NSPCC CHRISTMAS RAFFLE

The Navigation Point Businesses and Mandale Properties got together in December and organised a Christmas Raffle for the NSPCC by donating meal and drinks vouchers . Over £2100 have so far been raised.
Revellers were very keen to purchase raffle tickets to win a meal here, a bottle of Champagne there as well as help the NSPCC at Christmas and at a time when many charities are seeing their fundraising efforts thwarted by the economic downturn.

It is also refreshing to see businesses usually competing to attract the same clientele, come together for the sake of helping the local branch of the NSPCC.
As well as the Christmas Raffle, three events took place in December and despite the cold weather, a few children accompanied by parents and grandparents came to visit Santa's Grotto and received gifts.

A few members of The Northern School of Music sang Christmas Carols as Chinese Lanterns were let off into the skies over Navigation Point.

Further events are planned in the future to showcase the jewel in Hartlepool's crown, the Marina in general and Navigation Point in particular.

Since its inception in early 2000, the area has blossomed into a very popular leisure hub, with its various restaurants, cafés and bars. The Marina now attracts visitors from all over the North East and beyond.

Navigation Point Christmas Event

The first one of Navigation Point's Christmas Events went off with a bang.
At 5.30 Santa arrived on the Marina boat Adventure and followed by two elves he proceeded to his grotto situated in the car park next to a 30ft Christmas tree kindly donated by Mandale Properties.
Under the sound of festive tunes provided by Daniel Brobbel, an orderly queue of thirty to forty children formed in front of the Grotto. For £1 the children got to meet Santa and receive a present while the parents had their names entered in the NSPCC raffle organised by the Navigation Point Business Group, one of the prizes being a boat trip in the New Year.
The Mayor, Mr. Stuart Drummond arrived at 6pm to switch on the Christmas tree lights to loud cheers from the attendance.
Boat rides, walk-on-water and a cup-and-saucer ride provided further entertainment.
Some of the restaurants and bars joined in the fun, by selling such things as banana fritters, mulled wine, mince pies, roast chestnuts and hot chocolate laced with brandy to warm up the visitors.
Each business has pledged a prize towards the NSPCC raffle and so far, over £400 has been raised.
It is certainly heartwarming to see that despite the snowy conditions and very adverse financial crisis, Navigation Point businesses are coming together to help the NSPCC as well promote Hartlepool Marina.

Saturday 11th between 5pm and 7pm there will be more of the same.

Krimo's parking up the wrong tree...

Navigation Point's owners have decided to introduce parking charges. Nothing wrong with that. It is their land and they can do whatever they want with it.

In the beginning (over 10 years ago) was a vacant Marina. Vacant flats. Vacant shops. Vacant berths.
Then came businesses (Krimo's was the first) on that side of the Marina. One at a time. Shyly. Hesitantly. A few struggled but over the last six years, the area began to blossom.
Many boat owners left faraway havens to come and berth their floating weekend retreats in our Marina. There were now waiting lists for the apartments.
The Marina became fashionable. It even acquired a new name. The Jewel in the Crown... Of Hartlepool and Tees Valley.
It began attracting visitors from far and wide. The Lords of the Land were happy. The businesses were cautiously pleased. The residents ecstatic with everything on their doorstep. It seemed like the centre of the Universe. Especially on a sunny day.

And then came the crunch.
The high rents began to bite.
Midweek, customers became a rare sight.
Paid parking plans finally came to light.

The Mayor promised that, not if, but when the Council adopted the Marina, no parking meters would go up. According to a leak, a thorny point sank the inflated adoption plans.

Back to square one.
The meters came on Monday, followed by their maids.

Unfinished coffees.
Tables hurriedly vacated.
Scuffles over a few seconds past the first free half hour.
Worried workers. Worried employers.

A mile away, defeated Morrisons placed a hood on each parking meter as customers voted with their feet.
Down here we're left robbing Peter to pay Paul.

We need our customers. When are our landlords going to realise that they also need us?

(Photo courtesy of the Hartlepool Mail)