As good as it gets

It's amazing how quickly you forget! What a summer!! Today Polzy is as good as it gets. Overhead, light offshore breeze, blazing sun... set to stay the same through the day. Sweet as. Drop everything. Come on down and join the party.

This is a fly-by. Whitsun bank holiday week was busy. Lots of waves and burnt shoulders. Oh and myself and the boys caught some fishies. Much excitement as we hauled in a biggun, our first fish that wasn't a mackerel! A Pollock! As Findog fought the good fight to bring her aboard, "Stop!" I shouted. "Stop!" The boys looked puzzled. "Just let the line out a bit!" Was I about to embellish them with advanced fishing techniques? No, one of the empty hooks on the line had attached itself to my ear! Yep, that's the standard of fishing expertise in our boat!! In summary, fish were tasty, ear is sound.

Good Work Team

How are you diddling? (Too personal?) Bit breezy woo down here on the beach, time to hold onto yer 'ats! Talking of hats.... and wind blowing through you hair, it's the 13th anniversary today. "Congratulations Pete" "Why thank you." (I may well have made this anniversary up, I have). Yep, thirteen years ago today, in the morning I had hair, long enough to sit on. By the afternoon, the tonsorial artist had enough hair to stuff a medium sized scatter cushion. Gone. The long flowing locks that used to swaddle my shoulders in luxurient magnificence were chopped in a manner that I can only describe as, ruthless. Once the first sweep of Wahl clipper had been made, there was no going back. Although to be fair as the first sweep had gone... from mid eye brow, to crown, to middle of back of head, there wasn't a great deal of trimmage required such was the lack of follicle decollage. Hence the reason for the number one in the first place. Studying still warm 6 x 4's from Boots of a recent trip to South Africa, the choices were clear: Reverse Mohican, Sweep over or chop. Chop it was and what a liberating experience it was. Never looked back really.

Hairs inside my head still beat a path toward a better life in the sun. These days, however, they gather at the entrances of my head holes. They wait until there's enough of them and then in the dead of night, they break cover via nasal and aural passages. Why I'm talking about this, I have no idea!!! I could go on. No seriously I could, but you're busy... we need to move on.

So what's new? What's news? Firstly, big pat on the back to our three instructors Paddy, Luke and Dee for quite probably saving a member of the general public in the surf on Tuesday. Paddy, who was coaching a school at the time, spotted him staggering back in the shallows. He watched as the man collapsed and lay face down in the water. Paddy chased over whilst calling for assistance from fellow Surf's Up! instructors Luke and Dee who were nearby. The man was taken away by air ambulance to Treliske where a full recovery was made. Full story in the Cornish Guardian here. Text book. We have an amazing coaching team on the beach this year, all favourites from last year and a joy to be around. Spirits in the camp are high.

Following the incident I wrote a personal letter to the Chief Executive of Cornwall County Council. I wanted reassurance that changes to beach policy are undertaken with consulation from those who work on the front line and understand the issues, rather than by those who lack experience and qualification, but still get given a title and responsibility to make decisions that affect us all. We work in a challenging environment that needs respect. The events of Tuesday and those in the estuary just over a week ago, are timely reminders that this is a very, very serious business. The council have made a complete 180 degree reversal on policy that isn't a trial for year to see how it goes, but a commitment for seven years. That's an awfully long time for the Chief Exec to have to hold his breath.

On Saturday we're hosting up on the decking of our Beach House, the Finisterre sale. Can't wait. Their clothing is top drawer, love it. If you want to grab yourself a bargain, this would be your moment. As well as innovative jackets and wooly jumpers made from their own sheep, they also do an award winning range of merino pants that never smell. I can testify to that. If you turn them inside out and put them on back to front, you know, mix it up a bit, it's incredible how long they'll last between washes!!

Surf's looking good for the bank holiday weekend, particularly for beginners and improvers. If you're around during the week, you could see some of the big stuff too. Lessons are everyday at 10am, 12pm and 2pm - 07760 126225 - pre-booking highly recommended.

