Harbour to upgrade facilities for yachtowners

Bridlington Harbour Commissioners are to provide pontoon berthing for 66 private craft, yachts and cabin cruisers, which allows owners access 24-hours-a-day.

At the moment most of the harbour’s private users are having to wait for the tide to rise before they can get out to their boats in dinghies.

Construction - which will involve driving piles into the bed of the harbour - will begin in January.

Harbourmaster Chris Wright said they were doing what owners wanted - in the absence of funding for a Marina.

He said: “If the Marina is not going to happen for another 10 to 15 years, we have got to be seen to be doing something. For the last five years we have been trying to get something going - we have agreed something (with the council) but there’s no money available, now Yorkshire Forward has collapsed.”

The commissioners battled with East Riding Council for years over the scale of the Marina, but finally agreed on plans - last costed at £65m, for a total of 320 yachts and cabin cruisers.

A new tidal harbour would have also been created for the commercial fleet by building a new pier, south of the south pier.

Mr Wright said they had enough people on a waiting list to fill the berths, adding: “The good thing about a trust port is that it’s not run by the council. Where the council runs ports if they lose money, the ratepayer pays.

“We couldn’t afford to do this every year - it’s a one-off.”

Considered one of the finest venues for yacht racing on the East Coast, it was hoped a new Marina would boost tourism and allow it to host national and international regattas.

The harbour is run as a Trust, with 22 commissioners and makes its money through harbour dues, rents from 13 shops and two car parks.