From John Jeffries, Steve Lymn, Graham Bridger, Christopher Offer, Peter Gray and John Rolf, East Wight residents:

BEMBRIDGE Harbour is a unique and special asset for the communities of Bembridge and St Helens, as well as the Island and the tourism industry.

The future prosperity of the harbour can only be achieved with a commitment to a significant long-term investment programme, managed by a professional experienced team, supported by effective marketing campaigns.

The present owners bought BHIC Ltd (Bembridge Harbour Authority) in 2011.

The business was effectively bankrupt, with debts of over £1.2 million.

Over the past few years, they have invested more than £1 million to improve the facilities, which has encouraged more visitors.

The owners have confirmed on several occasions they fully comply with the 1963 Harbour Act.

The business is now a viable operation, but the cash flow will not support the additional investment now required for the planned improvements.

The original planning application number: P/00637/14, which forms an essential part of the strategic Harbour Regeneration Investment Plans, was submitted on May 27, 2014.

After a long and detailed investigation, with advice from the District Valuer and the council’s legal advisors, including a planning barrister, the detailed proposals were submitted to the IW Council planning committee twice, on December 1, 2015, and in December 2017.

At both meetings a recommendation for approval was given.

However, this item on the planning committee agenda has been delayed for nearly three years, by frequent interventions from the Bembridge Harbour Trust (BHT), they have also blocked the agreement on wording for the Lawful Development Certificate (LDC) relating to the houseboats.

As part of the regeneration plans, the owners have committed to provide free sewage treatment for those houseboats still discharging into the harbour, an essential step to improve the environment and water quality in the harbour where young children are sailing and swimming.

According to the BHT website, the principal aim of the trust was “a means of delivering the harbour into community led control”.

This is now history.

BHT have added they are “determined to fully support the incumbent (the new owners) in any actions perceived as being for the good of the harbour”. This does not seem to be the case.

Surely, it is time to move on and allow the planning committee to make a firm commitment on the planning agreement, without any further delay or interference.

The owners will then be held to account for the regeneration plans for the harbour, for the benefit of local businesses, the communities, and to make it a first choice for boats visiting the Island from the mainland or from across the channel.