Also, last minute availability at our flat - from Sunday 26th May, 5 nights - £250 including 5 surfing lessons. Would suit anyone looking to get some boxes ticked for their Duke of Edinburgh Awards. 

My work here, for now, is done. PC... MD of surfing empire!

No news as yet

Nothing to report. We expected a letter from the council with a new proposal last Friday, that hasn't arrived yet. So we're no further forward as yet. We're not standing still though... lots going on. In the absence of any direction from the council we're looking at alternatives... and to be honest as time goes on, they stack up quite nicely. Really frustrating to have this going on at this time of year when all our efforts should be focused on the year ahead.

What I want to know is whether the council are prepared to bend their own duty of care considerations, risk assessments and HSE policies to drive this through in order to raise more cash. If they do, we'll operate independently. No question.

The Cornwall Council have a Beach Management Strategy - here's the link - http://www.cornwall.gov.uk/default.aspx?page=33530 - it's all there. And here below is the specific page relating to Polzeath. If you click on it, it should grow before your eyes!

Gig on Saturday night was great fun. Really enjoyed it. Good vibe, fun was had and I think we played okay considering a six months absence from the rock scene. But those there will be the judge of that! There were lots of smiley faces looking back at me and I take that as a good sign.

Oh, thats interesting!!

Interesting facts: 

Cornwall Council Car Park Income/ surf school fees

Gwithian - £103k / £0
Widemouth - £97k / £900
Summerleaze - £178k / £675
Crooklets - £54k / £225

Polzeath - £141k / £20,225 from Surfs Up! Surf School

Why? Why isn't the Cornwall County Council putting other spots out for tender? The council tell us that they need to find the value of their land..... so why aren't these beach car parks put out to tender too? 

Tempted

Tempted, very tempted, but holding back. That's our position. The national press want a slice of this... they would. Polzeath holiday destination of the PM and Harry and William, you bet they want the story...we're just not quite ready yet. We're a big surf school, but a small business. And that's the way we like it. We have no illusion of grandeur, not looking for an opportunity to get beyond our station. All we actually want is to be able to continue to run our surf school as we have done for the last 18 years, on a safe beach.

Of the 500 + emails sent to the council that I've seen.... one came through yesterday that was short, but to the point. It reads as follows...

Thank you for your generic response.

Perhaps you could answer a straightforward question. Has the control of the number of surfing students on the beach at any one time been addressed in the tender documentation?

If it has, then tenderers will be able to take a view on the prescribed number of clients it may be able to attract and therefore price its bid accordingly. If it has not, then, without doubt, the safety of the surfers and thereby the public is being compromised as you are giving the green light for each of the surfing schools to maximise the number of students in the water at any one time.

Do not be fooled that 'Establishing the new licensed framework for surf tuition from the Council’s land will enable the authority to set minimum standards to ensure a quality experience for the user in line with the historic standards within the former WAVES scheme.'... because that simply is not true. What the council have chosen to omit in this statement is that there will now no longer be any restriction on other surf schools using Polzeath as a teaching venue and there will no longer be any restriction on the number of surfers any surf school can teach at one time. High tide on a hot summer's day? Oh my God! Oh my God. This is absolutely not in line with the former Wave Scheme. It couldn't be further apart.

Anyway, it's business as usual. Van off to get sign written next week - whether we stay where we are or move two yards away... we'll still be here and we're resolved to make it the best year ever! 

We were going to give this the 'One more night' tag line..... but we've been using that one for the past nine years! No one buys it anymore! 

Looking forwards

Firstly let's congratulate two of our former Surf's Up! Boardriders - Liam and Max who both triumphed at the recent Rip Curl Grom Search. A fantastic achievement by both. Trained over a few years intensively by our elite coach and Kiwi, Kelly O'Toole these boys have been going head to head for a while now. It'll be interesting to track their careers as they progress into the older age categories.

Surf today - head high, windy but warm. I much prefer it like this. It's almost balmy! Sunny yesterday. My bonce is browner than on Monday for sure.

