Islander

So what encouragement are we getting to save and pass on the used cards or have them 'recharged' at the office. New or old are going to cost the same aren't they. The statement from the BA smells of them being found in the wrong and now trying to save money from a cock up due to lack of research. Colin

Kfurbank Not that hard to get. http://www.jwsmartmeters.co.uk/Ampy 5188A About the same price too. i think the problem is they lack security. We use this type of meter on the island for the laundry room and the cards are readily available on eBay of pence. I think the old system has been abused by a few. Any non BA card is a total loss to the BA. I understand the change but I don't like being overcharged for anything. Colin

The Island hookup is restricted to 10 A per boat. Immersion and kettle is a no no. Great in the winter if you forget and have to reset the breaker in your jimjams. We can generally manage several days without power and have had too in the past with cable failure feeding the island. Our fridge will run for over a week on our batteries(I forgot it one time) so careful use of lights etc and several days can be had before the engine needs to be started, I'm told these old BMCs don't like being run without a load. Hour and half pootle up or down river seems to put a good bit back in the batts so no extended running of engines at moorings. Now, back to these cards. Ruth and I are hoping to get Lady Linda, x738, under the bridge here at Thorpe on Saturday, and are travelling all the way, hopefully, to Whitlingham 24moorings. WHY, my family are camping, mad fools, at Whitlingham and we want to take them out on the boat on Sunday, so hope to get moored there. What has this got to do with electric, simple. I have 16 of these new cards and anyone willing to embark or disembark my family from the moorings there I'm willing to pass on a few at cost( not all mind you). So if you see us and you are desperate I will gladly part with 1 or 2 IF you are in need. happy boating Colin Grendal, my cards were replacements from 20 I bought over 3 years ago, only used 4 in that time. It would have been better to provide 5 and credit the balance but that would mean giving money back anyone going to the open day? Don't mention electric cards

Hi Poppy. Built on the broads as a hire boat. Right boat for me, not a draughty sliding top thing or cramped flappy stick thing I couldn't standup in. The broads would be far less interesting if we all had the same boat. If they all went under the bridges then the other reaches would be a lot busier. Imagine hickling with 50 hire boats arriving Friday afternoon. Colin

My toll pays for maintenance of areas I can never go to in my boat. i.e. Up river of Wroxham and Potter bridges So if you can deduct those costs from my toll then I will pay a supplement for EXCLUSIVE use of electric points! Lets be honest, the whole tolls system is a disaster so the electricity charges are no surprise. Presuming the BA are in the wrong then they will either end up with some form of exemption or it will be added to all our tolls next year. The biggest problem I see is finding a mooring with an available post or come to that, finding a mooring. Colin

http://www.jwsmartmeters.co.uk/contactless-cards-for-rfid-mp22-prepay-meters i posted this link elsewhere. It makes interesting reading. 1000 £1 cards would cost £250 i.e. 25p each. So the BA must have done a better deal or are buying in larger quantities. The new meters are cheaper than the old 'clunk' type. You can also read about the software for recharging them. Colin

Bound2please that all sounds good but do you know how far it is from commissioners cut to the road when carrying shopping or a gas bottle? It's a long way with a footbridge over the railway. Imagine that in the rain or snow. My wife has arthritis and I suffer from an old back injury so that is not an option. The council even suggested using horse water but couldn't give us permission to use it as they don't own it. Regardless of who actually owns it we won't block it with dinghies as the emergency services use it to launch their rescue boats. So that's why the green is so important to us. Two fingers is just going to cause more animosity. C'est la vie. Colin

One rotten apple and tarred with the same brush clichés come to mind. We've had a few 'bad apples' on the island but they either left when 'asked' to or in one case towed off. Unfortunately the council keep bringing up the past complaints. I just wish we could ALL look to the future. Colin

