Minutes:
David Thomas gave the forum an overview on navigation and explained that this would be discussed in greater detail at the next meeting.
He stated that the aspiration is to link things up that are navigation related and he added that having spoken to many people who have stated that navigation is an under exploited resource and that the Fens have the majority of settlements Chatteris, March and Whittlesey have all got navigation running through or past them and the value is all but lost. He added that people visiting the area through navigation, bring money to the towns, in different forms, and he added that he is aware of the current Market Town Bids which are being submitted and he is aware that there have been recent successes with those. He expressed the view that there is an opportunity to be investigated, in terms of navigation and not just in terms of tourism but to look at what else it can deliver. He added that it is a well-known fact that there can be undesirable individuals who live on boats which is often well reported but the small boating communities which can be positive for a local area are often forgotten if structured currently and small linear developments with planning permission for residential boats where charging council tax can be easily and economically delivered and can be self-policing in terms of community but has a very small carbon footprint.
David Thomas stated that the amount of resources required for delivery can be quite small. He added that it can be a life choice where people choose to live on a boat during retirement and he expressed the view that it could be an opportunity to explore how this could be delivered which is something of high value within the Fenland environment and not to miss the opportunity within the new Local Plan, and to consider communicating with land owners that opportunities might be there.
John Maxey asked David Thomas whether he was advocating an allocation for a residential marina site. He confirmed he was, but it is not within his gift and added that Middle Level tend not to own a lot of land, only just long straight channels and not the land on either side. He added he has been advised that small boating community do not need a lot of amenities if they have access to waste disposal within a short-boated distance.
John Maxey asked Nick Harding whether this something that was included in the new Local Plan allocation and he confirmed that it was not included. John Maxey stated that it would be a case of a demand made or a proposal made by a landowner with a site suitable to be used as part residential and part tourism feature. John Maxey stated that he cannot see that there would be a major reason for objection in local plan overall policies if the scale was agreeable in the open countryside. David Thomas agreed to provide a presentation to the next meeting and added that Upwell have included as part of the Parish Plan the possibility of providing a new marina.
Councillor Mrs Laws expressed the view that there are good opportunities in Fenland for this type of project and is aware of landowners in Whittlesey who may be interested and added that she would have reservations with some of the boating community and the antisocial behaviour that takes place.
Councillor Connor asked whether Foxes Boat Yard have been approached. David Thomas added that Foxes Marina has not got planning permission for residential boats and is unsure whether they would consider a change of use and added that it maybe a case of looking at an alternative proposal to supplement that. He added that he takes on the points raised by Councillor Mrs Laws and added that if there is the opportunity for residential moorings to be in place where there is the requirement to pay council tax and annual maintenance fees and proper policing throughout the planning process, then there is the opportunity for there to be less excuses from boaters who say there are no residential moorings for them.