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Newsletter October 2008
Chairman's Message
In our last newsletter I spoke of the determination of the volunteer directors of the DHT to improve dialogue with harbour users to ensure as far as possible everyone’s needs are being catered for. We had our first meeting of the harbour users’ forum earlier this summer and I think it is fair to say all parties felt it had been very useful. There will be future, well advertised, meetings of this ad hoc group to keep the initiative moving. The inception of this body now means that there are now three regularly convened forums for harbour management and development debate. The new forum, the Harbour Management Committee and the Dunbar Harbour Trust Board. Members of all these bodies and the harbour staff Bob and Jimmy are on the harbour every day so there is no shortage of opportunity for dialogue to help in the development and management of this important facility. Whilst most of the pleasure craft may now be out of the water the work of the harbour goes on through the winter with many exciting projects in hand and on the drawing board.
Colin McWhannell, October 2008
McARTHURS STORE – We have a provisional finish date of mid November for this important 
renovation. Work has gone extremely well and we are delighted with our contractors and professional advisors who have worked very hard to transform this historic building from a liability to the harbour into a major asset for the wider Dunbar area. The only slight hitch on the horizon for its timely completion has been the discovery of what may be an early harbour structure in the store’s curtilage.
These cobbles appear to show the outline of a former harbour and will need further investigation.
LANDSCAPING – The DHT is to seek funding to improve the landscaping of the area around the propeller and to install new benches to enhance people’s enjoyment of the harbour.
BRIDGE – The work on the bridge is now virtually complete and it is back in operation. There are still some snagging issues that have to be ironed out and there is yet to be a formal handover by East Lothian Council but the end of this protracted saga is in sight – and we have a working bridge.
HARBOUR DEVELOPMENT PLAN – – This proposal is moving ahead at a steady pace with talks on going with potential partners like the Crown Estate, East Lothian Council and the RNLI. A bid for funding to conduct extensive wave modelling experiments is underway. This modelling is needed to determine exactly what sort of structure will be needed to achieve the aim of creating a port of refuge out of Dunbar harbour – making it available for appropriately sized craft in all weathers and all states of the tide. The DHT is hopeful this funding may be in place by the end of the year allowing the proposals to take a major step ahead.
Once it is clear what, if anything, can be done to achieve these broad aims the trust will embark on public consultation as the scheme develops.
LADDERS – Work installing new ladders in the old and new harbours has been nearly completed. A few issues remain to be dealt with and work is going on to ensure these issues are attended to as quickly as possible. The refusal of the conservation bodies to allow the trust to sink the ladders into the harbour walls means skippers must give careful consideration to how they moor alongside ladders.
LAMER ISLAND – The trust is now beginning the process of working up ideas for the development of the Lamer Island battery. This scheme is at an early stage and once again we would urge members of the public with views on what could or should be done to contact us. Once plans are nearing completion we will consult on them to ensure whatever happens with this historic and important area is in keeping with the wishes of the harbour users and wider Dunbar community.
DIVERS – We are shortly to hold talks with a representative of the diving community to look at ways of improving facilities for divers at Dunbar Harbour. We are actively pursuing plans to build changing and shower facilities for divers and create a diving platform for divers without boats to enjoy the pastime in a worthwhile way while maintaining the safety of themselves and other harbour users.
HARBOUR MANAGEMENT COMMITTEE – This important forum meets each month under the chairmanship of volunteer DHT director Rodney Thomas and is the main vehicle for the exchange of views between harbour users and managers. The committee welcomes contributions from individuals and is also open to increasing the number of permanent members if people would like to make a contribution to the running of their harbour. Indeed the DHT is also able to recruit new directors and would welcome applications from any interested parties. Running, maintaining and developing the harbour facilities with the costs involved in any work, compared to the limited income the harbour can generate, is always a challenge and people with ideas and drive prepared to commit their time for little reward other that the satisfaction of seeing this important facility improve would be most welcome.
AMENITIES BLOCK - The Harbour Trust has obtained the services of an architect who has come up with a couple of exciting and innovative designs for the block, to include toilets and showers for divers and visiting yachts, the merits of which are being assessed by the Board with a view to presenting a proposal to the planners.
HARBOUR OFFICE – Work is underway refurbishing the exterior of the old tidal gauge house, now the harbour office.
WEBSITE
You will find more information about the activities and projects of the Trust and its Harbour Management Committee on our website: www.DunbarHarbourTrust.co.uk
WEBSITE - You will find more information about the activities and projects of the Trust and its Harbour Management Committee on our website.
If you think you can help or would like to contact us then use the feedback form on our website.