A new 5-year contract to manage Ventnor Harbour has been awarded by the Isle of Wight Council.
From 1st April 2023, Ventnor Haven Management Ltd – run by Ventnor’s Blake family – will operate all aspects of the harbour, including supervision, the collection of mooring fees, maintenance and the removal of seaweed.
The contract, worth £78,000 per annum, represents a significant annual saving for the council which last year spent £103,000 on seaweed removal alone.
Ventnor Haven Management Ltd was 1 of 2 parties to tender for the contract. The other bidders were Cheetah Marine, who quoted £264,320 per annum.
The company is newly formed and has its roots in the Ventnor Haven Fishery, which it owns and operates from within the harbour.
One of the key changes proposed is a move away from diesel to electricity to remove seaweed from the harbour.
Councillor Phil Jordan, Cabinet member for infrastructure, highways and transport, said:
“Ventnor Haven Management Limited’s directors have been involved with the harbour throughout its history and have an in-depth knowledge of the area.
Article continues below this advertisement “The new contract will help safeguard the future of this important Ventnor asset and bring about improvements, while providing a significant annual saving for the council taxpayer.”
The decision to award the contract was taken by Councillor Jordan under delegated powers on Thursday.
while providing a significant annual saving for the council taxpayer. The only thing that usually runs in that harbour is Blake’s. Forgive me if I’m wrong. I will do that for half the cost.
hmmm, so is it not what you know, but who you knows….. ?
Still cheaper though,
Why did you not put your own self forward…….?
And if you diid…..wtf !
I read somewhere that another group had made an offer that was ignored just before the blakes latest golden handshake was announced. Might be rumour, might be true, same as the free advice given to the council on removing the weed and another offer to buy the stuff, but as usual we only give money and facilities to folk who pay for almost nothing but know the right people!
Why not get all these offenders who supposedly are supposed to do unpaid work in the community to clear the seaweed. It wouldn’t cost a penny for that aspect of the contract then.
Because they would end up having a beach party and bonfires.
Not much respect nowdays.
Seeing as the rich AND corrupt have raped this Country.
# CLASS WAR.
But never get paid employment eh.
If the harbour had been lined with Gabion cages instead of solid rock, then these could have been lifted onto the harbour wall, left out in the air, the seaweed would die naturally and then the cages replaced to until the seaweed growth returned.
Cheap, easy, no diesel or electric costs apart from a crane lifting the Gabion cages from the water two or three times a year.
Your assuming the seaweed is growing in the harbour … thats not the problem, what is is the weed that blows in there during rough weather, sinks to the bottom & rots. If you need an example of the effects come and smell Ryde Marina
£190,000 cheaper than other ?. Why did it cost £100 000 plus last year?.
Now according to media reports, Mr Blake is struggling with the coastguard agency regarding fuel tank locations on a new boat ordered with Cheetah Marine. Mr Strevens of C M has also been fighting Mr Blake’s corner on this matter. So are we really to believe the pair were battling each other for this contract. Hardly, this has been fixed & the dopey Council took it, hook line & sinker. Strevens has hiked his greed beyond the reach of IWCC & the Council award the £1,500 per week contract to a fisherman, a fowl mouthed fishwife & their spoon fed know it all Son. Resulting in the family who have ruined the Haven, probably now thinking they own it. WELL DONE IWCC. RIP VENTNOR HAVEN!!
Totally agree, they have taken hand over fist and given nothing back, they have the Harbour, the Cabin, the deckchairs and I expect the Millbay will be in line next! The Haven will now be private property and if Blakes had a way to remove the seaweed how come they havent done so to improve their area???? Not enough money I expect.
In the so called good old days.£500 can seal the deal wink wink.
As it is basically the blakes personal marina it is right they should manage it but it is not right they should be given taxpayers money to do so, they should fully finance it from the fees they will collect.
And pay back the building costs, AND the reduced rent paid since day 1.. not gonna happen to the mob.
You’ve got to hand it to them from a wooden hut to harbour owners all paid for by council taxoayers. Delegated powers aren’t they wonderful. I smell something fishy.
The next instalment will be Blakes claiming they need more money to remove the seaweed as it was worse than they thought and the technology doesn’t work. IF they had a way to remove it and to improve their area, why didn’t they do it before??? At least Clr Jordan will be getting free fish for life!
So the tax payer is now paying out thousands of pounds to a dreg family just to prevent a smell
which affects a tiny percentage of the population.
Send the Ventnor Cannabis smokers down to the harbour that will soon cover it up.