Oppose Ebenhaezer Boat move to Bathurst Basin

Please don’t destroy what makes Bristol great in your quest for profit

Firstly, it is quite frankly corrupt that developers can hold councils to ransom in order to ‘tidy up’ environments like the moorings in the docks. Exercising section 106 agreements is one thing, bullying is another. It makes me livid how developers and wealthy property owners complain about boats. What was here first? Secondly the HA should drop this pathetic dictate that they do not want to move vessels, obviously fairly hypocritical in the case of Ebenhaezer. There are plenty of suitable places she could go if only a few non residential boats were moved, come on Bristol, tidy up the cupboard and get properly organised.

Totally agree with the comments in the objection

Supporting The Bathurst Basin Boaters and local residents plus the businesses that surround and make this area a unique place. Hoping the respect for the history and architecture of this gem within our city is upheld.

The Council should not aid a commercial development by relocating an eyesore to another attractive part of the city for expediency but to sort the problem out properly.

It's not appropriate to moor a vessel of this size in Bathurst Basin. Why do it? It's hard to see any advantage in the proposal - who will benefit?

This boat is totally inappropriate for Bathurst Basin so why move it.

It is beyond infuriating for the owner of the Ebenhaezer and the residents of Bathurst Basin that this proposal has come back from the dead yet again. What more can we do to ensure that the Council consults the residents, businesses, and rate payers affected by this proposal, let alone follows its own guidelines regarding residential moorings?

I think that this is a disgrace

The basin is currently a beautiful area, the Ebenezer is far too large both visually and in terms of space restriction within the basin

For many years I have been a boat owner with a mooring in Bathurst Basin and am appalled that after the investment by the’ General Hospital’ and local businesses to enhance the area a previous decision is overturned against all advice, to introduce a vessel which does not belong or fit into this environment. If ‘Ebenhaezer’ is moved into the Basin it would be to the detriment of the current appearance and atmosphere of the neighbourhood. The intention to moor it on a quayside which is listed and designated by Bristol City Council as a non residential mooring area also flouts their own rules. Just as important due to her size is the consequence on navigation for the leisure boats already moored legally in the Basin, manoeuvring would become exceptionally difficult and dangerous if not impossible for some. Who’s “interest” is being served by the decision to move a vessel from in front of an unwanted proposed restaurant development and then place it in front of a an existing established Michelin starred restaurant? Much more transparency is required here. A proposed development which is not wanted in Welsh Back. An application which has been overturned on a number of occasions. A residential boat owner who does not want to move and wants to stay where they are in a Council defined residential mooring area, despite being consistently harassed by Council officials. It certainly makes one wonder who are the parties within the Council that benefit from this proposed development? Nobody sees the advantage in this move and the Council should take notice and listen to the people in and around Bathurst Basin who have invested so much to live in this area and regenerate it.

It should remain where it is

This is not a suitable location for this vessel, and relocating it for private commercial gain to the detriment of others raises the suggestion of questionable actions.

In my opinion the vessel is not well suited to Bathurst Basin and should remain on Welsh Back.

It is outrageous that the council have been bulling a residential mooring leaseholder for so long. The council have seemingly bowed to the developer by signing legal documents stating they will move the boat without restriction. The currently proposed location in bathurst basin has one of the highest concentration of water side listed buildings of any part of the harbour, is a conservation area and bringing a boat of this size into the basin is not in keeping with the surroundings. Furthermore the boat is to be relocated to facilitate 3 restaurants but is being moved in front of 3 already establishes michelin star restaurants.

Since this move seems to have no rational basis -- at least not one explained by the council -- we must assume it is motivated by financial and political interests, and thus anti-democratic. Sounds like a conspiracy theory, but the council's lack of openness and consultation points in that direction. Either stop it, or explain yourselves to your constituents.

Totally out of scale to all other craft in the basin and residential housing

Why are the council giving in to blackmail from a development company who have held up development of that area of Welsh Back for many years. Another sign of the incompetence or is it corruption of the council planners. Look at the arena farce. The mess around Temple Meads. Is there anyone in charge?

There is far too much wrong about the placement of this type of vessel in this particular location, it is not in keeping with its surroundings. Also, the restrictions it will place on the movement of other vessels within the basin is severe, the risk of collisions hugely increased. What has been a highly popular photographic opportunity of the redeveloped General Hospital, will no longer have such appeal with this vessel in front of it. Completely the wrong location.

I wrote to Martin Rees last week and got a very non committal response. What did Martin say? Anything specific?