09 Oct VACANCY ON BRIDGE OPERATING BOARD
PHC and BCP Council are jointly seeking to fill an imminent vacancy in the post of Leisure Users Representative to support the safe and sustainable management of Poole Harbour’s two Lifting Bridges.
The Leisure Users Representative sits on the Bridges Operating Board (BOB) as one of the three appointments made by PHC, alongside a Commercial Users Representative (currently the RNLI’s Training Manager) and a PHC representative (currently the Harbour Master). These roles ensure maritime interests are fully considered in the routine management and operation of the two lifting bridges. BCP Council and Dorset Police also have representation on the board, ensuring representation of bridges operation, engineering and highways requirements.
Click HERE for the application form which should be forwarded to harbourmaster@phc.co.uk no later than 5pm Thursday 29th October. Interviews of shortlisted candidates will be held during November.
Key Responsibilities
– Represent leisure maritime users of Poole Bridges (primarily but not exclusively those berthed within Holes Bay)
– Review and comment on proposed bridge lifting schedules.
– Provide insight on navigational safety and harbour user’s preferences from a leisure perspective.
– Raise recommendations to the Council regarding bridge operations.
– Collaborate with other Board members and other relevant maritime authorities.
Term, Appointment, and Governance
– Appointed by Poole Harbour Commissioners.
– Three-year term, renewable.
– Attend a minimum of two meetings per year.
– Full voting rights in Board decisions.
Skills & Experience Requirements
– Extensive experience in recreational use of Poole Harbour, particularly in transiting the bridges basin.
– An appropriate understanding of navigational safety and safe boat handling.
– Familiarity with leisure users of Backwater Channel with, ideally, an existing network of the current maritime leisure users of the bridges
– Ideally a local resident or frequent visitor also frequently uses Poole Bridges as a road user or pedestrian.
– Strong communication and stakeholder representation skills.
Expected Outputs
– Input into bridge-lifting schedules.
– Recommendations balancing maritime and highways interests
– Identification of maritime hazards
– Liaison with and representation of leisure users