MP Bob Seely Gets Eye-Opening Tour of Cowes Harbour’s Future
Isle of Wight MP Bob Seely was taken on a whistle-stop fact-finding tour of Cowes Harbour on April 11, giving him an up-close look at the strategic port and key development sites along the River Medina. Cowes Harbour Commission (CHC) rolled out the red carpet, with Chairman David Riley and Harbour Master Capt. Stuart McIntosh alongside the MP.
Inside Cowes Harbour’s Big Plans
The flotilla visit featured Cowes’ three major marine employment hubs under development:
- Venture Quays at East Cowes waterfront
- Kingston Marine Park in Whippingham
- Medina Yard in Cowes
At Venture Quays, Wight Shipyard CEO Peter Morton proudly showed off their shipbuilding facility and the new Red Jet 7 being built for Red Funnel.
Shipyard Jobs in Jeopardy
Seely expressed solid support for Wight Shipyard, but warned of looming risks:
“There is potential for the loss of over 150 skilled jobs if a secure facility isn’t found right here on the Island,”
The MP made it clear that preserving shipbuilding jobs is crucial for the local economy.
Seely Pushes for Tough Decisions on Development
After the tour, Bob Seely was blunt about the hurdles ahead:
“It’s absolutely vital that we protect shipbuilding on the Island. There are some big question marks over the viability of some developments. If they aren’t going ahead, it worries me that they have planning permission.”
He promised to press council leaders and officers hard to back the right projects and secure the future of marine jobs.
Harbour Bosses Vow to Keep Island Shipbuilding Afloat
Following the tour, CHC met with Isle of Wight Council leaders and Wight Shipyard’s CEO Peter Morton in Newport. Capt. Stuart McIntosh stressed:
“Our priority is to find both interim and long-term solutions to maintain shipbuilding and marine services in the Medina Valley,”
He added:
“Marine employment is central to Cowes and the wider Island. Retaining waterfront employment sites is key to unlocking the potential of our marine industries.”
CHC confirmed it’s working flat out with all stakeholders to secure a viable future for the Island’s vital marine sector.
