Solva Harbour Society Shareholder Update January 2022
Dear Shareholder,
2021 was another difficult and challenging year due to Covid 19. We did manage to launch and recover the boats, have some enjoyable times and maintain services to members and the Community, meeting all our obligations as a Community Benefit Society. Sadly, Regattas and the Raft Race did not take place due to Covid 19 regulations, we hope they will run in 2022.
Throughout 2021 the Management Team met on Wednesdays and kept services running. By the end of July 2021 things improved briefly and we were able to hold the first General Meeting of SHS Ltd on the 31st July in the Memorial Hall, electing a full Committee. This Committee will serve until the 2023 General Meeting, when a third of members will come up for re-Election. The 2022 General Meeting of the Society will take place, restrictions permitting, on Saturday 9th April 2022.
2021 also saw several severe storms causing damage to vessels in the harbour and to the infrastructure of the Quay. The maintenance programme has continued, and works are ongoing repairing the Quay walls and the running moorings. A new kayak rack with 78 rack spaces has been completed and kayaks will be allocated a numbered space, which is noted on your bill. Kayaks must be moved to the allocated space on the new rack by 1st March 2022, please remember to add your sticker. New running moorings have been laid, tagged and allocated.
The Solva RIB will be kept afloat on a mooring from Lift In until Lift out and then stored ashore, freeing up six new spaces for bubbles in the Trinity Shed and generating income. There are some locker and bubble spaces available, please contact the Clerk for further information.
Membership fees are being raised in 2022 to reflect the increasing costs of operating SHS Ltd and maintaining services. Footage remains unchanged for this year. Costs for Kayaks and Paddle Boards are increasing to cover the cost of the new rack and to reflect a fairer share of charges. Members will only be permitted to have two kayaks / SUPs and only members will be permitted to launch from Trinity Quay. Visitors will not be permitted to launch SUPs from Trinity Quay and must launch and recover from Sand Quay.
The Committee propose that Associate members become Retired Members, paying a Membership fee but no voting rights or shareholding. This resolution will be on the agenda for the General Meeting. Visiting Boats, Annual Visitor moorings charges, launching and recovery charges are being increased to reflect the cost of providing services. The Café on the Quay lease has been reviewed and re-let for the next five years and will include toilet cleaning.
Budget planning continues and is essential for the future, there is a focus on income generation. Monthly full Committee meetings are planned, and the management team will continue to meet on Wednesday mornings.
Nicola Evans, our Clerk, has been an excellent new team member and is an asset to SHS Ltd, she works Wednesday mornings only, when she will be based in the Office at Trinity Quay.
Discussions are ongoing to introduce a ‘duty member’ rota to support the Harbour Master and to assist in Quay control, parking management and visitor advice and the collection of launching fees at busy periods.
In view of the increasing number of holidaymakers, casual visitors will only be permitted to launch from Sand Quay and no visitor or tourist vehicles will be allowed to park on the Quay. All members are requested to help in managing the Quay safely. Dogs must be kept on leads at all times. Drones are not permitted on SHS Ltd property. The Quay is a working Quay, not a promenade and tourists will be discouraged from obstructing the Quay area with deck chairs and loungers!
Please ensure that your moorings are checked and serviceable and your vessels are hung with fenders when on the moorings and on the running moorings and that sails are furled securely. Please ensure that your fees are paid on time and that all vessels and cars carry a 2022 sticker. Please note your mooring and Kayak storage allocations are on the last page along with your Annual Fees notifications.
Lift In date for 2022 is Saturday 2nd April, with a proposed Lift Out date of Thursday 29th September.
The President, Chair and Vice Chair would like to thank the Committee and the members who have helped with so many tasks throughout the last two problematic seasons.
We hope all members have an enjoyable and safe season in 2022.
BANK TRANSFER DETAILS
Lloyds Bank. Account Name: Solva Harbour Society Ltd, Sort Code: 30-96-26, Account No:74926960
(Please e-mail confirmation of payment to sboa@btinternet.com)