Maurice Mynah, I wish I could have pressed the like button more than once. It is the perception we are up against. Whether it be a residential boat, a continuous cruiser or a private boat, if it looks uncared for people will notice it. The resi boaters that use to moor at ABC Wharf in norwich had some very nice, well maintained boats but it only takes one looking a bit tatty with a blue tarp over it and suddenly we are all scroungers. I spent the best part of my life in a shirt and tie. I still have a very nice suit but choose now to ware practical clothing or overalls. On occasions one of my boats may have a tarp over it whilst repairs take place. I know I've spent well into five figures in the last few years only some of it visible from the opposite bank. There are 2 boats currently waiting to go into the boat shed while some of the recovered sunken boats from the Jenners basin are dismantled so the bungalow end looks untidy at the moment. This is drifting away from the main point of reasonable use of the green. It matters not whether the islanders live onboard or not. Neither that Mr Wood has or has not got ALL the planning permission he needs. There are boats owned by people that don't live onboard and may want to spend a long weekend working on their boat who, having made a trip say to Brian Wards and had their dinghy logged as moored only to find the next day they need to go to Norfolk Marine and the Mrs (SWMBO) tags along and the day is gone. They are now logged as either over staying or in breech of the 48hr rule. There is a grey area as to how these times are recorded. It appears the council are going to use both the bylaws and contract law to POLICE the moorings. River Green, I believe, will be the only mooring on the broads with a 48hr ruling. Colin whoops, I meant to post this before we went out so there have been a few posts in between. Chatterbox was a crying shame and just proves how expensive wooden boats can be to maintain. I hope people also noticed the other boat made of various vehicle parts but did you notice the nicely kept boats.

Poppy, you weren't to know but the river level can be 5ft below the quay heading here on the green.

Just to update everyone. Edp at its best, only a few small errors but otherwise correct. http://www.edp24.co.uk/news/council-decision-leaves-boat-owners-on-thorpe-island-at-risk-of-100-fine-every-time-they-visit-mainland-1-4977103 The new system is not yet in force yet but the old bylaws apply. Colin

It seems we will both have to wait and see if anything re: the moorings is brought up at the meeting. I bet we get different accounts! I must admit the public attendance is very low but I have been the only member of the public at BA, planning and navigation meetings in the past. Let's hope some future agreement can be made with the islanders. Although not directly involved with Jenners end I am concerned for those who have to remove their boats and the security firms ability to handle the 'evictions' as they appear to be a very young firm and may lack the people skills. This is not a nightclub door or music festival. I believe they will have to serve a second notice, directly or by recorded delivery, before any removal of boats or their personal effects can be legally removed. I'm sure the island jungle drums will keep me informed. I look forward to meeting you one day, I'm sure we won't agree on everything but good debate can bring forth positive changes. We both have one thing in common. We both like to enjoy River Green. Colin

Sorry Stationerystill, welcome to the forum. Colin

Sorry Martin, you did not make it clear you were talking about the moorings and not the staith and green. If the boats moored are Mr Woods responsibility then it will be him the council will be sending notices to. I don't think so. Apart from the bungalows occupants there are a lot more islanders on the electoral register who the council have made no attempt to contact. Should not the council make it clear whose responsibility the dinghies are and talk to them. There was a proposal,I believe, to charge us £50each per annum but the council decide it better to charge Mr Wood £1000 for the use of the green. I think the council will stand more chance with the boat owners. I would gladly pay it I they care to draw up the necessary 'license'. Secondly it would make more sense to provide dinghy mooring at both ends of the green and ENFORCE them. I can't speak for other islanders but a direct approach to the boat owners will probably get a better response than from Mr Woods. I won't be able to attend the next council meeting due to personal commitments but I think there may be some more recent islanders attending as I'm sure you will be. regards Colin

All this will be available then with a FOI request to the council should anyone wish to see it. From what I have read Roy Kemps book only covered about half the staiths in the broads area and surely not a legal document. I'm sure someone will look a little closer at this. Interesting to read that the staith was available for public use until recently when attempts to gain access have been denied for the past few years or has this changed recently Colin

I don't wish to side track this thread as the new forthcoming restrictions for river green is what most people need to know. I hope the Jenners situation does not become another mini Dale Farm. It would do no favours to those of us that wish to live quietly on our boats. Colin

Ok, things not going to planI'll try again. With reference to my last comment. Mods please move if you feel it necessary. I'm of for a beer until the dust settles.

