Dear Isle of Wight residents and businesses, If you believe that the Red Funnel proposal for “A better gateway to the island” can be improved for the benefit of island residents and businesses please sign our petition or comment on the planning application. Save Venture Quays and Dover Road are fully in favour of improved ferry facilities AND regeneration of East Cowes waterfront. An alternative, out of town, site should be considered to house the increased freight capacity, rather than occupying prime waterfrontage, adjacent to the proposed hotel and residential units. The Columbine building (Union Jack shed) is not in the Red Funnel planning application, or in their control. There is no evidence in the proposal that ferry services will see any improvements for Island Residents or Businesses, such as Red Jet from East Cowes, reduced prices or more frequent sailings out of the peak season. It is questionable whether this extra marshalling capacity is needed as the current yard runs to capacity for only 5% of the year. Deep water access will remain but the businesses requiring it and providing in excess of 200+ well paid jobs will have been displaced – some off Island. We whole heartedly back the improvement of facilities and first impressions for people arriving on the island. But believe it is better they see thriving local businesses and vibrant town rather than a largely empty car park. This site houses AMC’s & SME’s production facilities. No suitable alternative sites currently exist on the island. These companies are paying market rents for these facilities, and welcome longer leases if the option was available. Columbine staying? Public waterfront access will be reduced through demolition of the slipway. Alternative plans that would improve the proposal could include:  Redjet service to East Cowes.  Double storey marshalling yard on Trinity Wharf to retain employment at Venture Quays.  Out of town drop trailer park / overflow yard / park and ride. Please sign our petition or comment on the planning application: http://chn.ge/1LdsZpr AND http://bitly.com/eastcowesplan The terminal facilities and marshalling area needs modernising. We would like to see this done in a manner that would assure the town has a solid economic future via the preservation of existing, well paid, jobs rather than the promise of a “potential opportunity” for employment in a hotel that “might” be built in the future. The proposals covering this area of the site form part of an outline planning application. Red Funnel has no control of when or if development might go ahead. There is no certainty that land will be used for the employment purposes suggested. We urge Red Funnel and the other stakeholders to seriously consider alternative plans to maximise the employability potential of this key waterfront site for the benefit of Island Residents. Greater marshalling capacity? A better gateway for the island? No loss of deep water access? Improved ferry services? A better impression for visitors? Access to the waterfront? Space for new development? Published by East Cowes Community Forum e: eastcowescommunityforum@gmail.com