If you watched the BBC South Today report on the Hammerhead Crane in Cowes last week, you’d be under the misapprehension that the restoration was under way.
The exact opposite is actually the case. It’s in desperate and urgent need of saving.
Indeed, the developer has said he will spend 3/4 of a million pounds refurbishing the crane … but when that will actually start is uncertain.
Rust isn’t holding back
Discussions between the council’s Planning Department and the developer have been protracted and the longer that continues, the more urgent the repairs to the legs of the crane become – as the rust isn’t holding back.
What’s needed short term and some relatively cheap and simple repairs, but it appears that the developer won’t allow them to take place and the Isle of Wight council Planning department, headed by Stuart Love, won’t get around to force them to do it.
This stalemate is leading the crane getting worse daily and the costs of carrying out the work increasing by the day.
Pride in the Island’s heritage
Why save it? It’s about pride in the Island’s heritage. Hundreds of years worth of ship building has taken place on the Island. (Catch-up with the Cowes Hammerhead Crane history)
We chatted to Jon Fisher, Chairman of the Cowes Hammerhead Crane Trust about it last week, so here it is for you to have a listen to. [audio:http://otw-audio.s3.amazonaws.com/jon-fisher-chair-cowes-hammerhead-crane-trust-oct-2011.mp3]
Do you know people who worked at White’s shipyard
Do you know of anyone who used to work at White’s shipyard? Friends or relatives? The Cowes Hammerhead Crane Trust would love to hear from you.
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