Falmouth Harbour’s commercial and leisure water users are coming together to create the Trust Port’s first Harbour Users Group (HUG) which acts as an interface for information and best practice between Falmouth Harbour and all its diverse stakeholders.
The Falmouth HUG members will filter ideas, concerns and information both ways to widen the representation of user groups as wide-ranging as sailors, swimmers and paddleboarders, fishers and local councils, marine businesses, RNLI, HM Coastguard, environmental organisations and neighbouring harbour authorities.
The Falmouth HUG’s first chairman is veteran Environment and Emergency Management expert Dave Owens who for three years was a member of the Harbour Consultative Committee and was involved in a review of the work undertaken by the Commissioners. He was heavily involved in the team working on the best structure for the new group – including seeking advice from existing HUGs in Cowes and Fowey, to get the best possible solution.
“Our beautiful Harbour is entrusted to the Falmouth Harbour Board of Commissioners to manage and improve on behalf of local stakeholders and the new HUG aims to make sure that everyone is represented, informed and involved in everything that affects how we all use the harbour safely and enjoyably, whilst respecting the outstanding environment and different users,” says Dave.
“We’re working closely with the Harbour team and the Falmouth Harbour Commissioners as well as with the groups we represent – making sure everyone is kept abreast of what’s going on – whether it be Harbour bye-laws designed to keep water users safe or concerns about which the Harbour authorities may not be aware.”
Falmouth Harbour Master Ifor Pedley says, “Our new Harbour Users Group is the latest string in the bow to keeping transparent activities, policies, ideas and information which affect thousands of people and organisations in this amazing part of the world.<
“We want it to be constructive two-way dialogue. It might be something as simple as making sure all water users know there are speed limits in the Inner Harbour, or supporting local organisations to run events in a safer way, or find better ways to protect the environments and habitats around the Harbour.”
The Falmouth Harbour Users Group involving more than 20 representatives will gather four times a year. Water users and stakeholders can contact the Falmouth HUG by emailing HUGchair@falmouthharbour.co.uk .
www.falmouthharbour.co.uk
