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Newsletter September 08 Despite the incessant rain, we were able to open the Marina on September 6 and are pleased to report that we currently have 53 boats moored. Over 180 reservations have been confirmed but many of those due to come are stuck in their current marinas owing to the flooding of the Trent and Soar. Needless to say, being on the canal we are not suffering from the same navigational problems. However, the rain has definitely had an impact on us as the ground conditions in the areas where marquees and additional parking for the Opening Event were due to be located is poor. This means that we have had to reluctantly postpone the Opening Event that was scheduled to take place on September 13 and 14. Please accept our sincere apologies for that. In addition, the poor weather has resulted in delays to completion of the sewer line which means that the two pump outs and three facilities blocks are not yet operational. The Elsan disposal unit is working and obviously water and electric are available to the berths. The weather has affected the internal roads and pathways, but once the rain stops and the ground dries these will be put right. In the meantime wellies are de rigueur and expect your car to get dirty. The ‘chain gang’ have been installed. These are the 6’ and 7’ tall figures made for us from anchor chains from Liverpool Docks that are situated on the islands in the Marina. Also, most of the directional signs are installed. These are hand painted signs are made from recycled fence posts (the thick old-fashioned kind) by Delightful Living of Derby. Their website is www.delightfulliving.co.uk. The Marina’s 28 pontoons are all named after birds and it is done in alphabetical order, from Avocet to Zebra Dove plus Blackbird. Please email us on info@merciamarina.co.uk if you want a map showing the location of the berths. Newsletter July 08 Great news! We commenced re-watering the Marina on 7th July. At about 1:20pm to be exact the stop planks were raised by about 50mm to allow 100 litres a second of Trent and Mersey canal water to christen the Marina. The water slowly, very slowly, spread and it took about two days to blanket the whole site, helped along by the rain. Unfortunately, we have since had to reduce the gap to about 20mm to allow BW to replenish the pounds from Alrewas to Willington. The Project Manager for Land and Water, James Wilcox, informs us there is about another 1.2 metres to go and we should be full in about another 10 days. Then the stilling test commences which will take another 2 weeks approximately. The Marina has been transformed by the water with the island and promontories being highlighted and the banks starting to grass up. Soon we will be able to plant the reed beds and commence the rest of the planting scheme. We already have our first residents – a pair of mute swans and some ducks. The electricity ring main and substations are going in, as well as the water main. The workshop has been built and dry-dock door installed. The facilities blocks tiling is almost complete. Darren of Bidesign in Repton has designed a very striking Chandlery building, with a natural living roof of sebum. How many chandleries have been designed by architects and have a grass roof? The next major jobs are the sewer mains and the roads/parking areas. Plans are also going well for the Grand Opening. We have had to change the date to September 13/14 (this is the opening ‘do’, not the actual opening of the marina which is still September 6). We are planning on free entry with lots of music, street performers, face painters and fireworks at about 8pm. More news will be available as soon as Mike Cottle, the organiser, tells me. Newsletter June 08 Apologies for the long delay in updating but we have been busy and are getting busier everyday! The take up of berths is very positive and our offer of a 10% discount on the first year’s mooring fees will be finished by the end of June. Like with most big jobs, not much seems to happen for the longest time as the preparation work is taking place and then suddenly dramatic changes occur on a daily basis as the finishing touches are added. Only about 15 of the 585 fingers are left to be installed.Electricity and water is now installed to 520 of the berths. The three facilities blocks are now being tiled and the sanitary ware will be installed over the next two weeks. Seeding of the banks and islands has commenced. The reed beds are growing well but cannot be installed until the water is in. We are choosing the semi-mature trees and whips to be planted. The dry dock is in but not yet the cover. The bridge is in (please see http://pixelviews.co.uk/210508/index.html for Mike Shaw’s excellent photos). Quite a feat of engineering but it is a pity that much of it will be covered by the road! Next week Land and Water hope to prepare for the break into the canal, having first put a coffer dam into place but this