The Cowes Harbour Advisory Committee stakeholder representatives met today, Friday 3rd July, to hear about and discuss several proposals, including an idea to combine Cowes Harbour Commission (CHC) and Cowes Town Waterfront Trust (CTWT), a potential application by CHC to the Charity Commission to register as a charity, and the requirements for a modernising Harbour Revision Order.
The aim of these proposals is to assist the continuing development of Cowes Harbour as a thriving port, a centre for leisure sailing, an events venue and tourist destination. The meeting of the stakeholder advisory committee for Cowes Harbour is the first phase of a comprehensive consultation process with all the stakeholders of both organisations, including customers and local communities.
Cowes Harbour Commission’s Chairman David Riley said: “We believe the proposed combination of these two important Cowes organisations could assist our joint vision and help to develop a long-term plan for Cowes Harbour in partnership with our community and stakeholders to maximise the harbour’s potential and its vital central leisure and yachting gateway. The proposed new Trust would continue to keep safety as our top priority but would also ensure that the potential new charitable status would operate proactively, raising and delivering funds into public benefit projects, to improve access and enjoyment of the harbour and adjoining waterfronts on both banks of the Medina.”
Jeremy Dale, Chairman of Cowes Town Waterfront Trust, the charity which owns and operates Cowes Yacht Haven, commented: “Both existing organisations are run for the public benefit and return financial surpluses back to our local communities and stakeholders. The idea is that, by combining our two organisations, we should be stronger together and more effective at providing and developing our leisure, yachting, visitor and event services for our customers, whilst also continuing to deliver our charitable objectives for our local community and for the enjoyment of current and future generations.”
Cowes Harbour Commission and Cowes Town Waterfront Trust are keen to understand your views and comments on this initial stakeholder consultation and exciting proposals for the future of the harbour and waterfront.
We encourage and invite all interested parties to read more details on our proposals, which are available via the following links: cowesharbourcommission.co.uk/consultation and cowesyachthaven.com/news.
ENDS
Notes to Editors
Cowes Harbour Commission is the statutory harbour authority for Cowes Harbour on the Isle of Wight.
Cowes Harbour is a Trust Port, which means it has no shareholders or other owners, but is managed for the benefit of its users, or ‘stakeholders’. The port is run by an independent Board of Commissioners, appointed through a public selection process who give their time on a voluntary basis.
Cowes Harbour Commission’s main function is to be the Statutory Harbour Authority for Cowes and to undertake commercial marine activities so that it can be self-financing. As the Commission has no shareholders, any surplus funds raised through its activities are reinvested back into the harbour and its facilities, to the benefit of its harbour users, or ‘stakeholders’.
Media Contact: Louisa Mamakou, Communications & Marketing Officer, Cowes Harbour Commission, Harbour Office, Town Quay, Cowes, Isle of Wight PO31 7AS. Tel: +44 (0)1983 293952. Email: louisa.chc@cowes.co.uk
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Cowes Town Waterfront Trust
Cowes Town Waterfront Trust (CTWT) is a registered charity (No 1019760) whose principal activity is the provision of mooring and other facilities for yachts through the ownership and operation of Cowes Yacht Haven as part of fulfilling its charitable objects. The CTWT assets comprise of a 260 berth marina, boatyard with 50 ton hoist capacity and 3000sqm of outdoor space, event centre with seating for 400 guests and a portfolio of rental properties. In accordance with its charitable objects, CTWT supports Cowes and Island organisations and charities, youth and disabled sailing and the local community.
Media Contact
Daniel Jehan, Managing Director
Cowes Yacht Haven, Vectis Yard, High Street, Isle of Wight, PO31 7BD. danielj@cowesyachthaven.com, Mob: 07715 601378
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Multimedia: Top photo: View of Cowes Harbour waterfront showing Cowes Harbour Office (CHC) and Cowes Yacht Haven (CTWT).
High resolution image available on request.
