Bembridge Harbour Important developments
Bembridge Harbour
Important developments
The Department for Transport has confirmed that it will be
conducting a public inquiry in January into the level of harbour dues
being levied by the Bembridge Harbour Improvements Company
Limited over the last four years, following appeals by harbour users.
It is understood this will be the first such appeal to be carried out
by the DfT and the users and managers of other harbours will be
watching the conduct and result of the inquiry with great interest.
The Environment Agency has now published its Eastern Yar
draft coastal flood and erosion risk management strategy,
in which it suggests that rising sea levels over the next 100 years
will leave 730 homes and businesses at risk in the Bembridge
and St Helens area alone.
The draft strategy recommends that the Bembridge Embankment
Road, Brading Marshes and the majority of properties at
risk should have improved protection from coastal flooding.
The paper acknowledges that the St Helens Duver Wall (see
photograph), which is in a very poor state and if breached would
flood the St Helens Duver, is particularly vulnerable making vital
the IOW Council’s proposal to maintain it for the next 50 years.
However, EA’s recommendation to “do nothing but monitor” the
groyne at Bembridge Point which they admit is also in a “very
poor state of repair” and “is regularly submerged” is a mystery to
Bembridge Harbour users. This negative policy will be
seriously questioned during the consultation process as the
groyne would appear to form an important protection to
the entrance to Bembridge Harbour.
Exhibitions and consultations on the EA’s draft strategy will be
taking place on this most important issue over the next
few months.
All these events are being closely monitored by the Bembridge
Harbour Trust, a body that obtained charitable status in
July 2007. The main objectives of this charity are to:
• preserve and enhance Bembridge Harbour, it’s approaches
and setting for the benefit of the public including the users
of the harbour and the communities of Bembridge and
St Helens on the Isle of Wight; and
• purchase the harbour from the current owner should
the opportunity arise.
BHT is a member of SPS.
St