will not affect navigation. Currently the 275 metre cut to the canal is being puddled with clay from the marina bed. The junction of Etwall Road and Findern Lane is undergoing work to add traffic lights but the road to the Marina is still open, despite what the Road Closed signs state. A huge amount of planning is going into the Opening Weekend. Not only we will be celebrating with you, but the Marina will play host to a major charity event. Plans are well advanced and include a Farmers Market, bands, many stalls, entertainers like stilt walkers and face painters, a funfair and much much more. A programme should be available next week so watch this space. Newsletter April 08 We are now approximately halfway through our build schedule and remain well on track to open on September 6. Indeed, we expect to take in our first boats mid-August. 80% of the pontoons have now been installed and the three Facilities Buildings have been constructed. Wiring has commenced and the tiling should start imminently. The dry-dock is now being dug out and the craning pad being assessed. The foundations for the new road bridge are in place and the bridge will be delivered May 13. The cut from the Marina to the Trent and Mersey has started and, at 275 metres long, this may well be the newest canal in the country! Negotiations are progressing well with prospective partners to operate the Chandlery, Tea Room, Workshop and Boat Brokerage. Due to the standard of our build and the size of the Marina , we are attracting top quality candidates. Plans are in place for the forthcoming Open Days on May 3, 4 and 5. We will also have a stand at the Crick Boat Show on May 24 to 26. On the same days we will have Open Days here at the Marina . If you are curious about what we are doing or want to find out about reserving a berth, call Robert Neff on 0794 1925391 or email info@merciamarina.co.uk. Construction of Mercia Marina in Derbyshire on the Trent and Mersey canal which when completed will be the biggest new build in the UK, is now in week eleven of a forty-week build. The Marina has been designed to offer exceptional facilities for the narrow and wide beam user in perfect harmony with beautiful countryside surroundings. Fifty percent of the main bulk earth works are now complete, which equates to about eighty thousand cubic metres of material cut and re-engineered. Five hundred of the thirteen hundred piles have been driven in, along with almost 30% of the berths complete which have 1200mm spine jetties and 750mm finger jetties finished. The coming weeks see the bulk earth completed by May, and the remainder of the jetties finished by the end of June. All electrical works will be started commencing in April, to install the bollards that feed water and electricity to the berths. Two of the eight buildings are now erected, one almost being complete by the start of April. The entire scheme is on schedule for the September 6th opening date anticipated at the start of the project. The first opening days for prospective berth holders will take place on May Bank holiday weekend commencing Saturday 3rd May- Monday 5th May. For those interested in a purchasing boat, a representative from the New & Used Boat Co will be present. Regular open days will follow on from there and they will be posted on the website. Mercia Marina can also be seen at the Crick Boat show 24th – 26th May. Information and bookings for open days and berth reservations are available via our website www.merciamarina.co.uk or telephone 07792 791 439.
Newsletter January 08 Dear All, We are intending to keep you informed via the website with monthly updates. We have now de-watered the lake, after many weather issues and the machines are now in the lake bed starting the transformation! The sub base for the internal road has been laid, and earth movement has begun in the dry dock area also. Steels are being delivered to site week commencing 11th February, and area 1 and 2 to to the north of the lake will be started to be pile driven to take the spines and jetties. Findern lane will close week commencing 11th of February also to allow for the realignment of Findern Lane and the new connection from the lake to the canal to take place, works will run for 30 weeks so access into the site is via Willington only during this period. After much delay the brochures will be out to all applicants week commencing 28th January, so be mindful that with so many applicants the first 150 to respond with deposits will get a 10% discount, we will then contact you in the order we received your application to invite you to site to choose your mooring! Over the coming months we will be giving you updates through various sources, such as the magazines, British Waterways, our website and forum, and the local press. We will also be attending the Crick Boat show this year between 24th to the 26th May 2008, so we look forward to seeing you there! Kind Regards
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