Plans are to be drawn up for a major revamp of Maryport Harbour to transform the area into a significant tourist destination for the north west.
Tenders are being invited to appoint a new consultant to spearhead the project, which could be a major boost to the local economy. The total level of investment required is still to be determined, although a formal application to the Northwest Regional Development Agency for funds is expected to be made early next year once a full report and business plan for the scheme have been finalised.
Among the aims of the project are to create a new 1.5 hectare residential and commercial development on the harbour and to build a new harbour wall set further back than the current one so that more water can be impounded when the tide goes out, thus creating a larger harbour area.
Maryport Developments Ltd, which currently runs the harbour, has announced that the existing harbour gates are now no longer operational and will be 'pinned back' as they require £1m in repair work in order to continue functioning. A decision on when and whether to carry out this repair work will depend on the outcome of the larger harbour reconfiguration project, so in the meantime the harbour will become tidal again. Harbour users will find, depending on the draught of their vessel, that they may need to enter the dock at high water rather than the current arrangement of entering it any two hours either side of high water.
Cllr Tony Markley, Cumbria County Council's cabinet member responsible for economic development, said:
"We're entering an exciting new phase in the revamp of Maryport harbour. The county council has supported this important regeneration scheme for over 20 years and, if it gets the go ahead, this new potential scheme would take the harbour to the next level. We won't see firm plans until the beginning of 2009, but it's important that people in Maryport and the surrounding area know we're fighting their corner and are sowing the seeds of a new revamp for the area."
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Notes
Cumbria County Council has a 9.5% shareholding in Maryport Developments Ltd alongside Allerdale Borough Council (9.5%), Northwest Regional Development Agency (40.5%) and West Cumbria Development Fund (40.5%). A paper to be considered at the next meeting of the county council's cabinet (July 8) recommends transferring these shareholdings from Maryport Developments Ltd to the Maryport Harbour Authority. The county council has contributed £40,000 a year towards the running of Maryport Harbour since April 2003 and will continue to do so until 2012.
Maryport Developments Ltd was formed in 1987 with a remit to focus on the redevelopment and regeneration of the town's harbour area. Since that time, the whole of the harbour area has been reclaimed and much of it redeveloped to incorporate leisure and toursim attractions, waterfront housing, social housing and a marina and boat repair facilities.
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