PMBHA – Notes meeting with Llyr and Barry 18th October 2014
Present: Llyr Jones, Barry Davies Wil Williams & 21 members
Apologies were received from several committee members and members
The chairman, Dave Dewsbury welcomed all those present and thanked Llyr and Barry for their attendance. He summarised the positive and negative points of the year.
Positive:
• Good weather
• Dredging complete after delays
• Dredging strategy due to be published
• Visitor levels good
• Annual berthing decline seems to have been arrested
Negative:
• Direct Debit charges still high and not in line with other Council systems
• Annual berth holders fund unfair share of dredging and other costs compared with winter visitors and park and launch
• Still a feeling that the council not understanding ‘Customers’ compared to other marinas that are ‘upping their game’
• Showers need a major refurbishment, and are often misused by unauthorized users
• Review of banding system needed
It is felt that the harbour and marina will not get to near full unless major changes are made.
Llyr Jones gave an audio visual presentation outlining achievements since 2012/3 and proposals for 2015
1. Annual fees
There has been no increase or inflation in 2012/13, 13/14 and 14/15 and the likely increase for 15/16 is likely to be in line with local inflation, currently about 1%. (It is noted that marina users not on the banding system had an increase of 2% in 14/15)
2. Dredging
Removal of stockpile 2012, removal of mooring piles 2012, bed levelling 2011 / 13 & 14, improved navigation aids and various hydrographic surveys. The draft dredging strategy report is due in a few weeks time.
3. Services to customers
Free electricity on shore, launching fees discounted cheaper rate on shore, introduction of direct debit, reduced visitor rates, free wifi and customer survey. In the future will consider annual survey and incentive packages.
4. Investments in Hafan
New hoist, new tractor, improvements to pontoons, short term improvements to showers. In the future more improvements to pontoons and fuel pontoon
5. Marketing
When the marina was full there was no need for marketing, have now developed a website, have a marketing plan, produced a welcome pack for visitors. In the future intend to produce newsletter and handbook & have a marketing strategy linked to the academy, importance of perception of Pwllheli and the Hafan’s contribution to the wider area.
6. Academy
Pontoons now installed and progress on academy building.
The chairman thanked LLyr for his presentation and asked if he could be given a copy of the marketing strategy document. LLyr explained that there are problems in sharing the document.
Members were invited to make comments.
Points raised:-
Marketing Visitor packs good, members have distributed to other marinas, should be provided to annual berth holders, could we have exposure at boat shows – possibly in conjunction with other marinas or even all Welsh marinas, Pwllheli is not a transit port – tidal restraints on access to the harbour make it difficult to get timing right for tidal gates, firing range restrictions are another problem, Pwllheli still seen as an unfriendly marina – should be able to always accommodate visitors even if rafting is needed, accommodating park and launch leads to full marina at times,
Fees banding
Incredibly unfair to small boats, should consider reducing band widths to 1 metre or 0.5 metre, Barry agreed to look at banding, any revised scheme should not be used to increase prices, the 2014 fees increase (2%) for berth holders on the old system penalises loyalty.
Staged payments
The increased cost for staged payments of marina fees is very high and an anomaly compared with other Council systems (eg council tax and harbour berthing), Barry stated that the published fees are a discounted rate and that the standard fees include the 8% additional cost for staged payments, members disputed this and noted that the increment should be quoted as APR and is much higher than 8%, various marinas offer incentives (eg standing orders, free time on shore, post-dated cheques.
Safety
Concern was expressed about the provision of safety ladders for people that had fallen into the water, possible provision of portable ladders, ladders are only on one side of walkways, install high level light over every ladder, it was requested that the maritime department review MOB problems.
Showers
Concern about the state of the showers and their misuse by non-berth holders (eg used for changing from sandy wetsuits),
Misc.
Concern over tuition and broker boats practising in marina, concern regarding uninsured boats manoeuvring in marina, need to identify visitors by sea and park and launch visitors separately, harbour entrance difficult for visitors arriving at night – need prominent entrance light – Barry to review and raise with Trinity House.
