Plans for Port Royal: the benefits of a marina

[The following comment was received via e-mail: jw.beeproject@gmail.com]

First of all let me thank you Jeremy for providing this platform for discussion.

The benefits of a marina are :-

1. It would provide regular employment for marine engineers and other staff perhaps including a chandlers.

2. It would join the South Coast cruising area to the South West cruising area by the provision of an all-weather port.

3. As the marina would be situated off shore due to lack of depth, this could be used to advantage by designing a walkway from the promenade on to the surrounding wall of the marina. Creating a ‘Cob”, for the 21^st century.

4. Easy access for fishing boats and the proposed Jurassic Boat trips.

5. The sailing club would have an area of flat water to launch and recover dinghies.

6. Yachts and motor boats would bring business to the town.

7. A “destination restaurant “, could be an attraction.

8. The 60’s sailing club could be rebuilt within the scheme.

9. The marina may help stop the erosion at the base of the cliffs.

The proposal is clearly feasible or Carter would not have spent money on plans etc. The objections regarding environmental pollution are spurious as any one who frequents marinas will tell you.

I have been sailing for 30 years and am convinced that this would be a winner for the town although I could not afford to keep my boat in a marina. The Port Royal area has been crying out for sensitive development for decades.

Could an architectural competition be held for designs to develop this sensitive and important site? I feel that a single architect would do a better job than a committee.

I look forward to receiving other people’s crits.

Lawrie Brownlee

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