Speaking of balmy, went to the solicitors yesterday... that all went well. Few paths to explore for sure. And then if it comes to it we're looking at a bill of £25k -30k to go to Judicial Review. Costly for sure. We'd have to sell one of our kids, but needs must and the cause is a good one! I like to see myself as a visonary :-) and what I see in three years time is sun, surf and three surf schools battling it out to pay for big licence fees in an over crowded black and white surf zone whilst the perpetrators are long gone. It's not about today or tomorrow - it's what happens within that 7 year lease period. The problem only gets worse. And the problem is there to stay. It's irreversible. That's why we have to stand up for what we think is right. 

The council are bending the rules of risk assessments and HSE and it's not right in any shape or form. It sets a precedent. Do you know what I'd really like to know? Where's the expertise coming from to make these decisions. The impact is huge, these are fundamental changes to the way the beaches are managed..... consultation should have been undertaken. If, as I suspect, the council are leaning on someone without the necessary experience, we will get to the bottom of it. Because no-one in their right mind would go forward with this proposal. It's a recipe for disaster. It's a way to raise cash so that someone can stay in employment. But they're not going to get it. If we pull out from the tender process and park 5 yds away, take the view that we'd rather pay £300 for a parking ticket, spend the £19,700 on developing our business in a different way, who's going to pay £20k to sit next to us? You'd think they'd take a view and do the same. What's been proved in this process is that at the end of the lease term, you have a business that you can't sell on and that therefore has no value. I think the council are at risk of making less money than last year, not more. But we'll see. I believe in people, and I  like to see the best in people. I'm also a fatalist ie things happen for a reason. How many of you have said, this could be the best thing that's ever happened to you. 

I should thank you again for the letters of support - we'd like to somehow publish them, it's hard to comprehend the efforts that have been made to write about your connection with Polzeath and real genuine concern that it retains it's appeal. Humbling, make no mistake. Oh and I used to think no-one read my blogs or newsletters - apparently some of you do.

Right, I suppose I'd better do some guitar and singing practice for Saturday. The last time our band played together was September and we won't have time for a rehearsal. We're going to wing it. History tells me that in our case a good rehearsal is no guarantee of a good gig. We've had some shockers! Standing behind the mike can be the loneliest of places when it's all going wrong. I lost my voice once at a private party during the second song. The Amy Whitehouse tribute singer came back on stage to lend a hand. There's a low light right there! But at the same time, I've been past head high amongst the assembled for a bit of crowd surfing - at the Oystercatcher as it goes, which is where we're playing this weekend. I'm hoping that adrenaline, fear and a drunk audience will win the day! Whatever happens, it'll be fun and I feel there'll be a bit more energy and angst to channel into the vocals this time around. Ladies and gentleman, let's get ready to rumble! Oh nearly forget, how rude... of course on Saturday, we'll also be celebrating Plymouth Argyle staying in the football league and the start of their charge towards the Premiership. Get in!

Council Reply

We are truly humbled by the support. I've just seen a response sent out today by Jolyon, Countryside Officer for Cornwall County Council, who I believe lacks the experience to head this up. I've inserted my comments - the lies, inconsistencies and inference that by adding a further surf school represents a step forward re. beach safety is totally incorrect, dangerous and foolish. Letter and reply as follows....  

The licence awarded to the existing provider of surf tuition from the Polzeath Car Park recently expired after a long period of operation (18 years).  The Council has a duty to achieve best value from publicly owned assets, which informed its decision to advertise two opportunities for licences (where and when was the consultation process to turn the car park spaces into a trading pitch - apparently the reason why this isn't being done on any other beach is because the consultation process is lengthy) through a publicly advertised (wrong dates, not on tender website, no reply to questions asked, submission date on bank holiday) competitive process . The existing provider was notified of the Council’s intention to tender (the first we heard about this was through our main competitor the day before it went in the paper - upon which we were given 14 working days. The previous tender was carried out over an 8 week period). 

