Meeting Notes
Present
Doug MacEwen (Vice Chairman) (DME) - Crouch Area Yachting Federation
Accountable Body
Angela Hutchings (Secretariat) (AH) - Rochford District Council
Paula Chapman (PC) - Rochford District Council
Cllr David Sperring (DS) - Rochford District Council
Public Sector
Cllr Glen Dryhurst (GD) - Ashingdon Parish Council
Cllr Alan Shearring (AS) - South Woodham Ferrers Town Council
Cllr Paul White (PW) - Hullbridge Parish Council
Cllr Bob Calver (BC) - Burnham Town Council
Helen Quinnell (HQ) - Chelmsford City Council
Leanne Brisland (LB) - Bird Aware Essex
Business Sector
Rachel Fancy (RF) - RSPB
Roy Hart (RH) - Battlesbridge Business (Skee-Tex)
Maritime Sector
Ken Wickham (KW) - Crouch Harbour Authority
Independent
Keith Powell (KP)
Guests
Sean Marks (SM) - Researcher, Essex County Council
Apologies:
Cllr June Lumley (Chairperson) (JL) - Rochford District Council
Alexis Corless (AC) - Maldon District Council
Absent:
Cllr David Phillips (DP) - Rettendon Parish Council
Cllr Mike Halford (MH) - Canewdon Parish Council
Cllr Mark Bassenger (MB) - Maldon District Council
Robert Brown (RB) - Baltic Wharf Distribution
Dave Record (DR) - 3 Chambers (Hockley, Rayleigh & Rochford)
Notes
Julie O’Brien (Note Taker) - Rochford District Council
Duration
11:00 till 12:42
Note 10/22
Welcome and Introductions
Participants introduced themselves to the group in-turn.
Note 11/22
Notes of the Last RCCCT Steering Group Meeting Held on 1 March 2022 and Matters Arising
Agreed as an accurate record.
Note 12/22
Output from RCCCT Steering Group Workshop ‘Moving Forward’ held on 29 March 2022
This paper had been produced to recap on the event held and make recommendations for the wider River Crouch Coastal Community Team to refresh its vision and objectives. The Steering Group considered the outcomes and future focus this would offer as part of – which would result in an updated Strategy and Action Plan over a 3– 5-year timeframe to be imbedded. The Strategy and Action Plan would be a tool used to consult and engage with the local community and businesses to raise awareness of the RCCCT and enable input into project ideas.
It was decided to formulate a Working Group to take forward the recommendations of the Workshop. DME, HQ, AH, PW & LB volunteered to join, and it also felt beneficial for JL to be part of. This membership was agreed.
Action: an inaugural meeting to be arranged of the new RCCCT Vision Refresh Working Group. (AH)
Action: Draft Terms of Reference (ToR) for the RCCCT Vision Refresh Working Group to be drawn up. (AH)
Note 13/22
Updated RCCCT Terms of Reference
Changes had been made in-line with those agreed at the RCCCT AGM in November 2021 and followed-up since discussions at the last Steering Group meeting.
Note 14/22
Working Group Updates
Footpaths Group
GD advised that:
- The England Coast Path project is progressing well. Next steps are for signing up to paths, and then Essex County Council to consider practical links to the coast path, with improvements to areas / better alignment to follow.
- Beeches road in Rawreth and Rettendon Parish on the way to South Woodham Ferrers currently have awful re-routes in places currently along the coast path route.
- Essex County Council appear to have erected signposts to the sea wall in areas not used in recent times – as has been observed in Sutton and Shopland. This is a good indication that some footpaths along the Crouch which had been lost since circa 1950s will be re-established as public rights of way.
- The new footpath suggested by RH from Battlesbridge (as had been circulated to the Group), through Hawk Lane to Wickford was very good as it provided a link from up-country / urban to the river Crouch.
PW reported that there is a breech area of riverbank along Hullbridge back to South Fambridge (footpath 9) that is of concern and is worsening. Restoration of the seawall here (filling a large hole) seemed of the utmost importance to avoid further erosion and disruption to walkers. This is further down the path than where the Environment Agency (EA) are currently working.
It was noted of worth to ensure that the Footpaths Project Group was still meeting its ToR or whether a revision to workload was required.
KW advised that farmers had told the Harbour Authority about littering becoming a problem as there was nowhere along footpaths in the coastal vicinity where rubbish can be collected from.
Action: Footpaths Project Group to arrange a site visit and invite the EA to join them and discuss current affairs at footpath 9. (GD)
Action: Footpaths Project Group to meet and review its progress against the ToR to report back to the Steering Group. This meeting to also include Mr Hart and discuss his footpath proposals. (GD)
Digital Group
AH reported that the Group had not made real progress since its inception. However, the original aim of the project group had been to create a profile for the community through a digital format to promote and share imagery of the Crouch, which could now arguably be picked up as part of the new RCCCT Vision Refresh Working Group looking at the way forward.
It was agreed that the Digital Group to be disbanded and its ToR to be covered under the new RCCCT Vision Refresh Working Group.
Water Safety at Hullbridge
AH confirmed that the Group had created a campaign which has been running across social media on a weekly basis since 13th April 2022, with daily posts over the bank holiday periods. Social media posts have been shared through the networks of all members of the Group, most notably used by Essex Police. Partners have been tagged wherever possible to create linkage.
As at 1st June 2022, 20 posts had been made for the campaign with a total reach of 46,000 people (individual viewing numbers).
The campaign will continue to run over weekends during the Summer and weekdays during hotter weather periods.
