Classification: OFFICIAL ## **SANDHAVEN & PITULLIE HARBOUR TRUST LTD** ## **2024/2025: CHAIRMAN’S REPORT TO TRUSTEES & MEMBERS** Since the last AGM the trust has had a successful and busy year in the continued growth and development of the harbour. It was agreed that 2024/25 was to be the year of Community Engagement. This has been rewarding and been true to account. The Trust has met regularly during the past year in the harbour office, keeping the trust on track, with emails to members as required, particularly around the windfarm opportunity. ## **Trust membership** This is a standing agenda item at Trustee meetings and where new ideas for promoting the Harbour Trust are constantly sought. We currently stand (prior to this meeting at 54 members. The Trust will continue to explore options to promote increased membership. ## **Trustees/Directors** We are fortunate to have a cohort of long-serving Trustee/Directors, who continue to make a huge contribution to the running of the Harbour Trust. We also benefit greatly from the different perspectives for our more recent recruits who have made an impact within the last year. Sadly we have received three retirements from the board within this term. A huge thank you to Billy Wishart (2009), Scott Paterson (2015) and Marilene Walker (2023). On behalf of the Trust, I would like to thank them for their work and experience during their time. All three have stated that they will remain as members and would be on hand if any questions arose in the future. We have however welcomed 2 onto the board Allan Smith (Grants) and Pat Davidson (Secretary). We welcome from members to nominate individuals to the trust Directorship, every little helps in the trusts efforts to ensure the harbour and its facilities remain community controlled, and sustainable for the future. It is a fitting moment to thank all Trustees for their service and valuable contributions they make to the Harbour Trust. Should anyone wish to consider or discuss being a Trustee please come forward and discuss it with any of the team after the meeting. ## **Fundraising** This last year the Trust continued its fundraising efforts. The 50/50 draw is advertised monthly on the Facebook page and people can sign up via the online shop or forms with cash payment are available in the Sandhaven Shop or Pittendrum post boxes. However, in recent months the draw entries have steadied, and I would encourage you to ask your family/friends to sign up if you haven’t already done so (no Directors) as it’s only £1 per month, £12 for the year. Ladies Day was held on Saturday 22nd February 2025 and was a fantastic event in the Pittendrum Lounge. The fashion show, bingo and entertainment from Sandhavens own Drag Act - it was superb! The next Ladies Day is on 21[st] February 2026 – book your tickets now via the harbour online shop website. Classification: OFFICIAL Unfortunately, the Country Hoedown planned for this Saturday has been cancelled due to the lack of ticket sales. We have been approached by several people stating they are unable to attend as it is busy few weeks around Halloween and bon fire. We have listened and the hoedown will return to September in 2026. Online shop – donations are received for pay2park (motorhome stopovers), pay2pee, pay2paddle or simply a gift. Berth fees etc can all be paid via this method too or via the Sandhaven Shop or Pittendrum post boxes. Corporate donations – some of these have dropped off, but we recognise this, and we will again be pushing this over the winter. ## **Development Progress** Pontoons – This year we have successfully completed the first phase of pontoon maintenance by replacing as required pontoon bands, and this is now on a monthly maintenance inspection. Next we are to replace several bushes that join the sections, and replace the lats that bridge the gaps between them. Beach – We are delighted with the finish on the beach and picnic area, with new additional benches, flower pots, new coastal protection surround and grass. The beach was also cleared of all the escaped stoned from the previous failing wall made up of the old slipways. This summer the harbour has been busier than ever with children and families enjoying the new area. Toilets – These facilities continue to be delivered in collaboration with the Sea Cadets. In return for full access and keys for the toilets, the Sea Cadets covers the costs of the electric, while we cover the provision of cleaning, maintenance and consumables. This works in the interest of both parties (Sea Cadets previously paid £80 a month for portaloos). We are adding new spring door closures on the doors so they don’t stay open, and keypad locks so that berth holders and motorhomes have access 24 hours a day. ## **Upcoming developments** West Pier works – This year we have engaged with Arch Hendersons who have completed full survey of the west pier following the progress of a crack in the back wall. It has been identified that there is undermining of the gable end foundations, this will require some piling and concrete works. This design is in progress, and once completed, we will be seeking funding to complete the repairs required. The far end of the west pier will be closed to vehicles in the coming weeks, pending this repair. Once the repair is completed, it will be reopened. Middle Jetty Café – It is a harbour vision that we build on the success of the beach project to include the provision of a small café. This is in the very early stages of planning, but any feedback or ideas is welcome. Coastal Protection – Within the next few weeks, we will be installing £100,000 of coastal protection works along the water edge (on trust property) between the slipway and the Shore Street wall that was repointed in May 25. This is a significant step to secure the future of the Sea Cadets cabins, homes, road and main sewer along Shore Street. Strategy – We are continuing to progress items identified in our strategy. With projects both small and large being worked on as we identify funds appropriate. This strategy has been a significant piece of work, in collaboration with several independent bodies and in consultation with the community at the harbour fun day, berth holders at the meeting earlier in the season and with fellow Classification: OFFICIAL directors. The strategy projects will be presented separately after the AGM should any of you with to stay. ## **Other Business** Over the last 18 months, the trust has been challenged over its use of land by the pumphouse as a stopover for motorhomes. As you will all know, this has been used for this purpose since early 2000s, where it was originally used for tent camping too. Due to some challenges, we applied to the council for a CLEUD, this was unsuccessful due to the trust not recording the motorhome donations separately from ‘fundraising’ and stays not logged, thereby not showing ‘continued’ use. Following legal advice, the trust will continue to operate in its current format with motorhomes, in the interest of the greater community. Should anyone like more information on this, please do contact me at any time. ## **A note of thanks** I am grateful to everyone for their support during the last year and look forward to working with you all during the next session. **Craig Trail Chairman October 2025** Classification: OFFICIAL ## **SANDHAVEN & PITULLIE HARBOUR TRUST LTD** ## **2024/2025: HARBOUR MASTER REPORT TO TRUSTEES & MEMBERS** Thank you to all those who have continued to support the harbour with day to day operations and maintenance. ## **Toilets** A massive thank you to the ‘Potty Party’ who look after these facilities. Should anyone wish to help with this, please don’t hesitate to get in touch with the team. ## **Pontoons** New securing eyes have been installed in April to 20 berths, we are pleased with the feedback, and as funds become available, we will extend this to cover all metal pontoon berths, and increase it to 3 eyes per berth rather than 2. We again remind berth holders that no fittings are to be fixed to the pontoons using permanent fittings. ## **Berths, Containers and Motorhomes** We are delighted to say that all metal pontoon berths were full, and most blue pontoons. There has been no complaints or concerns raised by any berth holder this year. New handrails are now fitted to all stairs, and the new handrails for the wall ladders will be installed by April. Container owners continue to work well with the trust and are keeping the area tidy. We have some issues with fly tipping and grass disposal, this is being monitored and reported accordingly. Our motorhome parking area has also been busy again this year, with this summer coming being the 26th year of motorhomes parking there, we expect it to continue to be busy. Thanks to the online payment option, this has reduced some of the cash handling, but cash is still welcome, and we thank Lendy for looking after our campers for us. ## **Community Contribution** The trust prides itself on transparency and welcomes any feedback, positive or negative. To keep the trust moving forward, we welcome challenge and ideas, should anyone have any, please direct them to the trust, allowing us the opportunity to consider them, address them and respond. We welcome emails, messages via our website, via our Facebook page or via comments slips at our community engagement stalls at the harbour funday etc. ## **Tom Boyle** ## **Harbour Master October 2025**