Agenda item

To receive a presentation from Paul Craven.

The Chair welcomed Paul Craven, Managing Director of the River Exe Café to the meeting, who provided a presentation and video on a new concept for canal pods. During the presentation, the following points were made: -

·         an introduction and background of the River Exe Café which started as a local initiative and had been operational for 15 years;

·         the introduction of two pods in the canal, designed to offer a unique experience beyond a typical Airbnb accommodation;

·         the pods would be accessible by a specially designed boat that could navigate the canal's swing bridge and travel from Turf Lock to Double Locks for collection;

·         the pods would be in the canal for eight months of the year and then moved downriver for four months during summer season and permission had been granted for the pods to be placed in the river.

In response to questions and points raised, Paul Craven advised: -

·         the boat to be used for accessing the pods would also operate as a taxi service between Double Locks and Turf Locks, enhancing accessibility and experience;

·         the strong positive reaction from the Visioning Day was welcomed and highlighted the potential to boost tourism in both winter and summer months;

·         currently there was a ferry service from Turf Lock to Topsham only operated during the summer, but historically there had never been a service running from Double Locks under the bridge;

·         the new ferry would be enclosed, solar-panelled, and equipped with a backup diesel generator for emergencies, but would primarily run on an electric motor;

·         trips would take about half an hour to avoid disturbing canal activities like fishing and a schedule would be developed in collaboration with Turf Lock and river users;

·         the River Exe Cafe operated six months a year due to weather constraints, with attempts made to extend operations proving to be a challenge;

·         the café did not directly compete with the Turf hotel and there was a potential for increased trade if the ferry service operated year-round;

·         the service would offer two pricing tiers: affordable rates for the public during winter and higher rates targeting boat owners during the summer season;

·         the boat currently accommodated up to 12 passengers, with potential plans to increase this capacity pending further approval;

·         a waste boat system was currently in place, which operated in a comparable way to the cafe's operations, ensuring proper waste disposal;

·         there was a potential to extend waste services to other vessels in the area, enhancing overall environmental management;

·         there were plans to introduce electric people carriers to improve connectivity between Marsh Barton Railway Station and Double Locks, which was subject to demand;

·         cycling routes were also being considered to enhance accessibility; and

·         the possibility of establishing a floating restaurant / bar at the Quayside in Exeter, had recently been discussed and was pending a site evaluation.

The Chair advised that the Harbour Master would be able to provide further information on establishing a floating restaurant / bar at the Quayside. She thanked Paul Craven for his presentation which was welcomed by the board.