Present: Llyr Jones, Barry Davies Wil Williams & 21 members
Apologies were received from several committee members and members
The chairman, Dave Dewsbury welcomed all those present and thanked Llyr and Barry for their attendance. He summarised the positive and negative points of the year.
Positive:
• Good weather
• Dredging complete after delays
• Dredging strategy due to be published
• Visitor levels good
• Annual berthing decline seems to have been arrested
Negative:
• Direct Debit charges still high and not in line with other Council systems
• Annual berth holders fund unfair share of dredging and other costs compared with winter visitors and park and launch
• Still a feeling that the council not understanding ‘Customers’ compared to other marinas that are ‘upping their game’
• Showers need a major refurbishment, and are often misused by unauthorized users
• Review of banding system needed
It is felt that the harbour and marina will not get to near full unless major changes are made.
Llyr Jones gave an audio visual presentation outlining achievements since 2012/3 and proposals for 2015
1. Annual fees
There has been no increase or inflation in 2012/13, 13/14 and 14/15 and the likely increase for 15/16 is likely to be in line with local inflation, currently about 1%. (It is noted that marina users not on the banding system had an increase of 2% in 14/15)
2. Dredging
Removal of stockpile 2012, removal of mooring piles 2012, bed levelling 2011 / 13 & 14, improved navigation aids and various hydrographic surveys. The draft dredging strategy report is due in a few weeks time.
3. Services to customers
Free electricity on shore, launching fees discounted cheaper rate on shore, introduction of direct debit, reduced visitor rates, free wifi and customer survey. In the future will consider annual survey and incentive packages.
4. Investments in Hafan
New hoist, new tractor, improvements to pontoons, short term improvements to showers. In the future more improvements to pontoons and fuel pontoon
5. Marketing
When the marina was full there was no need for marketing, have now developed a website, have a marketing plan, produced a welcome pack for visitors. In the future intend to produce newsletter and handbook & have a marketing strategy linked to the academy, importance of perception of Pwllheli and the Hafan’s contribution to the wider area.
6. Academy
Pontoons now installed and progress on academy building.
The chairman thanked LLyr for his presentation and asked if he could be given a copy of the marketing strategy document. LLyr explained that there are problems in sharing the document.
Members were invited to make comments.
Points raised:-
Marketing Visitor packs good, members have distributed to other marinas, should be provided to annual berth holders, could we have exposure at boat shows – possibly in conjunction with other marinas or even all Welsh marinas, Pwllheli is not a transit port – tidal restraints on access to the harbour make it difficult to get timing right for tidal gates, firing range restrictions are another problem, Pwllheli still seen as an unfriendly marina – should be able to always accommodate visitors even if rafting is needed, accommodating park and launch leads to full marina at times,
Fees banding
Incredibly unfair to small boats, should consider reducing band widths to 1 metre or 0.5 metre, Barry agreed to look at banding, any revised scheme should not be used to increase prices, the 2014 fees increase (2%) for berth holders on the old system penalises loyalty.
Staged payments
The increased cost for staged payments of marina fees is very high and an anomaly compared with other Council systems (eg council tax and harbour berthing), Barry stated that the published fees are a discounted rate and that the standard fees include the 8% additional cost for staged payments, members disputed this and noted that the increment should be quoted as APR and is much higher than 8%, various marinas offer incentives (eg standing orders, free time on shore, post-dated cheques.
Safety
Concern was expressed about the provision of safety ladders for people that had fallen into the water, possible provision of portable ladders, ladders are only on one side of walkways, install high level light over every ladder, it was requested that the maritime department review MOB problems.
Showers
Concern about the state of the showers and their misuse by non-berth holders (eg used for changing from sandy wetsuits),
Misc.
Concern over tuition and broker boats practising in marina, concern regarding uninsured boats manoeuvring in marina, need to identify visitors by sea and park and launch visitors separately, harbour entrance difficult for visitors arriving at night – need prominent entrance light – Barry to review and raise with Trinity House.
