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VILLAGE NEWS
FRYERS WHARF AGM MINUTES
The Chairman presented his report as follows:
Fryer’s wharf committee AGM
24 th October 2012.
This is a summary of progress, more than an annual report, apologies to those who have heard it before.
Fryer’s wharf committee was elected in September 2008 in support of Jim and Mary Simpson’s long crusade to
reinstate the slipway at Fryer’s Wharf.
Apart from being the one remaining public access to the river in Tintern, I remind you it is the site of the long lost
ford and the village cross and is possibly of Roman origin.
English Heritage acknowledge the probable Roman origin on the Gloucester side. Cadw remain undecided at
present in the age of the slipway on the Monmouthshire side.
We are keen to promote the:
i) historical significance of the slipway and wharf
ii) the practical significance for river users and
iii) the benefit of a restored slipway to tourism, business and the church.
The main obstacle to progress has been and still remains, the sewage pumping station which blocks the slipway.
Initial, promising conversations with Mr Matt Fox of Welsh Water withered when he left their employ and the
imposition of conditions, financially prohibitive to the wharf committee, prompted us to carry on with the
aspects which did not fall within the jurisdiction of Welsh Water. Thus, grants and donations were obtained, first
to open the top of the slipway - which led to the discovery that the slipway is wider than we supposed - then, to
open the river end. This work is in progress but has been seriously impeded by the weather and other factors.
So, in effect, we have been obliged to tackle the job backwards. It would have been much better to have cleared
the pump first but we reached stalemate with Welsh Water. However, this year we have gained the support of
our volunteer, unpaid consultant, Jim Hewitt who once worked for WW and is a chartered surveyor. Jim has
reopened dialogue with Welsh Water and continues to work tirelessly in the background.
A grant application for funding to continue the work is being prepared by Elsa Wood.
Early estimates of a five year project may have been conservative and my report omits details such as conifer
removal, parish hut demolition, construction of a retaining wall and dedicated knotweed destruction by our
treasurer.
Our deadline for the river side excavation has been recently extended to February, by the Environment Agency.
If we miss it, then the committee must consider the alternatives; to seek funding for a renewed excavation,
concentrate on pumphouse removal or do both at once.
Our aim is to have the slipway reopen for the Wye Festival in 2014.
I will end by thanking the committee for four years hard work and by inviting any questions or requests for
clarification.
Roger Woods then stepped down from the chair and Elsa Wood was elected in his place. The following members
stood for re-election: Jim Simpson, Vice Chairman, Tony Hayward, Treasurer, Mary Simpson, Secretary, Roger
Woods, Liaison Officer, Rev. Nora Hill, Church Representative. The following new committee members were
welcomed: Adrian wood and Nigel Hopkins. Jim Hewitt agreed to continue in his consultancy role.