Abandoned boats are being seized by the Isle of Wight Council in a bid to clear berths and seek unpaid fees across the Island.
The council started the process against abandoned boats earlier this year, with notices put on vessels, in prominent places, in July.
Under threat of recovery
After a 14-day period, if no action is taken by the owner the boat is listed through public notices, in the back of local papers, giving owners another two weeks to contact the council and pay any outstanding fees.
In one notice, listed in the back of the Isle of Wight County Press on 16th July, boats, RIBs, trailers and dinghies were listed to be recovered if no owner came forward.
At Whitegate Pier in Cowes, boats called Patch, Dory and Morning Glory were among those under threat of recovery.
Outstanding fees to be recovered
An Isle of Wight Council spokesperson said at the end of the period if the owner failed to respond, the authority was within its rights to take possession and dispose of them, while still looking to recover any outstanding harbour fees.
Speaking at the council’s harbour committee meeting recently, Jonathan Brand, the council’s senior harbourmaster, said 20 boats had been served with notices, across Ryde and Newport harbours, at the Folly, in Whippingham, and at Whitegate Pier.
Boats moved to Folly moorings
Some boats had been cleared from Whitegate Pier and moved to the Folly moorings, although Mr Brand said the process of getting rid of them had not yet been started.
Councillors on the committee commended the actions of the harbour team and hoped for a positive impact on council revenue when the berths were made available for new users.
This article is from the BBC’s LDRS (Local Democracy Reporter Service) scheme, which News OnTheWight is part of. Read here to find about more about how that scheme works on the Island. Some alterations and additions may have been made by News OnTheWight. Ed
Image: © Benjamin Tonner
