compound

·         Dredging

(b)          Arthog Community Council

·         Management Developments at Penrhyn Point Fairbourne

(c)          Merioneth Yacht Club

·         More information about the rumoured Winter road closure of the Promenade

·         Railings outside the Dora Building

·         There seem to be more boats on the graveyard, are they all serviceable

(a) Barmouth Town Council - Dredging

It was asked if there was anything that the Council could do?

The Maritime and Country Parks Officer reported that it had to be accepted that the channel was changing and closing naturally with the channel going further away from the Harbour, and they had to be realistic in terms of the restrictions of Natural Resources Wales.   It was not anticipated that any dredging work would occur due to restrictions and cost.

Councillor Rob Triggs noted that he had met and discussed with officers from Natural Resources Wales regarding undertaking work at a local level with boats, and had understood that it was possible to do this without a licence. 

Concern was highlighted that if there was no dredging then the Harbour could be lost.

It was suggested that a way forward would be for the Maritime and Country Parks Officer to receive the names of the officers of Natural Resources Wales to discuss the implications of dredging further, prior to taking further steps to move forward.    

Resolved:       To request that the Maritime and Country Parks Officer acts in accordance with the above.

(b) Arthog Community Council - Management Developments at Penrhyn Point, Fairbourne 

Councillor Julian Kirkham noted that Arthog Community Council requested assistance with the following aims to manage the substantial flow of tourist traffic that reaches the area:    

·         That the 30mph traffic notice signs, particularly near the Golf House on the way to Penrhyn Point, had been tampered with  

·         Parking spaces to be painted near the 'passing loop' car park

·         Repairs were requested for the road above where the road goes down to the gate.

·         Zig-zag NO PARKING marks at the top of the area that has been repaired

·         Parking spaces are requested in the parking area at Penrhyn Point

·         Height restriction barrier in the car park area - if this is not possible, then two warning signs should be erected near the entrance to the village and the other in Penrhyn Drive North stating 'Restriction for Large Vehicles at Penrhyn Point'.

·         Install a Pay and Display machine together with a parking notice '£1.00 for 4 hours' and use the money towards keeping Friog toilets open

Furthermore, Councillor Kirkham noted that Arthog Community Council was willing to manage the Fairbourne Slipway but he personally would retire from the Community Council in April and they needed young members who may be interested in managing Penrhyn Point. 

Resolved:       To accept and note the above.

(a)          Yacht Club:

·         In response to allegations about closing the Promenade Road, the Chair gave an assurance that he had not heard anything about the above.

·         Regarding the railings outside the Dora building, concern was expressed by the Maritime and Country Parks Officer about the damage caused to the railings by a commercial boat and a request would be made for a repayment for the damage.   It was noted that there was a gap between the half slipway and the steps that caused a high risk in terms of health  ...  view the full minutes text for item 5.

To note that the next meeting of the Barmouth Harbour Consultative Committee will be held on 23 October 2018.

Resolved:       It was noted that the next meeting would take place on 23 October 2018.