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PHUG News Update October 2021
Since the last AGM, the committee have held 3 remote (Zoom) meetings, in February, June, and October. Membership The membership currently stands at 36, of which 21 are current berth holders, and 15 are on the waiting list. We have two berth holders who have not returned forms, and only one who felt he had nothing to gain from membership. We have no contact details for several on the waiting list. Unfortunately, under data protection law, Highland Harbours cannot share information with us unless and until there is formal agreement between us. Despite our own clear data protection policy, we have no way of knowing who has joined the waiting list since the information they gave us in 2018. We know that several names have been added but cannot invite them to membership unless we know who they are! Similarly, we know of some berth holders who have relinquished their berths this year, and we assume that those berths have been reallocated, but HH will not provide that information. Some new boats have appeared over the year in these berths, but we are not privy to the allocations, or how they relate to the historical waiting list administered by HH. We know of one berth holder who cannot access his berth because it was double let, in an administrative oversight. Some berths have remained empty, despite the massive waiting list, which is clearly a source of great irritation to many on the waiting list. Local Administration Despite the initial apparent enthusiasm of Highland Harbours to support and cooperate with us, their recommendation to the Highland Council (which was adopted), was that they would not agree to us providing local administration at this stage, but would work with us to secure funding for development. To date this has not happened. This is a source of some frustration and bewilderment to us, particularly as we see current berths unused, and a growing waiting list. We also see much revenue being lost due to the inability of HH to collect revenue from day launch and retrieve fees, and the increasing (daily during high season) taking of water by visiting Motorhomes from the metered Harbour supply, paid for by current harbour users’ fees.
Funding Applications It has been very frustrating to have had our latest funding application (SSE) turned down, again due to oversubscription and the favouring of Covid related applications. This was a modest application to cover the initial Engineering, wave and current studies, and the purchase of the old Coastguard Hut, which would be developed into toilets, showers, and changing facilities, as part of the proposed developments. As the CG had put this up for auction before we had a chance to build any funds, two of the committee members have purchased the hut from the successful bidder, to secure the building for the proposed developments, as there are no other suitable premises nearby. Once successful funding has been found, the building will be released to the PHUG for the price paid by them. The way forward We will continue our attempts to persuade HH to cooperate with us, as they have previously done in Balintore. We will renew our efforts to source funding streams, to allow us to progress our aims of increasing berthing positions and improving harbour facilities. Support We had a Zoom meeting recently with Maree Todd, MSP, who appeared to be very interested and supportive of what we are trying to do here. She has agreed to help us identify possible funding, and to try to facilitate our negotiations with Highland Council /Harbours. It is hard to understand why there seems to be one rule for Balintore, and another for Portmahomack. Hopefully she may be able to oil some rusty doors for us! It has been a frustrating and demoralising year for the committee, but we will continue to work to try and secure our vision of a better, more vibrant Harbour, as outlined in our Aims, and Priorities. Our 2nd AGM is coming up shortly, to which all members are welcome to join (Zoom). Details will be posted, but let us know if you wish to attend, and you will be sent the link. If you are reading this, and are on the waiting list, please contact us directly for membership.
Ross Duff (Chair)
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