The Council has now evaluated the tenders received and has offered the opportunity to trade from the car park to two successful businesses catering for surf tuition and hire. The Council’s proposed licence agreements would contain the same standards covered by the former WAVES scheme to ensure the highest operating and health and safety thresholds are met. (except the numero uno condition - they've taken away any restrictions on numbers ie we can take in as many students as we like with no reference to tide or season. Really? Wow! At high tide we used to be restricted to 20 students, we could now take in 100? plus the two other schools, plus any other surf schools operating on the beach as they've taken away that restriction too. Free for all.)

The Council recognises the importance of the beaches to the environment and economy of Cornwall and is committed to ensuring that it works with both local communities and businesses (the council have received over 500 e-mails opposing the introduction of a new surf school - it has not in any way worked with the local community or businesses) to ensure that these are managed in a sensitive way.  Revenue generated from the issuing of licences is used to support the provision of services such as beach cleansing and Lifeguards and the authority is required to ensure that it generates the best possible value for Council Taxpayers’ money. (which brings us back to - the tender sum will be the key criteria and why not roll it out on ever beach).

Local authorities in this area have worked with activity providers on the beach for a number of years to try and improve standards and manage the quality of experience in the surf zone. (so why change it now - why the backward step?) Polzeath has a number of surf hire outlets (including the surf schools) and shops in the village selling surf equipment, many of which operate without the formal structure that relate to Cornwall Council’s procedures. Establishing the new licensed framework for surf tuition from the Council’s land will enable the authority to set minimum standards to ensure a quality experience for the user in line with the historic standards within the former WAVES scheme. (Absolutely total rubbish!!! That is a complete falsehood of the situation and the statement should be retracted. What has actually happened is they've taken away any restrictions - ie we can teach as many people as we like at any state of time, whilst at the same time allowing any surf school to operate on the beach - the situation before was that there were only two surf schools permitted to operate, now any surf school can operate).

So in summary - it's all about the money, end of, cloaked in misleading info about making the beach safer. The statement 'new licensed framework for surf tuition from the Council’s land will enable the authority to set minimum standards to ensure a quality experience for the user in line with the historic standards within the former WAVES scheme.'.... is absolute nonsense. Complete nonsense. No one would agree with this statement. I think the council is assuming that you have no knowledge of how the beach works. With their actions I think you have more. This is a fob off and totally unacceptable. With falsehoods such as this, into misleading the general public that this is going to better.... I truly believe now that enough is enough and the council officers need to stand down or at the very least hold an open meeting so that the points can be discussed in an open and transparent way. 

I believe that there may be a fourth Muskateer who is watching all this from his ivory tower... you might like to make your views known.

Alford Jonny (jalford@cornwall.gov.uk)

Jolyon Sharpe - 01208 262836 / 07974 916505 jolyon.sharpe@cornwall.gov.uk

Off to see the solictors this afternoon - Compliants Procedure in process, Ombudsman informed and watching. Will consider a Judicial Review, may consider setting up a fighting fund in return for lesson vouchers to go down that route as it's costly. But all so unnecessary.

Other news - erm, well obviously this is dominating our every waking hour. Massive thanks to everyone who's shown such amazing support.. it's been quite a journey! We feel we need a knees up, music soothes the savage beast, so the Surf's Up! rock band Mahoustic (Wailo, lead guitarist; me, vocals and weak link; Grattman, bass former instructor; Will, drums and mate) - we're going to play up at the Oystercatcher this Saturday. Might just have a bit of angst to release with our Foo Fighter, Pearl Jam covers. All welcome!! Be great to see you there.

P of the Deep Blue C

Onward

I know of another 200+ letters that were sent via e-mail to the council on Friday and over the weekend opposing the new surf school. So that's over 500 that I know about. Will they read them? Doubt it! So Complaints Procedure in process, Ombudsmen informed and watching with interest, meeting with solicitors tomorrow. Not going to sit back and take it. Press lined up as and when we need them. We've had a deadline moved to Wednesday... think a lot will happen between now and then. Really miffed that the council misled the district councillor by saying they'd had a bid from a business that wasn't surf related - that was to deflect the criticism, it was a lie.

Surf today is massive! A 6.1 m high tide and it swept under our trailer - wow! That's never happened before. I blame the council. I told you they'd lost all control of our beaches!

