Chichester Harbour Conservancy has assessed the Environment Agency strategy document. The Conservancy has serious reservations about the basis on which this Strategy is founded. In particular the Strategy is flawed in the following respects:

• It has failed to assess what impact widening the harbour entrance, by Managed Realignment, will have on the hydrodynamics of the harbour and consequent sedimentation in the navigable channels.
•  It has failed to identify and quantify what impact that sedimentation will have on the range of vessels using the harbour.
  
  In other words:
  
  “Letting East Head go may result in the
  harbour silting up”
  

East Head and the Chichester Harbour are unique recreational and commercial amenities of enormous value. Club members, who understand the value of East Head and Chichester Harbour, are strongly encouraged to take time to read and respond to the Strategy proposal and the Conservancy response.

The Conservancy and our Harbourmaster, John Davis, ask that if you share their concerns, you should make this known to the Environment Agency. Please complete the questionnaire and return to the EA along the lines outlined in the accompanying letter from the Conservancy.  In particular do express your support for the position taken by the Conservancy. If you are a registered user of the harbour you will have received a copy of the 'Initial Consultation' and the questionnaire from the Harbour Conservancy. If you reside outside the area or have not received these papers, we would ask you to spare just a few minutes and visit the link below, download the documents, and complete and return the questionnaire.

http://www.conservancy.co.uk/uploads/user_documents/
pag_easthead_letter_info_dec06.pdf

“This is an important issue, on which the future of our harbour and our sailing may depend. I hope you will support the Harbour Conservancy in their commitment to save the harbour (and club) for generations to come”.

Just before Christmas the traditional village carol singing was organised by the committee of the Itchenor Society. About 25 people started at Glebefield Road and thanks to the mulled wine and mince pies served at Stop Tide House their voices were in fine tune to deliver the Christmas message. A stopover at the Studio refreshed the parts that other mulled wine couldn't reach and more singers joined the 'heavenly throng'. Our final carols were sung on Itchenor Hard and amazingly the 'choir' had swelled to 60 happy voices. Sausage and mash went down a treat at Itchenor Sailing Club, as the choir replenished their strength and lubricated their larynxes. Our efforts raised £200 for the Sussex Snowdrop Trust and the organisers would like to thank all those who contributed to the very successful evening.

Peter Arnold

Honorary Secretary

Itchenor Society