For everyone's information, please read the proposed new signage for river green carefully. Not yet in place but coming very soon. Please note the 48hr rule. This is not the same as the BA 24hr moorings. 2. Jenners has allegedly been sold. Eviction notices to occupants. Here we go again. Colin

Andy,it was Steve Harley that put us in touch with Roger for a mooring. I've even done some work on his property some years ago. Some of the islanders use his cafe. As as far as parking is concerned, only the two pubs provide parking for their customers. Very few cars belong to islanders. Most use bicycles or public transport. A few have private arrangements with The Buck and The Rushcutters. Rarely am I unable to park where I like to be. Most vehicles parked in this area are from surrounding businesses and property at the back of Buck yard and Chapel Lane. Colin

Peter, I'm all in favour of a collective approach and will standup and be counted but I have no time nor ability to head up a revival of Thorpe Island Residents Association. Anything agreed with Thorpe TC would still have to be rubber stamped by Roger. One option maybe to rent a section of quay for our EXCLUSIVE use. Unfortunately, due to other commitments I will not be able to attend the next council meeting but think other islanders may be there to table a question or two. Colin

Hi Vaughan, much as I agree with both you and Peter the council have made no attempt at contacting the individual boat owners as I think it is the land/business owner they need to talk to. Mind you they are quick enough to want our vote at election time. I would be happy to talk to the town council but only as an individual as I would not be able to make decisions for Roger or the other boaters. I read elsewhere that 3 recorded delivery letters have been sent. As I'm sure you know I generally collect the post and I have not seen any Red Cards for signed for letters for Roger. If they are sent to Cayenne Marine reg office they are probably still in the post box in Gt Yarmouth. The council need to leave the office and call on Roger because he won't go to them. I see this becoming very frustrating for those of us that rent moorings here when your landlord buries his head in the sand. Ruth and I have been here over 12 years now and love it. We have had a good relationship with most of the locals and wish to keep it that way. Colin

Next year!!! Once the bottle gets aboard its lucky if it lasts the week. Common occurrence on this boat anyway. To be honest anything over about £5 a bottle would be a waste and over£15 just pretentious. Anyway, lovely morning here today. Good day for a bit of gardening and boat cleaning. Ah, church bell ringing, call for prayers and usual parking mayhem. Just how many shunts does it take to park a fiesta in a space big enough for a Rolls Royce? Have a good day everyone, get on the river if you can. Colin

I don't see the adoption of a 48hr return will gain anything for the council or local business. I do wonder just how much time these councillors actually spend on the green. I think they should talk more with their staff that do the real work, cutting the grass, maintaining the area and clearing the rubbish etc not those that sit in offices making plans for areas they rarely visit. Colin thats it for today, back tomorrow if I have time. very nice red, chateau laborie de guinette 2015, is calling me so nothing sensible from now on.

Day boats or should that be hourly hire. Hire it for the morning, someone else in the afternoon, next day another customer.??? I think the 10 rule and over night has been dropped. I'm going by the proposed signage at the end of the document. This requires confirmation, but if the 10hr rule is enforced I wonder what the tide will do in that time. Been a lovely day here today. Seen one day boat and one speed boat pass through today, neither stopped at the green. Lots of people on the green sunning them selves and feeding the ducks. I'm sure the council won't be charging them for the use of the green. The BA returned this mooring to the town council because they considered it under used and not cost effective. The council now need to make it pay or let the quay fall into disrepair. I'm quite happy to pay to moor my dinghy, for a reasonable fee, as and when I need to but ladder access is essential for my wife (and me) and any visitors we may have. IMHO the council have shot them selves in the foot in not making some agreement with the BA ( full repair lease for free) but will now try to bleed dry the few people that enjoy using the mooring here in Thorpe. Colin ps Old Wussernane, just read your post. So if I mud weight of the quay it will be up to the city council to tell me to move as they have control of the river bed.

For those of you who like to know these things. The main report starts at p.18 but all of it is worth a read. http://www.thorpestandrew-tc.gov.uk/documents/6March17TCpapers.pdf The third option was voted through also giving additional powers to the town clark to make amendments. Didn't that happen somewhere else recently having a disastrous effect on large passenger boats Back to work now. Colin