Protest fleet occupies Yarmouth Harbour on the Isle of Wight
by Oliver Dewar 24 Aug 2010 10:20 BST
22 August 2010
On Sunday 22nd August, over 50 boats from throughout The Solent gathered off Yarmouth, Isle of Wight, for an unprecedented, waterborne protest against proposed changes to the town’s unique harbour.
In the early afternoon, the fleet of sailing yachts, motorboats, RIBs, Yarmouth Scows and rowing boats mustered outside the harbour’s breakwater before filing in line astern through Yarmouth harbour carrying banners, sounding klaxons and whistles to applause and support from visiting yachtsmen moored in the harbour and holiday makers lining the quay. The cause of the unusual protest is a planning application lodged by Yarmouth Harbour Commissioners (YHC) that will dramatically alter the attractive port, potentially changing the harbour from a popular sailing destination into a sterile marina with a drastic impact on the busy, unspoilt town.
Far from a stubborn reaction to change, the protest was triggered by profound concerns for the fundamental wellbeing of Yarmouth on aesthetic and practical grounds. Local resident, keen yachtsman and joint organiser of the protest, John Caulcutt, explains: “Yarmouth depends for its livelihood on visitors,” says Caulcutt. “If there were no visitors, the much-reduced revenue generated by residents would be insufficient for the survival of many of Yarmouth's businesses,” he continues. “Many marinas along the South Coast of the United Kingdom are mostly populated by yachts and motorboats that are seldom used because their ‘absentee owners’ - both private and corporate - have neither the time nor the money these days to use their boats as often as they thought they would when they first bought them!”
Fears that Yarmouth harbour will rapidly evolve into a bland, featureless, boat park are an overiding concern: “The plans effectively turn the harbour into a dormitory marina where owners can leave their boats in safety while they get on with their lives elsewhere,” Caulcutt believes.
“There will be fewer visitors with less cash passing over the counters of the town's businesses, shops, pubs and restaurants which will have an immediate knock-on effect on revenues from business rates and the general atmosphere and appearance of the town,” he adds. “Currently, there are no vacant shops in Yarmouth. How many small towns and villages throughout the land can claim similar buoyant economic activity?”
The protest fleet was led into Yarmouth harbour by the event’s co-organiser, Peter Isaacs, who has additional concerns over the long term financial benefits of the YHC proposal and the future economic health of the town: “The fees that are likely to be generated from berths occupied throughout the year will benefit the Harbour Commission’s finances,” he states. “However, an absence of an active turnover of boat users spending money in the town will substantially affect the viability of the local economy resulting in a derogation of the town of Yarmouth in terms of maintenance of shop frontages and business premises, and the advent of empty business premises.”
The proposed changes will make it impossible to hold many events within the harbour including the annual Yarmouth Old Gaffers Festival, which attracts over 100 classic boats to the town in early June, and the traditional harbour sports for children associated with Yarmouth Town Carnival held every summer. Furthermore, the continued success of the annual Taittinger Royal Solent Yacht Club Regatta – an event that brings around 640 sailors to Yarmouth with a total spend in excess of £50,000 over one weekend – will be seriously compromised.
Isaacs - a local resident – also mistrusts the process employed by the YHC: “We believe that the consultation process carried out has been selective and has not readily identified issues raised by interests within the town of Yarmouth,” he explains. “Furthermore, the Harbour Commissioners have been reluctant to release information regarding the consultation process and any studies and plans they have made in connection with coming to the decision to proceed with this application.”
Caulcutt and Isaacs made a formal application to the Commission under the Freedom of Information Act (FIA) in early July, but the YHC Chief Executive refused to respond, claiming Trust Port status as grounds for immunity from the FIA: “While this is technically correct, guidance from central government suggests that the Harbour Commission should be open and apply the principles of the Freedom of Information Act,” says Caulcutt. “The Commission’s lack of candour and openness in revealing documentation has made commenting upon the consultation and this planning application extremely difficult.”
While local disquiet with the proposal is virtually unanimous in Yarmouth, the protest has drawn support from outside the town. Nick Griffith, a resident of Cowes and head of the Ancasta Group - International yacht brokers with offices in 19 marinas throughout Southern England, France and Spain – joined the protest fleet on Sunday. “I was completely unaware of the plans proposed by Yarmouth Harbour Commissioners,” says Griffith. “I’m not sure of the future impact on Yarmouth as no one has generated any serious numbers yet,” he admits. “However, Yarmouth Harbour as it stands is a fantastic port, a great location and one of the Solent’s jewels,” Griffith continues. “My main concern is that the consultancy period and the information published by the Harbour Commissioners is simply not sufficient to make an informed choice either way,” he believes. “This is a radical change in use and could have an enormous impact on both Yarmouth and indeed the broader Solent boating community. Consequently, any decision should not be made lightly.”
The protest organisers are adamant that an extended consultation period is necessary. “The businesses in Yarmouth and the thousands of yachtsmen that visit the town need more time to consider and assess the likely consequences of these plans,” states John Caulcutt. “We believe the plans are misconceived,” adds Peter Isaacs. “They completely fail to take into account the existing use of the harbour and the need to preserve or balance the existing use for the financial and commercial benefit of the town and preserve a vibrant community in Yarmouth,” he concludes. “The proposed plans will change the use of the town from a vibrant yachting port with a healthy income to a lifeless parking lot where boats can be laid-up.”
For more information regarding the protest movement in Yarmouth, contact 
