the gazette isle of wight
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Helping the local Earl Mountbatten Hospice 36,000 copies - Friday 21st November 2008
Ferries war: end FREE in sight at last WIN INSIDE YOUR
GAZETTE
THE ferry war that has raged across the Solent between Yarmouth and Lymington over the planned introduction of Wightlink’s new vessels could soon be at an end. Wightlink has told The Gazette it is confident that the first of its three new super ferries will be up and running before the end of December.
The forecast comes despite claims from Lymington harbour master Ryan Willigers that it could be well into the New Year before all the concerns over the route from west Wight to the mainland is resolved. After exhaustive trials at sea and in Lymington Harbour estuary, Wightlink has now revealed it has received a passenger
By Peter White
certificate for new ferry ‘Wight Light’. Kerry Jackson, marketing manager for the operator, said: “As far as we are concerned there is nothing to stop us now.” But Mr Willigers, who worked for Wightlink until 2006 before leaving to become harbour master at Lymington, insists: “We want an end to this matter, but without com“We have to be sure promising the safety of vessels can operate safely people using Lymington in the river so people’s Harbour, or the environlives are not put at risk, ment. and that a protected site is
not damaged in any way.” One of the main stumbling blocks for Wightlink in setting up the new service was thought to be
the fact it needed to adapt the link span in their harbour berth at Lymington to allow vehicle access to and from their
bigger ferries. Work could not begin until a special licence had been obtained from the Marine and Fisheries Agency, and that was likely to take several more months. But now Wightlink has come up with a compromise plan that has taken Lymington by surprise. They have revealed the existing link span can be used, but for a while foot passengers will have to embark and disembark on the same access as vehicles, rather than through a side door. Kerry Jackson confirmed: “Exhaustive studies have been undertaken and trials conducted Continued on page 6
Theatre eyesore leaves locals fuming
ANGRY residents in Shanklin Old Village and Luccombe are demanding to know why a former theatre has been turned into an ‘eyesore’ after being partially demolished.
walking away from the site. Now there are suggestions a mainland developer has deliberately left what remains of the Portico in such a poor condition so he can put pressure on the IW Council for planning The Portico Theatre in permission for a new Priory Road has been housing complex. left in a dilapidated state Anne Bishop, a member after demolition workers of Shanklin Town Council began bulldozing it before and IW councillor for
Shanklin South, echoed the feelings of people living close to the site, expressing her disappointment that a one-time focal point in the area had been left abandoned. She said: “When the town council was first approached about the Upper Chine School site there was talk of a motel, restaurant, theatre and tourist facilities. Since
then the site has been sold off piecemeal and largely for residential use. “I am extremely concerned that the theatre, formerly the Margaret Passmore Theatre, and later the Portico, is now derelict and an eyesore.” The site is thought to be now owned by a Sussex property developer, who The Gazette has so far been unable to contact. Ryde Demolition began removing the Portico several months ago. When we contacted them at the time to enquire why work had stopped a spokesman said: “We have moved on to an emergency job.” Now a Ryde Demolition spokesman has said: “We will be back sometime, but we don’t know when. I don’t think it will be before Christmas. We have other work on.” Following a recent visit by an IW Council official, Ryde Demolition have now been told to make the site safe.
All that’s left of the Portico Theatre Council head of planning Bill Murphy said: “The council received an application for a demolition notice at the Portico Theatre in March and some works have since been carried out. “As part of the demolition notice, the applicants are required to make sure the site is safe and secure. A surveyor from the council visited the site and observed that some of the secure fencing around the area is not suitable, which needs addressing. “Under current legislation, the council has the
power to require the site to be made secure but has no authority to prevent demolition work as the building is not listed nor within a conservation area. We have since spoken to the applicant to make sure the site is made secure as a matter of urgency”. A source revealed: “It’s the same old story of a developer doing something like this on purpose. He pulls part of the building down to make it look an eyesore, then puts pressure on the council to get planning permission.”
36 pints of Ventnor Beer courtesy of the Broadway Inn
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