Ferry re-opening

[stoatsngroats]

@annedonnelly I have had a reply from British Volt, noting that they are assessing their options, and have yet to formulate a plan, but to keep checking back to see how things develop.
Which isn’t necessarily bad news!

 

[annedonnelly]

@annedonnelly I have had a reply from British Volt, noting that they are assessing their options, and have yet to formulate a plan, but to keep checking back to see how things develop.
Which isn’t necessarily bad news!

Wow! That's interesting since I've had no reply & live a little bit closer to the site.

One interesting thing that has come out from my posting about this in a Facebook group is that they have sent their letters to households over a much wider area than I would have expected. At least as far away as Whitley Bay, which might be as much 8 miles as the crow files. So maybe they really do want to engage with the community.

 

[Pale Rider]

Top idea, Anne.

I've been up and down there a few times.

Wiggling through Blyth then going inland to cross two inlets, then back east again to the coast is a fiddle, and there's a couple of sharp banks.

On t'other hand, the track is reasonable as tracks go, and I was able to follow it the first time despite having no local knowledge.

NCN 1, as its number suggests, is a key cycle route, so there might be some support from Sustrans.

The battery company might be attracted to your idea, because a shiny new ferry would get them lots of positive (ho-ho) publicity.

There would certainly be more media interest in that than other worthy but dull projects such as a new community centre or planting a few trees.

You are realistic about your chances of success, but I've seen a few campaigns over the years which have got a good result, so it does sometimes happen.

 

[T4tomo]

the wiggles and fiddles illustrated - blue line is NCN1

 

[T4tomo]

I think the last time I went to Blyth it was either late 70's or early 80's to watch Whitby Town vs Blyth Spartans, a clash of the heavyweights of the northern league at the time!

 

[T4tomo]

A bridge would be even better!

I assume (from a point of little actual knowledge) that a bridge is substantially more expensive capital cost.
Also crucially a bridge restricts access into the rest of the port for ships and /or adds even more to the cost if you have to either make it swing like Whitby's! or have it high enough to not interfere with shipping. Although I suspect much reduced from its heyday, there is still shipping moving in and out of the harbour/ Rivermouth

 

[Tenkaykev]

I assume (from a point of little actual knowledge) that a bridge is substantially more expensive capital cost.
Also crucially a bridge restricts access into the rest of the port for ships and /or adds even more to the cost if you have to either make it swing like Whitby's! or have it high enough to not interfere with shipping. Although I suspect much reduced from its heyday, there is still shipping moving in and out of the harbour/ Rivermouth

There is another solution. Poole council had the option of a more expensive fixed bridge further back into Holes Bay, or an "Iconic " lifting Bridge close to where the original Poole lifting Bridge is. They went with the white elephant option, It looks very pretty when it's not broken down, and of course being a one off, when something does breaks down there's no off the shelf solution, resulting in many weeks of traffic disruption and a huge bill for repairs.

 

[T4tomo]

There is another solution. Poole council had the option of a more expensive fixed bridge further back into Holes Bay, or an "Iconic " lifting Bridge close to where the original Poole lifting Bridge is. They went with the white elephant option, It looks very pretty when it's not broken down, and of course being a one off, when something does breaks down there's no off the shelf solution, resulting in many weeks of traffic disruption and a huge bill for repairs.

Whitby's swing bridge has caused similar chaos in the past. The current incarnation was put in place in the early 1900's so spare parts can be a bit of an issue!

 

[Tenkaykev]

Whitby's swing bridge has caused similar chaos in the past. The current incarnation was put in place in the early 1900's so spare parts can be a bit of an issue!

I should have mentioned that they sited the new lifting bridge seaward of RNLI headquarters where all the lifeboats are Moored 🤔

 

[Archie_tect]

That's what they said about the Millennium Bridge before it transformed the Quayside to became the icon that it is now...

 

[Chap sur le velo]

I want to go to Blythe as it's likely key to the transformation of the UK over the next 100(+?) Years. It is becoming the centre of Green Power in the way the Aberdeen was the hub for North Sea oil.
If the factory ever opens (by no means a given as they haven't got all the funds they need) along with the port which specialises in offshore wind support theres a new cable to mutually swap green power with Norway about to open.
Amazing to me that the local council isn't championing this? It's the sort of investment that can pay back hugely. Thanks for bringing this to our attention I'll look into sending support in the morning. Have you thought about contacting the local MP(s)?

 

[annedonnelly]

I want to go to Blythe as it's likely key to the transformation of the UK over the next 100(+?) Years. It is becoming the centre of Green Power in the way the Aberdeen was the hub for North Sea oil.
If the factory ever opens (by no means a given as they haven't got all the funds they need) along with the port which specialises in offshore wind support theres a new cable to mutually swap green power with Norway about to open.
Amazing to me that the local council isn't championing this? It's the sort of investment that can pay back hugely. Thanks for bringing this to our attention I'll look into sending support in the morning. Have you thought about contacting the local MP(s)?

Yes, lots going on relating to renewables in the town.

Yes, I've e-mailed our MP (Ian Levy) as well as both county and local councillors.

 

[annedonnelly]

I think the last time I went to Blyth it was either late 70's or early 80's to watch Whitby Town vs Blyth Spartans, a clash of the heavyweights of the northern league at the time!

I was almost certainly at Croft Park that day .

 

[annedonnelly]

Those of you who were interested in this thread originally might like to know that the BritishVolt planning application is now on the county council website

I don't think I can face reading it all! But the "statement of community involvement" mentions comments from the public regarding the ferry and cycle access. It also says that the plans have been modified regarding cycle access to a part of the site and also proposals to improve part of the local cycle route.

It also says that they're working to add a FAQ page to their website to respond in more detail to public comments.

 

[stoatsngroats]

@annedonnelly interesting paper, I’ll have a detailed read through, just for fun!
A skip through looks pretty good, in that there seems to be a forward looking, community involved progression.