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PROGRESS REPORT - 29/01/09
As you may have seen from the ‘newspaper pages’ despite the apathy and downright negative attitude from the City of Plymouth, there now appears to be serious interest from other parts of the country that can see the potential that we’ve been trying to sell for almost three years. Rosyth has been mentioned before and it seems that there will be meetings between ‘interested parties’ in the near future. The idea of a move to Rosyth has gained the support of a member of the Scottish parliament, John Park, none of the Plymouth MP’s have ever expressed any interest in re-locating the ship here. I can quote one as stating ‘We are trying to save what we have here in the present rather than trying to save anything from the past’. Most commendable and referencing the decline of Devonport and all of the knock on effects that this will have on the city. It does however miss the point that wherever Plymouth goes she will create jobs and generate income, not only for her preservation but also in increased trade for the local community.
As for space within Devonport’s walls, just take a look at Google Earth (I know the image is almost two years old but things down there are pretty much the same or even worse!) and see if you can spot any spaces. We’ve been told many times by the Naval Base Commander and Babcock that there are none. There’s a gold star to anyone that might be able to find either a space or vessels that are’nt grey or black, two stars if you can name them (if there are any) and three if you can tell us how much any such vessels pay for the privilege.
Not only Rosyth but also Hayle, who would have thought of that? They are also seriously looking at the prospect of taking her, if a town the size of Hayle can see potential benefits why can’t a city the size of Plymouth? I guess most of us here in Plymouth know the answer to that? Plymouth is inward looking, doesn’t like change unless someone else pays for it and even then argues until it’s too late and the potential investor has to walk away. I’ve always said that there’s nothing in Portsmouth that Plymouth didn’t turn down 25 years ago and look how the two cities compare now. We were and still are a naval city with a fantastic naval heritage that the city and the navy want us to forget, why can’t they see that it could generate both jobs and income?
Good luck to Hayle and Rosyth, I wonder how long it will be before a team from Portsmouth lays down a marker?
PROGRESS REPORT - 16/12/08
Today we recieved confirmation in response to an ‘off the record’ request made a week last Monday, that Babcock Marine are not prepared to berth Plymouth in the dockyard. No reason was given.
PROGRESS REPORT - 10/12/08.
Sadly last month negotiations on Howard’s Quay were ended as the owner was asking for ‘considerably more’ than we could possibly sustain in fact four times more than was mentioned at our first meeting.
Lord Owen had a meeting with the Naval Base Commander two weeks ago and was told there is no room in either North or South yard to berth Plymouth. The whole site is currently undergoing rationalisation with Babcock retreating into North yard leaving MoD estates in total control of South Yard. He also told Lord Owen that the listed No. 2 dock, our preferred option for the future has had it’s gates removed and is now tidal and therefore of little use to anyone.
PROGRESS REPORT - 25/09/08.
It has been some time since our website was updated, this is due to several facts. Firstly, lots of talking has been going on but nothing concrete has arisen from those talks so in effect nothing to report. Secondly, we don’t want to pressurise anyone that we have had talks with and risk prejudicing or losing any potential deals.
We are still pursuing the Howard’s Quay option and held a board meeting at the Plymouth Council House on the 13th. August to decide if the quay was a technically realistic option. Our dredging consultant and surveyor attended to offer opinion and help decide the way forwards. We commissioned a report on the ability of the hull to take the ground and another to asses the strength and depth of the mud to tell us what we’d need to do in the way of clearing / dredging the berth to make the arrangement acceptable to out underwriters and the Cattewater Harbour Commissioners.
A preliminary report has been issued on the loading capabilities of the hull and we have a quotation for a geotechnical survey.
We have been in touch with the Cattewater Harbour Comissioners asking if there were any additional conditions to fulfil and were told there is at least one other, which we will not publicise until we have clarification on the issue raised.
We have also been in contact with Peel Ports (MDHC) regarding their current position with the ship and as we already know, they are anxious to conclude a deal and the preferred deal is here in Plymouth. There have been and we understand continue to be other offers and from other countries to take the ship for various purposes. We have been told that the purchase price we agreed on a year last Christmas may no longer be valid due to the timescale and the rising value of scrap metel, once again we’ve asked for clarification.
PORTSMOUTH.
Even at this late stage it’s not to late to start a contest and as many of you will already be aware this was published in ‘Portsmouth Today’ Wednesday 24th. http://www.portsmouth.co.uk/news/Bid-to-save-HMS-Plymouth.4521783.jp better late than never and the best of luck to them!
ROSYTH.
There appears to be lots of interest in taking her back to Rosyth (her baseport if not her birthport!) look at http://www.dunfermlinepress.com/articles/1/26085 judging from the HMS Plymouth Association’s message board this is still very much ‘work in progress’. Once again, good luck guys!
THE H.M.S. PLYMOUTH ANNUAL REUNION.
Sorry we couldn’t get the ship back in time but remain sure you’ll all have a great weekend. It will be covered in the press so I assume you’ll want to put a good show on, first time in Guzz and all that milarky……… FOR ALL OF THOSE THAT HAVEN’T SIGNED UP (YET) WHAT ARE YOU WAITING FOR! Come on guys support your association THEY NEED YOU…………get your wallets out and get down here for a real good……..well whatever, it’ll be worth it.
NEW BARBICAN PONTOON.
Does anyone remember Summer last year and our bid to build a rather large berth in the middle of Plymouth’s historic Babican and all the fuss it caused, well here’s how the story ended……..
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/devon/7625814.stm
Ooops!