April fool/how not to dredge - Page 2

codprawn · 03 April 2007, 18:36

Quote:

Originally Posted by mdt

but the important question is............. how long till you can get in and out on your RIB, other than at spring high?

are they going to mark this new supper fantastic channel or just hope you all find it?

Well you can get out on most high tides when the dredger isn't in the way but when you go out you have to stay out for 12 hrs - that's a long time in an open boat. I USED to be able to go out 2 1/2 hrs either side - 5 hrs was great.

Apparently they are going to remark the old channel. Here is a pic of it - this year and last year. At least before if you DID ground out it was only soft sand - now it's rock and steel ribs from old shipwrecks!!!

Limey Linda · 03 April 2007, 18:45

Really good pics. Codders. perhaps there is not enough business in the harbour to support the cost of doing the job properly?

codprawn · 03 April 2007, 19:06

Quote:

Originally Posted by Limey Linda

Really good pics. Codders. perhaps there is not enough business in the harbour to support the cost of doing the job properly?

Cost isn't the problem - they were offered to have it done FREE but they wouldn't because of the stupid new environment laws.

They are now talking of building walls further out which will cost far more than any dredging. This is what happens when a council tries to run things - a private company would be quite different!!!

This is the same council that spent £500,000 building a lovely new slipway - then put barriers up along the road so nobody can use it. thye ways things are in this country these days no matter how big a bollock someone in the public sector causes they will never be sacked - they either need more training or time off for stress!!!

alystra · 03 April 2007, 23:17

Banana Republic. That's what this 'nation' is today. I blame the channel tunnel. When we were an island we had to learn seamanship and nautical things, or starve. Not necessary now in this age of prat Blur and Yurope. I keep telling my son to b****r off to New Zealand. At least he's in Southampton so he can jump off at any moment.

There's no wonder all the third world countries laugh at us. Bunch of lily livered nancies too frightened to say what a load of bo****ks half his 'new' legislation is and to use common sense and ignore it.

I commend our friends across the pond for their diplomacy in not saying what they really think about the way we allow ourselves to be pushed around by stupid people.

Did you see that thing on the telly last night about farmers having to pay - yes, pay, supermarkets to buy their produce? Why do they do it? Surely, they're all members of the farmers union, yes UNION. So, Morrison's refuse to buy your stuff unless you bribe them. Tesco's won't pay enough for milk. ANSWER - Don't try to sell them any, say NO. Stuff them.

If they can't buy food they go out of business. In three days you'll get the price you want.

But can we do that in this country? No. We're too frightened.

I'm talking crap? Then why have Tescos increased the price they pay to dairy farmers the day after the tele program?

So, in Swansea, or wherever, just don't vote for the idiots who're happy to allow, or too cowardly to stop, millions of pounds worth of investment become unusable because some wet behind the ears 'environmentalist' says you can't remove sand. We're the laughing stock of the rest of the world.

Rant over. Sorry CP for hijacking your thread. I feel better, anyway. Hmmph!

Stoo · 04 April 2007, 03:12

When I saw the title to your thread, I thought it WAS an April Fools joke... I guess not!

Your story reminds me of a funny skit I saw years ago on TV... probably Monty Python... Two chaps in a sinking punt. Both were bailing furiously, but tossing the water over their shoulders and back into the boat...

You kind of wonder if the fellow running the dredge mustn't think he's won a lottery. After all, he'll be permanently employed!

Suddenly, I appreciate the lack of tides here in the Great Lakes...

three-rex · 04 April 2007, 12:33

Relatively recently, they put a lot of effort into re-opening the canal system between Edinburgh and Falkirk (Google the Falkirk Wheel for an example of what CAN be done).
They had to re-engineer the canal to go under the M8, and as an articulated truck is roughly the same size as a canal barge, used one of these to calculate bend circumferences, completely over-looking the fact that an artic doesn't need forward motion in order to turn, but a barge does.
result - barge now goes under the motorway at extremely slow speed, then comes to a halt, it is then manually pushed away from the bank so it can then make headway again ... :tossers:

codprawn · 04 April 2007, 13:04

People like Brunel and Telford must be spinning in their graves!!!

We also had about 300 yds(not metres) of coastal path and sea defences washed away a few weeks ago - ah it's global warming the local council says. funny how the Victorian sea defences are still fine.....

mdt · 04 April 2007, 21:30

Cod old boy you fancy a moveing a bit North... ? We have 2 slips at our club I can use at all states of the tide even recoverd at low springs ,mind you not all good news the 3rd slip can only be used 2-3 hours either side (Smug mode off).

Biggles · 04 April 2007, 21:42

Quote:

Originally Posted by mdt

Cod old boy you fancy a moveing a bit North... ? We have 2 slips at our club I can use at all states of the tide even recoverd at low springs ,mind you not all good news the 3rd slip can only be used 2-3 hours either side (Smug mode off).

You don't want him up there. It seems to be always raining where he is.

codprawn · 04 April 2007, 21:48

Quote:

Originally Posted by Biggles

You don't want him up there. It seems to be always raining where he is.

Your right there - went to Somalia and Ethiopia and there were flash floods - same in Cairo!!!

mdt · 04 April 2007, 21:57

ok ok you go head over to the west cost they will never notice you bringing the rain

mdt · 04 April 2007, 21:58

PS: still can't get over the fact they are still "playing" with that thing to try and make a chanle

codprawn · 04 April 2007, 22:40

Quote:

Originally Posted by mdt

PS: still can't get over the fact they are still "playing" with that thing to try and make a chanle

Neither can I - they do seem to have achieved something today though - it was hard to tell because the tide was 3/4 in but there are now a load of rocks sticking out of the water - it used to be nice soft sand!!!

codprawn · 11 April 2007, 21:25

Sorry if any of you find this boring but remember it's OUR taxes paying for this!!!

Today they decided to get in a big digger again - has done a great job - providing they don't use the dredger and fill it in again. Notice the big sandbank that has now built up in front of the harbour sill - that used to be clear - what do you expect when they stir up the sand on an incoming tide?

Spoke to a bloke today who runs a dredging company - when I told him what they were doing he was hysterical......

codprawn · 11 April 2007, 21:27

Can't resist a nice sunset!!!

matt h · 11 April 2007, 22:43

WOW!!

mdt · 07 June 2007, 06:06

come on then... we are now into June how is the dredging company getting on? have they managed it yet

codprawn · 07 June 2007, 12:28

Quote:

Originally Posted by mdt

come on then... we are now into June how is the dredging company getting on? have they managed it yet

Well they sent out a digger again and they have given up on the dredging. The channel is a bit better than it was but you still only have about 2hrs either side of HW - pathetic. When the summer is over I will probably move to Swansea marina - at least you have almost constant access there and it's a lot more sheltered in the winter.