The staggering amount it costs the Isle of Wight Council to remove seaweed from Ventnor Harbour has risen once again.
The authority has put the 18% increase down to the rise in costs witnessed across all council contracts but it has pushed the bill over £100,000.
Since the harbour was built in 1994, it has suffered from the constant presence of seaweed that comes in from the English Channel.
However, to maintain harbour depth and get rid of smells, the Isle of Wight Council, which owns the harbour, has to remove the build-up of seaweed. To do this, the authority has contracted the work to Ventnor business Cheetah Marine, for the past few years.
In the 2019/20 financial year, the contract cost the Isle of Wight Council £75,120, which rose by £12,000 for 2020/21 and 2021/22 to £87,420 a year.
Now, with prices rising for everyone, the cost of the contract, which started in April and will run until the end of March 2023, has increased again to £103,155 a year — a rise of £28,000 in just 3 years.
The council’s harbour committee did look at the possible alternative uses of seaweed in Ventnor Harbour, and other areas leased or owned by the authority, but there was no budget at the time to take any of the actions forward.
As part of the contract costs in the current 2022/23 financial year, the council has given a £40,000 ‘contribution’ to Cheetah Marine. A council spokesperson said it would go towards vessel refurbishment.
As part of the future of Ventnor Harbour, the Isle of Wight Council is proposing to bring in a management company that will carry the cost of the seaweed removal in later years.
Perhaps they could use poison or copper clad gabion cages below the water line.
Or for those who object to a cheap effective alternatives as they are usually those who pay the least in council tax , but take the most out of society, get them to wear wet suits and hand remove the growth.
Why not harvest it, on a you want it come and get it basis?
Put it to use as fertiliser? Oh hang on, the green fields are disappearing under concrete……..
Would it not be possible for the council to advertise on facebook that if gardeners wanted to collect bagfuls from the beach for composting they could? One way to get rid of some!
Good idea, but the words council and free should never be put in the same sentence.
£ 2000 A week is this what I pay MY council tax for !
Why not let those who use the “harbour” pay for it themselves, the island council tax get no benefit whatsoever from this white elephant and the other one at Ryde which is behind the biggest sandbank on the island.
Sell it to Chinese restaurants.
“ As part of the future of Ventnor Harbour, the Isle of Wight Council is proposing to bring in a management company that will carry the cost of the seaweed removal in later years”.
So, from that NONE statement, tge Council seem to infer that someone else will pick up the bill!
Think you might find that the Council Tax Payer is the one who ALWAYS foots the bill!
Sell it for sushi and get the money back, simples
Just a thought could we have a seaweed eating day once a year all are welcome
Why not give it to the food banks ?
Why do we need to pay for the removal of seaweed? It must affect only a few people