From Malcolm P. Thorpe, Bembridge Harbour Authority:

It is good to see both Mr Gully and also Mrs Gully (alias Penny Walford) had letters printed (CP, 12-10-18).

However, Mr Gully has a very bad habit of both mis-quoting and/or distorting the truth.

Mr Gully, an ex-estate agent now property developer, is fully aware the lawful development certificate application for the houseboats is not applicable for the installation of new sewage treatment plant — and as he knows, we have a planning application ready to be submitted which includes the installation of individual sewage treatment plants free of charge by the harbour into existing houseboats which currently pump raw sewage into the harbour.

So far, due to unwarranted intervention by Bembridge Harbour Trust (BHT), we have been working with the Isle of Wight Council to secure this approval since April 2015.

Mr Gully is also fully aware our regeneration planning application, with the benefit of two resolutions to grant planning consent from the IW Council, includes a legal obligation for further investment of £950,000 into harbour facilities on top of the £1.1m-plus already been invested since 2011.

The proposed planning agreement sets out the format whereby this new investment is to be completed before the houses are built and it is the sale of these houses which will provide the capital needed to pay for the improvements.

Again, despite BHT, we have been working with the IW Council to secure this approval since February 2013.

BHT was set up in 2007 to buy the harbour.

In 2011, when it became available, it failed by bidding only 25 per cent of its commercial value.

Since then, its sole purpose has been to criticise and undermine the harbour management with a continual plea it is a charitable organisation duty bound to watch over the harbour.

No such duty (legal, moral or commercial) exists at all, other than in the six trustees’ minds, yet they all continue to re-vote themselves back into office every year and prevent the harbour’s rejuvenation.

It is now time the Charities Commission reviews BHT’s charitable status and the undeserved associated tax benefits it continues to claim.

Trust would do nothing different in ownership