What are the council thinking!

It's hard to find the words this morning. The council are going ahead with a second surf school in the car park - it's now a fact. The Polzeath that you and I love, won't be the same. The reasoned arguments that you took time to write down and send to the council officers, have fallen on deaf ears. The issues of overcrowding in the surfing area and the extra bodies walking between the cars in the car park have been superceeded by the need to raise money to pay for, and I quote, "Beach services such as beach cleaning." 

 

We went to a meeting on Wednesday at 3pm with the council to dicsuss the tender - we sat opposite the three council muskateers - David Attwell, Joylon Sharpe and Phil Jones (there was a forth person, a lady called Ann taking the minutes, she was lovely. Get out of there Ann before it's too late!)) - and we discussed all the points. What we argued was considered, both sides had their say. After the 90 minutes myself and Janey went to Morrissons for mug of coffee. I can't deny the thought of eighteen years of hard work going down the pan has put a huge strain on our relationship. We have our boys, but the surf school is like another child to us. We married a few weeks before we started Surf's Up! - it's all we know. Surf's Up! is a family business. We worked hard to create something that was different, that gave back. And we're comfortable that we've done that. We summised that the meeting had gone well and we'd said what we wanted to say.

 

And then I received a phone call yesterday to say the following - that we'd been successful in our bid, but that there would be a second surf school located some five yards away. I don't see that as being successful to be honest. That wasn't the end of it though. When we submitted our bid, there were many questions unanswered. Our biggest was that if we decided to put in a tender bid, how could we value the pitch without knowing what the second site would be? On many occassions the council gave the strongest indications, particularly following your considered letters, that it probably wouldn't be a surf school. If it was it would devalue our pitch. If it was a Costa Coffee cabin, then we might take the view that foot fall would be increased. We asked, and we asked, and we stopped short of blowing the house down. But no little piggies came to the door to answer our questions. The difference in the valuation could have been as much as £15k - so as the deadline approached what were we to do? We did the obvious - we submitted a tender with a sum that reflected our position. We offered to continue to pay at the rate we had done over the past 6 years - £20k a year.... but that if the new trading site was to be offered to a new surf school we reserved the right to negotiate the tender sum. With complete silence from the council on the issue, this made complete sense. We know that we couldn't run a sustainable business paying £20k a year with a surf school a few large strides in the sand away. And the reality is also that you wouldn't want us to. Three large surf schools, going as hard as they can, head to head to teach as many people as we can to pay the licence fee. That's not what anyone would want. 

 

Are you with me so far? Good. Now hang in there because this next bit will knock you out. The phone call I received yesterday from Phil Jones also said that they could only accept our £20k bid; that it was not legal to negotiate once the tender sum was submitted. The council put a gun to our head - go with the £20k with the surf school next to us, or withdraw our tender! please just take a few moments to reread that last bit. This is the council who gave us no notice of a retender process until 14 days prior to the tender date submission (when the season had already started and after 18 years good service); got the dates wrong in the adverts in the paper; refused to return my calls and answer questions that were fundamental to our bid (specifically Jolyon Sharpe); failed to place the tender on their own tendering website; and put the closing date of the tender on a bank holiday. Where's this document that says it's okay to do this but suddenly we get all correct and proper when it comes to the actual tender application. It's my conclusion that a deal was struck with the new school a while ago. I believe that now. Why has this been rushed through in 14 days? Why no consultation? Knowing the opposition why not put the process on hold and have a rethink? And if it's about money, why is this the only beach where this happens? Why are there no trading spots in Newquay, in Bude, all around Cornwall. Why just Polzeath? And maybe if they managed the car parks better and lined up the cars like they used to rather than putting fines on them, they'd raise a bit more cash too. There is no support for a third surf school, a second in the car park, none. I don't know a single person in the village who isn't up in arms about it. And your letters, of which there were hundreds have stated very eloquently what you think in your opposition. Your opinion is worthless.

