Land next to an Isle of Wight seaside village will continue to be used for dredging thousands of tonnes of material from a nearby harbour.
JMC AG Ltd’s planning application to continue using land at Bembridge Point off Embankment Road, Bembridge, for storing, sorting and distributing gravel in connection with the dredging of Bembridge Harbour has been approved by County Hall.
Proposal supported
The proposal also won the support of Bembridge Parish Council, Bembridge Harbour Authority and the Bembridge Harbour Users Group (BHUG).
Dredging operations at the picturesque harbour have helped to ensure its channel is navigable and supply mineral resources, a Planning Statement written by rural property specialists BCM Wilson Hill said.
The document said,
“The principle of the development is long established with the original temporary consent granted in the 1980s and the continued renewals of this consent, the most recent being in 2019.
“Previous planning conditions restricted the sorting, grading, loading and carriage of gravel from the site to between 7am and 6pm Monday to Friday and 7am to 1pm on Saturdays and not at all on any Sundays or Bank Holidays, and allowing the movement of plant required for dredging to take place between 5am and 7am on the spring low tides (but not on Sundays or Bank holidays).
“The operations will continue the same way and with the same level of materials as has been ongoing for a number of years.”
Thorpe: All harbours within the Solent need to dredge their entrance channels
Malcolm Thorpe, commenting on behalf of Bembridge Harbour Authority, said,
“All harbours within the Solent need to dredge their entrance channels and ways on a regular basis to retain accessibility to their marinas and pontoons – Bembridge is no different.
“The winnings are subsequently used for purposes such as road and building construction.
“Improvements to the machinery used has managed to significantly reduce dust and noise to local residences.”
Samuelson: Urge applicant to stick to operating procedures and timings
Mike Samuelson, caretaker chair and honorary secretary of the BHUG, said,
“The BHUG have supported earlier applications and is happy to continue this support on the basis that the yard is integral to the on-going operation to maintain the entrance channel to Bembridge Harbour.
“We do, as previously, urge that the applicant sticks to the operating procedures and timings included in the application.”
Bembridge Parish Council recommended the Isle of Wight council approve the application with a maximum term of five years.
Council planners are expected to publish a report justifying the decision.
This article is from the BBC’s LDRS (Local Democracy Reporter Service) scheme, which News OnTheWight is taking part in. Some alterations and additions may have been made by OnTheWight. Ed
