Development directors’ plans to build around a harbour they own could face legal action from a charity.
Planning permission for 13 houses at Bembridge Harbour was granted to Bembridge Investments in March, but charity Bembridge Harbour Trust said it had concerns that the same directors were in control of the company and the harbour authority.
Notice has been served on the Isle of Wight Council by the Trust of an intended judicial review.
A letter to the authority from the Bembridge Harbour Trust said:
“The council should have been particularly assiduous in scrutinising the application to determine whether the status of Bembridge Harbour Improvements Company [the harbour authority] was being abused in order to realise private profit.”
The developers say that their plans would create ‘genuine benefits’ to the harbour and its nearby community. The Trust meanwhile, said that the scheme has failed to meet a statutory test of delivering benefit to the harbour – with the potential for environmental harm and financial implications.
The Trust has also warned of separate legal action against the harbour authority for ‘prioritising the interests of other companies owned by [harbour directors] Malcolm and Fiona Thorpe’.
Director Mr Thorpe said the trust made an unsuccessful attempt to purchase the harbour in 2011, and that the legal actions were ‘purely another attempt to gain control of the harbour’.
Few would expect anyone to buy the harbour and make nothing from it. Rich businessmen don’t spend a fortune just to retain wildlife and tiny little lives of residents hobbies and businesses.
They want a massive return on their investments. And will achieve such by all and any means possible.
Good luck to the guy, those shanty town ‘house’ boats would look fine in a third world land, but not a great advert for Bembridge upon passing them.
Wake up, 21c now.
That third world “shantytown” as you put it, is part of the charm of the harbour. With the attitude you appear to present, how long before tower blocks start being erected? Is it ok, just because large amounts of money are involved that one can ignore the will of the residents of this island. Most of us live here because it is what it is, – an island, with all its quintessential quaintness and idiosyncrasies.
NIMBY yet Ryde can be built to ruination and not a murmur
Here we go, how many more dodgy developments are there going on all over the Island…
No matter how we believe the island will stay as we know it and how it should be, the forces within are powerful devious and manipulating