On 23rd February 2005 the focus of this one man dispatch, was after-dinner guest speaker Mr. John Matthews, Chairman of both Regus Plc and Crest Nicholson Plc. At just £123 per head, the Chairman's Network, in conjunction with Hayward & Associates, put on a special lunch in the beautiful Kensington Room at Claridge’s Hotel, London. It was organised in association with Intellect, the trade body for the UK-based - information technology, telecommunications and electronics industry.

John Matthews was billed to relate his experience of the turnaround of the Regus Plc Group. Mr. Shalom was present at the kerbside to relate his experience of the turnaround, of the Shalom Family houseboat home, and that of his wife and five daughters, of being evicted at the hands of Crest Nicholson Marinas Limited, an erstwhile and wholly owned subsidiary of Crest Plc.

Despite protests from the ill-funded family that ‘Justice’ has not been served via the Cardiff Courts, it remains that Crest Nicholson have, ‘had their day in court’ and ‘won’. It also remains true that Crest Nicholson has exercised, to the fullest extent, their apparent and ultra right, by virtue of court orders obtained, to seize the Family home of 14 years along with their life time personal private possessions.

A point of debate in this long running dispute is whether Crest Nicholson essentially held a beauty show but dressed it up as something else. Crest has admitted that they made some terrible mistakes, not least of which, was causing a night time grounding and toppling accident to the Shalom Family home, but John Callcutt CEO Crest Plc goes even further. He has confirmed to the family that his organisation was “wrong” to have ever allowed them to settle at the marina in the first place. In speaking with the couple at a meeting held earlier at the marina, he also expressed the view that, “children should not live on boats”. For over six years Crest Nicholson were content to accept full mooring fees, paid for, and by, the Shalom family of five children. The family were originally invited and welcomed to Penarth marina by Crest in January 1997, but it was undoubtedly the subsequent marina-caused accidents, (one to their home and another to their daughter Rebekah) which highlighted the marina’s deficiency, in being able to provide a truly safe haven. It would seem that these incidents were the catalyst which determined a Crest Nicholson policy u-turn, concerning houseboats at Penarth marina and their chain of marinas nationwide.

Family records show that Crest Nicholson breached health and safety standards at their Penarth Marina in Cardiff Bay and that Crest could not provide a quality of service to match their published boastful claims. Penarth Marina was let to Crest Nicholson Marinas Limited on land owned by the Vale of Glamorgan Council. The council’s Environmental Department was supposed to be responsible for enforcing health and safety at Penarth Marina. However, despite family invitations to Council Leader Jeffrey James and other councillors, family records prove that the Vale of Glamorgan Council demonstrated no responsible interest whatsoever, towards the Shalom Family, and/or, their tenant-caused houseboat accident, nor the direct consequences of same.

The family of five young girls, who have known no other way of life, were evicted from their houseboat, Picton, at Penarth Marina in October 2003. Separated from their houseboat home, and all their personal, life–time, private possessions since April 21st 2004, they presently reside with family and friends.

The Family believe that they have been let down by their MP Mr Alun Michael, who has yet to offer them any direct practical assistance in their situation, preferring to accuse the Shaloms of being rude to his staff, but he has yet to answer repeated family requests, for a full explanation to his allegation and above all, their right to reply.

Penarth Marina is now run as Quay Marinas, the new company created as Crest Plc sold off Crest Nicholson Marinas Limited, to a management buy-out team in July 2004.

In partnership with the Vale of Glamorgan Council, Crest Nicholson have recently announced the £100M Executive Housing Development, ‘Penarth Heights’ (Harbour View/Royal Close) project. Crest Nicholson Managing Director Stevan Usher stated: "We are using a world-class architect to create Penarth Heights as a place where people will be proud to live and where there will be a real sense of community spirit.” Furthermore he states, “We have worked very successfully with the Vale of Glamorgan Council before and we are looking forward to working with them again”. Whether by coincidence, irony or design, the proposed new building plot, overlooks the former site-of-residence of the Shalom Family home, Penarth Marina.


Other links of interest.

Indymedia NEC Boat Show Protest
 https://www4.indymedia.org.uk/en/2005/03/307747.html

Indymedia Schroders London Boat Show 2005
 http://www.indymedia.org.uk/en/2005/01/304204.html