Maidens Harbour Feasibility Study APPENDIX D
Total Page:16
File Type:pdf, Size:1020Kb
South Ayrshire Council - Maidens Harbour Feasibility Study APPENDIX D – HOUSEHOLD SURVEY STUDY REPORT December 2012 This project is part-financed by the European Union’s European Regional Development Fund through the INTERREG IVA Cross border Programme managed by the Special EU Programmes Body and is part of the Sailwest initiative led by Donegal County Council. MAIDENS HARBOUR FEASIBILITY STUDY COMMUNITY QUESTIONNAIRE INTRODUCTION South Ayrshire Council in conjunction with the Maidens Harbour Trust has commissioned consultants URS Ltd to undertake a feasibility study to prepare and review options for the future development of Maidens Harbour which has been at the heart of the Maidens community for over 100 years. In summary, the study investigations will include:- • Dredging of the harbour and renovation and repair works to the East breakwater. • Providing up to 100 pontoon berths within the existing shelter of the harbour walls and breakwater catering for local and visiting boats. • Providing shore based facilities e.g. clubhouse/bar/chandlery, toilets & showers, hard standing and storage. • Technical evaluation of local grid distribution system to support power from possible wind turbines. The overall aims of the project are to:- • Generate sufficient income from future Maidens Harbour users to allow the ongoing harbour repair and maintenance requirements to be sustainable. • Help create employment in the local area. • Revitalise Maidens Harbour as a central focus for the Maidens community. As part of the study investigations URS is undertaking a short survey (4 questions ) of all households within Maidens village seeking the local community’s views and opinions on the proposed development of Maidens Harbour. Accordingly, you are invited to complete and return this Community Questionnaire in the Reply Paid Envelope provided by Friday 27 th April 2012. All individual questionnaire responses will remain confidential and unattributable. Q1. Are you supportive of the overall concept outlined above for the development of Maidens Harbour? (please tick box below) YES NO If answering “NO”, please outline why in the box below: Q2. Please indicate which of the proposed individual project aspects you support, or otherwise. (please tick either “YES” or “NO” for each proposed project component) PROPOSED PROJECT COMPONENT YES NO Harbour dredging Provision of pontoons for up to 100 berths Clubhouse Bar Chandlery Toilets & Showers Hard Standing & Storage (e.g. for boats out of sailing season ) Technical evaluations for Wind Turbines PTO If answering “NO ” to any part of Q2 , please outline why in the box below: Q3. Do you feel that there are any other development opportunities which should be considered for Maidens Harbour that would add to the overall project aims identified in the INTRODUCTION section of this questionnaire? YES NO If answering “YES ”, please outline the opportunities in the box below: Q4. Do you have any other views/opinions that you would like to express on the proposed development of Maidens Harbour which are not covered by Q1 to Q3 above? (If so, please outline in the box below) Thank you for taking the time to complete this questionnaire. Your contribution will be of great assistance in assisting us with our feasibility study assessment. Maidens Harbour Trust will keep you informed of the progress of the Maidens Harbour development considerations with Articles locally displayed and on the Maidens Harbour Trust website at www.maidensharbour.co.uk . If you would like the Trust to keep you informed by email please tick the following box and add your email address below. Information by E-mail QUESTIONNAIRE COMPLETED BY:- Name:_____________________________________ Address:________________________________________________________ Tel No:_____________________________________ E-Mail:_____________________________________ Please remember to return your completed Community Questionnaire to Ken Glass of URS Ltd at 23 Chester Street Edinburgh EH3 7EN in the Reply Paid Envelope provided. If you have any queries with regards to this Maidens Harbour Feasibility Study Community Questionnaire, please do not hesitate to contact Ken Glass at the above address or on telephone No: 0131 718 5167 or by email to [email protected] Extra copies of this form are available at the Café and Post Office. Maidens Harbour Feasibility Study MAIDENS HOUSEHOLD SURVEY – OPEN QUESTION RESPONSES Q1. Are you supportive of the overall concept for the development of Maidens Harbour? If answering “NO” please outline why. Moved to area for retirement - very much against a bar in the area. Sight of wind turbines would be even worse. It would be nice to hear comments from South Ayrshire Council. Maidens is big enough, development of this scale will spoil the enjoyment and ambience for locals and visitors. The channel at entrance to the harbour ought to be a major