The Queen's Pier Story .. .. ..

Annual General Meeting - 12th October 2007

Once again it is my pleasure to enclose your formal Notice of the Annual General Meeting of "The Friends" and to invite you all to attend. I do hope you will find the time to come along and we all look forward to seeing you once more.

I shall of course be pleased to update everyone with what has taken place since the last AGM in my formal report but as I know it will not be possible for everyone to attend may I take a minute of your time to attempt to do so here?

Whilst we may have not had a large profile this last twelve months this is not to say we have not been busy. The time for tin rattling on a Saturday morning and protests etc., is coming to an end and matters have moved on to a Political Phase. The Pier is very much back on the Political Agenda and this is where your committee have been most active.

You may recall that following the Tynwald Debate on the Select Committee Report in June 2006 the then Chief Minister, Hon Donald Gelling, returned to Tynwald the following day to announce that he was aware of the strong Island wide support for the Pier and promised to set up a Working Committee to re-examine and review the options in respect of Queen's Pier and make recommendations on its future use to the Council of Ministers. The 2007 General Election slowed things a little but matters were got under way once a new Tynwald was formed. The Working Group were to consider all earlier reports and after a public consultation exercise submit a report, with their recommendations to the Chief Minister no later than 30th November 2007.
We were pleased and honoured when your Council of Ministers asked that your Treasurer, Jamie Stokoe, take part on this Working Group.

I do not know the deliberations of this Working Group as, like most Government deliberations, they are confidential and Jamie has honoured this requirement to the letter.

However most is now in the Public Arena and there is to be a Questionnaire to selected households throughout the Island which contains 5 Options.

1. Do nothing!

2. Demolish the Pier entirely.

3. A full "Bells & Whistles" Heritage style restoration.

4. A less costly restoration involving modern materials where they do not conflict with the Victorian ambience.

5. Link the repair of the Pier to 'possible' future commercial development.

Much as I would like to, I will not attempt to influence the true and fair responses that are required other than to make the wry comment that our Government, through the Department of Transport (Harbours), do not need to be told to "Do Nothing!" This is exactly what they have been doing for the last 15 years! If it had been otherwise I would not be calling this meeting! A vote to "Do nothing" is to instruct Tynwald to continue to breach their own Planning guidelines and makes a complete nonsense of Planning Law!

Sadly those preparing the questionnaire also appear to have little knowledge of Local Government Finance. Maintenance of a restored Pier, should maintenance be required at some time in the future, will come from Government funds as it does now and not from the local Rates. Please bear this in mind should you receive a Questionnaire.

That's it. You know as much as I do. If I can update members at the annual General Meeting I will do so.

Best wishes,

Fred Hodgson.
Chairman.