A second legal challenge has been launched by Bembridge Harbour Trust, this time against the harbour authority, by means of a Judicial Review in the High Court.
Bembridge Harbour Trust (BHT) is a local charity with the objective of protecting and enhancing the harbour while seeing that relevant law is applied to help the Statutory Harbour Authority (SHA) manage itself in its own and the public interest. Trustees include local councillors Phil Jordan and Jonathan Bacon, both of whom live in the area.
The charity has, for a number of years, been in conflict with the owners of the Harbour, Malcolm and Fiona Thorpe, following the Trust’s failed attempts to purchase the harbour back in 2011.
Earlier this year a Judicial Review was launched against the local planning authority, the Isle of Wight Council. It relates to the building of houses and facilities at the harbour.
Now, another legal challenge by means of a Judicial Review in the High Court has been launched, this time against the Statutory Harbour Authority (SHA).
Jeremy Gully, chair of BHT, has said:
“It is so disappointing that we have had to finally resort to legal action, having exhausted all other routes to achieve fairness for a harbour that is deteriorating so fast.
“Public concern can be measured by the incredible support we have had from the community, with people inside and outside the Trust donating the large amounts needed to progress these challenges in the courts. We are immensely grateful to them.”
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The next step in each Judicial Review is for the court to confirm that there is a case to answer and permission to proceed. This is expected within the next few weeks.
How much longer are these people going to keep wasting loads of money over their squabbles? They are worse than infants at school. Someone please get them all some boxing gloves and sort it out at last. lol
And of course, the harbour was in such an exquisite condition before it was taken over by the Thorpes. Paradise Lost. Where were the BHT then?