 

So where are we? I don't know to be honest. We feel that things are going on behind closed doors that we have no control over. None of it makes any sense. What we do know, is that we can't afford to pay £20k a year. We know that. It's been hard enough the past couple of years without the impact on our business of another surf school. And I'm not sure that we have any option but to withdraw our tender. Of course, we don't want to. Yes we could park 20 yards away and pay £19,700 less by buying a parking ticket like every other surf school in the country. We could trade from our shop and office, but still operate. That fails to address the safety issues of beach and car park though. Maybe we don't want to operate on a beach so out of control and lacking in management.

 

We actually don't know what to do. I'm a half glass full man, always have been.... but hearts are heavy in the Craskie camp right now. Feels like we've been stitched up by an incompetent council department. If they need to raise money, why not let a few of the officers go - that's my view. The tender process was an absolute shambles that would not have been tolerated in the private sector. But the officers shelter behind each other and take refuge in the fact that if they don't pick up the phone and answer difficult questions, everything will be okay and it'll all go away. We realise now that the meeting was a complete waste of time, the decision had been made before we even entered the room. What a complete waste of time. Shambles, complete shambles.

 

We've been asked by the council to let them know today what our decision is. So I guess if you want to express your views on any of the issues, you have today to do it, and we'd be grateful if you would to be honest. If you've written before, rather than the generic reply, you might like to go back to ask them to respond to your issues, directly. Probably won't do any good, but probably wouldn't do any harm either. Sorry to be a bit down beat... can't see the funny side right now. Can't quite believe any of it.

 

From myself, Janey and the Surf's Up! team - thanks so much for your support.

 

The details of the three muskateers are as follows: 

David Attwell -  01208 262868 / 0778 559 1200 david.attwell@cornwall.gov.uk

Phil Jones - 01579 324106 / 07771 980166 philip.jones@cornwall.gov.uk

Jolyon Sharpe - 01208 262 836 / 07974 916505 jolyon.sharpe@cornwall.gov.uk

Tender - no new, is... no news!

You'd think after the 200 + letters that I've had cc'd to me, copies of the letters e-mailed to the council clearly expressing concerns about the new tender proposal, that we might have heard something? (200+ that I know about, there would be many many more that I don't know about). But, no! It's time for another...hm. Perhaps a longer one this time... hmmmmmm. Disappointing to be honest. I've been looking at the council contract procedure rules and I have to say that my eyebrows are in the fully arched position. See what you think.... let's start from the very beginning, a very good place to start: I was informed of the tender by our competition; the tender allows for 14 working days (that's council working days, 19 if you run your own business - I think it should be 36 days under the procedure rules absolute minimum) to assemble a document for the next 7 years; the dates in the adverts in the paper differ from that on the tender document; I've not received answers to my questions or calls returned which has made it really difficult to make a valuation of the site or complete by tender document; the main man is on holiday: and the document has to be submitted by Friday latest which is a bank holiday - I quote 'the deadline for the receipt of tenders cannot end on a public holiday, Saturday or Sunday.' Are your eyebrows in the full arched position too? Hmmmmmmm.

Your response has been quite phenomenal. It's been a watershed moment. You've made your views known to the council. And here's the thing - the letters are not copied and pasted from mine. They're long, considered and well argued from people who have a long association and love of Polzeath. I think it's been incredibly positive. Without any intention in doing so, what we've created for free for the council is a market research document that gives a clear vision for the future. 

You still have today and tomorrow left to make your views known, please take the time to write to david.attwell@cornwall.gov.uk and jolyon.sharpe@cornwall.gov.uk if you haven't already and please don't forget to copy us in. Don't worry if you get a message saying they're on hols.

As for us, we're burning the midnight oil, eating lots of cadbury mini eggs and drinking lots of mugs (cups aren't big enough) of espresso because even if we believe the actually tender process is flawed, unless we hear otherwise, we have no choice but to press on with the tender application. It's important. It's our life.

In the meantime, it's business as usual. Easter is upon and we can't wait to see you. We just want to get on with doing what we do best - and that's teaching willing students to take to the surf and ride a few waves. Simple really. Give us a call on 07760 126225 to book your lessons.

Thanks once again for your continued support.