Proposal is to continue monitoring the campaign and gaining feedback, with a view to the Group coming together in the Autumn to review and report back to the Steering Group.
Action: A meeting of the Water Safety at Hullbridge Group to be convened prior to the next RCCCT Steering Group quarterly meeting in September. (AH)
KW advised it has been established that the actual crossing from highway to highway across the river at Hullbridge is a ‘byway’ which falls under different law and means that everybody has a right of access without any restrictions in place i.e. you cannot prevent any particular type of user.
The Harbour Authority have been trying to reach out to the open water swimming community about safe use of the Crouch river, following many recent occurrences of unmarked swimmers in the main fairways. This is proving difficult when it is individual users and not the swimming groups themselves. There is a section on this topic of safety within the Harbour Authority Guide and on their website for the public, but growing concern about the potential dangers at Hullbridge given current activity.
Action: Campaign boost around open water swimming safety – to promote awareness and link in with national groups to use their relevant content. Highlight work via Essex Police to raise its profile and outreach (AH)
Note 15/22
Anglian Water Major Initiative to Clean Up and Revitalise Rivers across East Anglia
Following a meeting with Anglian Water, KW confirmed that the Act regarding clean rivers had been updated. There is no incentive on their part to check the quality of water in a tidal river.
A local volunteer litter picking group in Rochford were performing clean ups at the river Roach, and which had been successful. No substantial equivalent exercise was in operation at the river Crouch, as yet.
Action: Invite to be extended to Anglian Water to attend next meeting. (AH)
Note 16/22
Update on:
Proposal for latest stretch of Wallasea to Burnham Coastal Path
PC advised that, Natural England had alerted to an invitation only event regarding the coastal path completion at Tilbury round to Wallasea – due to officially open to the public in mid-July 2022. One ticket had been offered to Rochford District Council at present, in recognition of the path locality - alongside Southend City Council and Thurrock Borough Council.
Wallasea to Burnham coastal path stretch still did not have a route known to be agreed and which is why works have not commenced.
Action: Update from Natural England to be followed up regarding the Wallasea to Burnham stretch of coastal path. (PC)
Path to Prosperity Project
PC confirmed from Rochford district perspective that, the project has finished and funding has ceased. The river Crouch video was in first draft and river Roach video had reached completion. It was hoped to share this footage with the RCCCT Steering Group at its next meeting.
HQ confirmed works near complete at the South Woodham Ferrers stretch and final information boards were being produced at Eyott Sailing Club.
Coastal Footpath – Hullbridge Repairs Update
PW spoke to the site manager just the other day and there are still ongoing works with no deadline to mention nor opening date (this December will mark 10 years since its commencement).
Note 17/22
RSPB Wallasea Island - Latest Developments
RF provided visitor statistics for financial year 2021/2022 of 30,000, based on a conservative estimate.
There had been a fair amount of publicity concerning Wallasea Island when the new Elizabeth tube line opened in London.
Various groups are visiting Wallasea Island now that Covid restrictions are lifted, and part of the interest lies in exploring the coastal adaptation strategy and the design of jubilee marsh.
Island creation work is underway, involving manipulation of soil locally, will help to manage lagoons better and hopefully encourage breeding of birds.
This is part of a bigger grant under the Essex and Kent Reserves and Partners from the Green Recovery Fund.
Note 18/22
Essex Coast RAMS (Bird Aware) Update
LB advised that two Ranger posts were being recruited to work on the ground along the Essex coast to engage with groups and visitors, particularly around recreational disturbance to nesting birds and over Wintering birds. This development will see a re-launch of the Bird Aware Essex campaign to raise awareness.
An Annual Action Plan (as drawn from the Mitigation Plan) had been approved by the RAMS Steering Group and Project Board. This included the implementation of a Coastal Code to ensure consistent approach and clear messaging regarding sensible use of coastlines.
An audit of activities taking place along the coastline would be undertaken to better understand usage and establish contact points with whom to engage on future work.
Work will take place with dog walkers and Winter season in mind to promote safe use of space with minimal bird disturbance.
Note 19/22
ECC – Essex Residents’ Panel
SM expressed thanks for the opportunity to join the meeting. A slide pack was presented to the Group:
- The Essex Residents’ Panel derived from a recommendation following an ECC review looking at how residents were engaged with; to design, develop and deliver a countywide residents’ panel to be used on an ongoing process to provide insight to a wide range of work relating to ECC and partner organisations.
- The panel aims to be representative of the wider population of the county in terms of age, demographics, and geographical residence. Currently there are 3000 panel members on board.
- A summary of the panel’s work so far was provided, including the communication channels utilised. This covered a vast number of different topics, and which SM said the panel had been able to have constructive input on and offer insight using their methodology.
- A website and contact details were shared and it encouraged to share this information and actively use.
Action: to circulate a copy of the presentation to the Steering Group. (SM via AH)
Note 20/22
A Vision for Coasts and Rivers Report
Action: this item to be deferred until the next meeting
Note 21/22
Date of Next Meeting
Due to some connectivity issues, the Group discussed whether, going forward, meetings could become hybrid so that there was an opportunity for face to face as well as remote – this would accommodate all members and hopefully avoid technical difficulties.
It was, however, recognised that the Zoom platform had been working well to date and reached out to all users irrespective of location.
Action: A canvass of meeting venues to be carried out and put to the Chairman for her view, before dissemination to the Group. AH
Tuesday, 20 September 2022 at 11:00am was confirmed as the next meeting date. Subject to agreement by the Chair, and suitable venue, this meeting would be of a hybrid nature.