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Cowes Outer Harbour Project
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The Commissioners and I share local stakeholders’ concerns over the continuing delays on the Outer Harbour Project and East Cowes regeneration, and we are working very hard to obtain clarity and certainty from the government’s Homes and Communities Agency and their development partners.
May I therefore encourage you to read our lead article below, which carries an update on the Outer Harbour Project, and also highlights the latest planning application for Medina Yard and opportunities for public comment.
Finally, as the nights start drawing in, there is more chance of setting sail on a passage that will involve sailing in the dark, so do please give thought to how the dark will make your trip different to a voyage completed only in daylight.
Capt. Stuart McIntosh
- Cowes Harbour Master
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Harbour and marine employment sites of strategic importance
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At the October Board meeting, Cowes Harbour Commissioners (CHC) discussed the three strategic, interlinked harbour and marine employment sites that are currently at various stages of development. These are the Cowes Outer Harbour Project/Venture Quays development in East Cowes, Kingston Marine Park at Whippingham, and Medina Yard in Cowes.
Cowes Outer Harbour Project
CHC continues to fulfil its commitments to the government’s Homes and Communities Agency (HCA) led Outer Harbour Project and has been ready to deliver Phases 2 and 3, a dredged Eastern Channel and extension to the Shrape breakwater, since December 2016.
The 'Harbour Infrastructure Funding Agreement' (HIFA) between CHC, the developer of the HCA’s Victoria Quay marina in East Cowes and the HCA, has been further delayed. Phases 2 and 3 will therefore not go ahead this winter as had been originally planned.
This delay is outside of CHC’s control, but the Commission is working with the government, their development partner VQEL, local authorities, and key stakeholders to achieve an early agreement on the way forward.
The Commission’s objectives will continue to be, protection of marine employment, marine services, and strategic harbour sites. CHC will also prioritise the capital dredge of the Eastern Channel as part of the Commission’s ongoing commitment to the Outer Harbour Project and East Cowes Regeneration Project.
CHC will continue to keep harbour stakeholders informed on progress via E-newsletter updates.
Medina Yard
At CHC’s October Board meeting, Commissioners also considered the latest planning application for Medina Yard.
The
hybrid planning application
by the Harrison Trust proposes a mixed-use re-development of Medina Yard to provide up to 535 houses and up to 18,630 sqm of non-residential floor space and associated new public realm works, landscaping, the re-construction of a sea wall and a new public slipway.
This site, formerly known as Samuel White’s, is the best-known and oldest shipbuilding and marine employment site in the Medina Valley. CHC considers that it still provides the best all-tide deep-water access, shipbuilding and marine employment site in Cowes Harbour and the River Medina.
The Commissioners, after consideration agreed to re-confirm their position, comments and objection to the Medina Village proposals to the Isle of Wight Planning Authority.
Click to view CHC’s official response
.
Any harbour stakeholders wishing to submit comments on this Application can do so
on the IW Council’s website
quoting the full Planning Application Number: TCP/28471/A, P/00496/16. Comments must be received by the IWC by close of business on 3rd November 2017.
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Annual Moorings Survey results
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We would like to thank all our customers who completed the recent Cowes Harbour Annual Moorings questionnaire. The survey closed on Friday, 20th October with 212 entries submitted, a very good return and representing over 40% of annual mooring holders.
We are keen to listen to what our customers have to say about annual moorings in Cowes Harbour and are now in the process of reviewing all responses and comments. This information will feed into our planning for the future provision of harbour moorings and associated facilities.
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Last month, Cowes Harbour Commission proposed a number of community-based projects that CHC could potentially help facilitate for the harbour and River Medina. After discussion and feedback from September’s Harbour Advisory Committee meeting, the focus will be on expanding opportunities for general access to the water and community engagement:
• Explore opportunities for increasing general access to the water, e.g. slipways, dinghy park.
• Create more opportunities for younger people and local schools to use the river.
• East and West Cowes to jointly commission an installation artwork or develop the Cowes Breakwater into an iconic landmark for the mouth of the river and two towns of Cowes.
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CHC Marine Services Review
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Cowes Harbour Commission has recently completed a review of its marine services, which comprise Shepards Wharf Marina, Kingston Marine Services, Cowes Harbour Moorings and Cowes Harbour Fuels.
CHC’s review included a recommendation for a business restructure and as a result, one of our management team, Barney Sollars, has taken the opportunity to follow alternative avenues. We would like to express our sincere thanks to Barney Sollars for over seven years of service to CHC. Following the review, Jock Rafferty has been welcomed into his new role as our ‘Marine Services Manager’ and Ed Walker has been promoted to ‘Deputy Harbour Master – Marine Services’.
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Water taxi service stakeholder dividend
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Cowes Harbour Commission invites all water taxi operators to apply for a stakeholder dividend towards the delivery of a reliable water taxi service for mooring holders, stakeholders and visitors to Cowes and the River Medina, for the 2018 season.
Full details on qualifying criteria, requirements, and general responsibilities are
available from Cowes Harbour Commission, along with the application form, which should be submitted with the necessary documentation by 1200 noon on Friday, 17th November 2017.
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economia magazine interviews CHC Chairman
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economia
, the business, finance and accountancy magazine, has interviewed CHC Chairman David Riley for their
October publication
.
David Riley, a veteran of the financial world, and partner at haysmacintyre, combines accountancy with his passion for sailing as Chairman of Cowes Harbour Commission.
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Occasionally, people ask Cowes Harbour Commission, “Who are the harbour's stakeholders?” The stakeholders are all those concerned with or having an interest in the trust port of Cowes, including: harbour users, the local community, local and regional economies and authorities, port employees, related interest groups, as well as local and regional businesses. As stakeholders, the interests of these groups are at all times the guide by which our Board of Commissioners runs the port of Cowes.
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Visitor and residential marina
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Premier dry sailing facilities
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Waterfront venue at Shepards Wharf
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Annual, visitor and event moorings
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Harbour maintenance and commercial marine operations
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Deep draught fuel pontoon on the River Medina
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Extensive yard facilities with 40t boat hoist, 30t boat mover and commercial premises to lease
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Tariffs and special offers for CHC marine services
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