THE charity, which plans to bid for Bembridge Harbour, is holding its first public meeting to win local support.
Bembridge Harbour Trust is inviting residents of Bembridge, St Helens, Brading, Nettlestone and Seaview to the meeting at Bembridge Village Hall at 7pm next Friday, July 15.
The charitable trust will be seeking to win the support of residents for its plans to bid for the harbour and at the same time launch an appeal, Saving Bembridge Harbour, to finance the considerable costs of dredging and other vital restoration work in the harbour.
More than 5,000 invitations to the meeting have been hand delivered this week to households in the East Wight.
Further public meetings will be held in St Helens, Brading and Seaview over the months ahead.
Michael MacInnes, trust chairman, said the prime objective of the trust is to buy the harbour, restore and run it for the benefit of the local communities in perpetuity.
He said: "The harbour is a key part of the economic, business and social life of the area and everybody has an interest in its future.
"This is not a fundraising event; this is an information-sharing evening. However, if anybody wishes to give us financial assistance to support the campaign to save Bembridge Harbour that will be marvellous.
"We cannot say how much we will need to buy the harbour until the administrator puts it on the market.
"Our planning and preparation for the bid is now well advanced and we have had offers to help and support from many quarters including those with great experience in running harbours."
Reporter: martinn@iwcpmail.co.uk