priority not more pontoons. The dredging from the harbour is open to the public with a danger sign on it. Maidens is appropriately developed at present. The proposal would dramatically change village and we are absolutely opposed to such a radical change. Dredging is a waste of effort. Don't want windmills – they are technically flawed. Could use the tide to generate power and clear harbour mouth. Cannot see justification for any of the works proposed. East breakwater has been broken up by the Trust in the past 5 yrs and is now unsafe. Cannot see economic case for 100 berths or the village needing the potential extra visitors. Any shore facilities must be developed with the community not by any one group. Wind turbines are a non starter. Leave the village the way it is – as a historical fishing village. Dredging in the current format is unsustainable and deeply annoying (7am everyday including holidays and weekends). Any shore based facilities should be part of a wider community facility not owned/operated by the Trust. Wind turbines are a complete no! If this ends up going ahead the harbour will end up being sealed off with no access for any of the residents who enjoy the ambience of the place as it is. As far as creating employment for the community you would have to do more work and an in depth feasibility study "how many jobs" could be generated. There is not sufficient sailing in the exposed to generate much demand justifying expenditure of this scale. This could change the face of the village. Reason I moved here was for the peace and tranquillity. Please leave it well alone. It will leave the village too commercialised. Insufficient evidence as to where all the buildings for the items listed below. Why only where the boats will be and I think it is far too big a project for the village we enjoy. No, as don’t know where the buildings will be situated? Wind turbines would be a complete eyesore to this lovely area of Maidens instantly spoiling the lovely panoramic views which we benefit from and tourists alike. Against any wind turbines in or around Maidens harbour as they would spoil the landscape. Also the proposed clubhouse etc has not been shown on the map so therefore would need to know location before approval. Do not agree with the Maidens Harbour Trust and what they are all about! Maidens is a beautiful quiet place to live with abundant wildlife. It is tranquil and residents and holiday visitors value this above all. There are no pubs and it is safe to walk at night. Boats are adequately catered for at Girvan Harbour just a few miles away. The proposed development would spoil the quiet place that is enjoyed by many. Noise and appearance of wind turbines over-looking the harbour area. Having lived in Maidens for 6 years, the peace and tranquillity of the village has been ruined by the work that has been carried out during this time by ill-advised, untrained individuals using dangerous heavy machines with no regard for health and safety legislation or village residents or holidaymakers with extreme noise and disruption especially at weekends and holiday periods. We already have toilets. We certainly do not want wind turbines destroying the beautiful outlook. Study Report - Appendix D Page 1 of 5 Maidens Harbour Feasibility Study Q2. Please indicate which of the proposed individual project aspects you support, or otherwise. (please tick either “YES” or “NO” for each proposed project component) If answering “NO ” to any part of Q2 , please outline why. [The following represent the open-ended “NO” comments provided in respect of the “Technical Evaluations of Wind Turbines” project element] Village already has enough pollution in shape of caravans - turbines would add to this. Would spoil rather than benefit the area. Turbines take away from the village charm - would be an eye sore. An eye sore - not good for the scenery. Require more information on turbines- e.g. siting, size, and quantity. Wind turbines located within the confines of the harbour and the Maidens Rocks would ruin the clear views over Arran from all locations within the village and the bay. They'd be far too close to housing, create low frequency deeply resonating and disturbing noise pollution covering the entire village day and night. Turbines are very unsightly and would spoil magnificent views at Maidens. Turbines are an eyesore - Troon and Largs already cater for this. Not keen on idea but open to suggestion. Erection of proposals will be vigorously challenged and based on precedent turbines in vicinity of Maidens will be rejected by planners on grounds of tourism/visual amenity. Would prefer solar not wind power. Wind turbines are a blot on any landscape and produce fractional electricity. Feel that wind turbines are best located in rural areas - nothing against wind turbines but Maidens has too large a population. Wind turbines are grossly inefficient. Only produce power 25% of the time, in addition to being a blot on the landscape.