Marine funding supports repair work for Port Erroll Harbour
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Aberdeenshire East MSP Gillian Martin has backed the Port Erroll Harbour Trust in its efforts to secure funding to repair the harbour at Cruden Bay that has seen its condition deteriorate drastically during recent storms.
Ms Martin was able to direct the Port Errol Harbour Trust to funding avenues which led to a successful application for emergency funding from Marine Scotland, receiving a five-figure sum of more than £70,000.
The funding was awarded at the end of December last year, conditional on works being completed before the end of March this year, a task made challenging by the adverse weather.
The harbour trust board said it was “extremely grateful” to Ms Martin and her team who had guided them in the direction of appropriate emergency funding.
Port Erroll Harbour Trust director Paula Webber said the funding has meant work could be completed to stabilise the West Pier head and enabled the harbour opportunity to stabilise the damage while it seeks more permanent structural repairs moving forward.
Ms Martin said: “My team and I were pleased to be able to help direct the Port Erroll Harbour Trust board towards funding to assist them following the storms we’ve had in quick succession in recent months.
“Port Erroll Harbour is a vital working harbour along the coastline of Aberdeenshire and as one of the first concrete constructed harbours it is often fortune to the weather.
“The trust has great plans for the port with beautification works and a new café opening in spring time that I look forward to visiting, but ensuring the structural stability of the harbour is of primary concern and these temporary works must be built on to ensure that.
“I look forward to being able to assist the board moving forward in any way I can and would like to thank Marine Scotland for stepping in so quickly to assist with these much-needed repairs.”
Peterhead South and Cruden councillor Stephen Smith said: “The new team of trustees at Port Erroll Harbour are really making a difference and I’m delighted Gillian Martin has been able to assist with their search for funding.
“The ongoing improvement works to the harbour facilities are coming on well but repairs to the harbour walls remain a priority.”
