Bad news from Bembridge

[jimbouy]

Re: Boating nimbys

Mmm. Good idea, lets create loads more expensive moorings for the gin palaces that are only used one day at a time ..a few times a year.... as floating holiday homes. Squeezing out the small boaters as we go. /forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif

Whilst we're at it we're short of parking spaces so lets build multistorey car parks where ever we can. Actually whilst we're at it we could do with upgrading as many A roads as we can to motorways. /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif

Ok... I'm exagerating ... a bit. Yes we can't stand in the way of progress, but where will it end?

 

[BrendanS]

Re: Boating nimbys

Come on, you never know when boats are being used if you are not there to see it. Doesn't always have to be at weekends, and many know that Nigels boat is one of a couple he uses, and can't always be in UK to use Solent one, so not just motorboats that have this syndrome

 

[jimbouy]

Ok........

I did use smilies and say I was exagerating...

In hind sight Gin Palace was the wrong phrase as it generally applies to Mobo's and I did not mean to direct my view at Mobo's only. I have spent time in Port Soent and at the other end of the scale where I am now in Ryde. Weekdays and weekends. I've chatted to staff and I think you would agree that my statement isn't completely untrue and that it often applies to the boats at the upper end of the scale.

I actualy think Nigel is an example of what I'm saying. He is on a less expensive and less "equipped" berth. If progress means developing all the quieter places and adding expensive facilities I doubt Nigel would be able to justify keeping his UK boat on.

Sorry.... it's something I feel strongly about.

No offence meant to anyone.


Jim

 

[BrendanS]

Re: Ok........

Jim, I actually agree, but the Gin Palace thing sent the post off on the wrong track. I know loads of boats that are used lots, but not necessarily at weekends or even consistently, and it annoys me when people presume the boat is not in use

 

[jimbouy]

Re: Ok........

Brendon,

I should have considered my wording better as I wasn't meaning to be offensive or to generalise.


Jim

 

[Guest]

Pros and Cons ...

Ok - lets look at the P & C of this ...

Develop harbour and add pontoons and possibly facilities.
Increase charges
Make it more accessible to wider range of craft

Decrease Local use and moorings
Cause various to choose alternative venue
Increase pressure on harbour to upgrade more amenities ashore


Sorry but I cannot see advantage in it .... Bembridge does not have the infrastructure to carry a developed Marina and its implications. It would need development of shore based amenities as well ....

Yarmouth, Lymington etc. have serious towns and services to back up the marinas and the number of boats / people ... sleppy little Bembridge will just disappear under the swarthe of incoming .....
A developers dream come true ......

We know about Newport ...... where a few people see development as a road to further development "off" the waterfront as well. Bring in more boats and money ... gives reason to take over and push out small businesses and build modern ..... BUT Newport has a town with possibly enough facilities to accommodate initial stages ... Bembridge does not.

What about famous names like Atrills, Redwings etc. ?? Are they just to be buried under concrete and greed ??

I am saddened by a number of posts here - some from those I never expected to see welcome such change ....

Jimbuoy is right about my circumstance .... If my berthing and keeping SA in UK was to increase - I would certainly consider cutting losses and selling her off ... as it is - I am finding that justification is already suspect. I agree that the Port Solents are a necessary part of boating - catering for various people, but the local harbour where locals and the poorer end of the market - such as yours truly can still enjoy boating. Why does it have to always be "improvement" ?? What does that really mean ?? Normally Profit ... nothing else.

Are people so naive to think that development of places such as Bembridge is purely for US boaters ?? Some may have deeper pockets and able to carry increased costs ... sorry I am not one of those .....

How long will it be before swinging moorings will disapear and we will all be forced to lie alongside a pontoon with increased expenses etc. (I actually do use a pontoon mud berth .... for convenience ..... but that is subject to review). How long before Clubs are forced to toe the marina line ?

Right onto a point that I feel has been missed ....

When most marina's develop or get created - they are obloged to provide for local established mooring holders. Normally a period is agreed at sensible rates so that that person can continue to enjoy use of HIS harbour. The marina is not allowed to push them out without fair deal and good reason. It seems that Bembridge is just using the Lease date as a lever without any compromise or offers .... it would be interesting whether any action or representation could be made by existing holders based on the established mooring access ??

 

[Jemmie]

Re: Pros and Cons ...

Trouble is that the Solent in the summer can't afford the luxury of nice quiet spots because there is simply too many boats competing for space. Whilst the demand exists operators will see the opportunity to make money and take that opportunity. The only solution is to reduce demand because the supply of boat space is fixed, only the utilisation is variable. Now how do we reduce the number of boats?

How about withdrawing the excellent RYA training schemes and let darwinism prevail?

 

[Evadne]

Re: Pros and Cons ...

It's not the Solent in the summer, but the Solent in the summer on a weekend. A few years back we had a week's holiday, just to visit the Isle of Wight and other Solent ports. We spent three days in Bembridge marina (before the Duver pontoon grew legs) alone. Not a visiting yacht or motorboat in sight. Alright, although it was May it was bloody freezing, but East Cowes and Yarmouth were much the same, even after it warmed up a bit. And I've photographs of Yarmouth on a Wednesday in August, with as many boats there as you'd expect to see in February.
I would like to see more visitor berths in Bembridge, perhaps as many as they used to have before the new arrangements were put in place. But not at the cost of making it a less pleasant place to visit. I don't want to see of the few remaining places in our patch that is pleasantly rural and relatively devoid of yobbish behaviour changed into another a large, expensive and characterless marina for the benefit of the big boats that visit on a couple of dozen Saturdays in a year.

 

[Guest]

Can someone please spell out the attraction of Bembridge ?

Also can anyone spell out the reasoning behind development given the town as it is ....

Where are all these new boating people with money going to enjoy their visit to Bembridge ?

Are they going to create a second Folly Inn or an upmarket complex to grab all this loose cash that will float in on the tide ?

Honestly - PLEASE can someone explain how Bembridge can seriously be a candidate when it barely caters for the harbour influx now ?
Who will develop the facilities and cash-grabbing services ? The same people who develop the harbour ?? Probably.

Can Bembridge really compete with Cowes, Folly, Yarmouth etc. ?? Doubt it really .... but someone will walk away with a pocket nay a barrow full of cash for developing it .... and not worrying about who is going to use it ....

First to go most likely is the beach cafe .... no need for that now the "Toff's" are coming, the pubs will go Micro-Wave warm-ups and modern ...... streets will be alive with Dubarrys and Helly Hansen all hours of day and night .....

Oh dear ......

Answers anyone ?????