Council slammed for 'dragging heels' over Findochty pontoon replacement project
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FINDOCHTY boatowners have slammed Moray Council for "dragging their heels" with the pontoon replacement programme.
Joy at news the harbour's old pontoons were finally to be replaced has turned to anger amid accusations of a lack of dredging and of the whole programme being behind schedule.
The virtual consultation programme run by the council has also come in for stiff criticism, with local boatowners also saying that they have been systematically ignored by the local authority.
Findochty Water Sports Club, whose membership encompasses many local boatowners, are one of the groups left enraged by the current situation.
Club Commodore Mairi Innes said: "Findochty harbour users face further delays and the possibility of another lost season as Moray Council drag their heels on the Findochty pontoons replacement project.
"Many boats have remained on the pier since craning out in October 2019 for the winter. The pontoons were subsequently closed when they began to break up following years of neglect and lack of maintenance.
"Several boat owners have become so dejected in the meantime that they have simply given up in disgust and sold their boats or broken them up for scrap.
"The contract to replace the pontoons was awarded to Strath Civil Engineering of Dingwall in December 2020 and funding for the project was secured, however, the boat owners have had very little updates since this announcement.
"Moray Council's management of the project clearly lacks dialogue between the council and harbour users whose questions and concerns are not being addressed.
"There has been no feedback from an on line presentation which took place during March. Harbour users are disillusioned and wondering what is going on.
"According to council staff, the delay in bringing the project forward is being blamed on the fact that Marine Licenses are not in place. Dredging is a major issue as a thorough dredge of the harbour basin needs to take place prior to pontoon installation.
"There is a considerable amount of debris lying in the harbour from the recovery of the old anchors, creating a low water danger for vessels using the harbour. There is also talk of using a 'land dredging technique involving diggers and lorries to shift the mud and boulders, despite the fact that Moray Council owns a dredger.
"They are failing to use it for what we thought was the purpose of its acquisition. We were assured at a Harbour Advisory [Committee] meeting, several months ago, that all dredging licenses were in place now we are being told they are not."
Mrs Innes went on to say that the pontoon plans omitted 'basic necessities" such as a security gate and provision of fresh water. She also noted that the the timeline provided by the council stated that dredging of the harbour would be followed by commencement of installation work, which was due to commence on May 17.
"We accept that the council included a proviso that dates may change but there has been no notification of any change to the plan," she continued.
"The unsightly mess of the harbour at low water is sad to see as the summer approaches and the tourists arrive. The much photographed Findochty harbour has always been the jewel in Findochty’s crown and sadly, it is not shining at the moment.
"It would be most proactive if Moray Council could commence dredging with immediate effect and also contact everyone with a noted interest in the harbour and let us know what is going on and when we can expect to resume our boating hobbies."
Discontent is not confined to the boatowners, however, with other Findochty businesses expressing their anger.
Andrea Woodhead and Mandy Quinn, who respectively own The Boathouse and Salty Dog holiday homes, said: "A major factor in Findochty’s attraction to tourists is the pretty harbour full of leisure and fishing boats.
"The view from harbour-side holiday lets or indeed walking around the harbour is a major factor in tourists choosing to stay in Findochty. A typical comment from guests staying in local accommodation is 'how relaxing and peaceful it is to sit and watch the boats in the harbour'.
"The absence of the pontoons and therefore boats is having a negative effect on the whole appeal of the village to visitors and is affecting small local businesses that rely on tourism."
Wendy Wilson, who owns The Admirals pub situated beside the harbour, added: "The holiday makers and visitors want to see boats in the water, the place is just not the same with the boats sitting on the wall.
"The view from the pub is spoiled with the unusual amount of boats lying ashore this year and nothing but an empty harbour beyond. This is not what our customers want to see."
A spokeswoman for Moray Council commented: "The senior engineer leading this project met with the harbour users group a fortnight ago, where he responded to questions and updated on the current situation.
"This will be followed up in writing with a response to the exhibition comments in the very near future.
"Correspondence from boat owners has been addressed and responded to by our engineering team on an ongoing basis. There are a couple of outstanding issues they’re gathering more information on in order to provide a fuller response but correspondence has been weekly to date.
"The contract for dredging recently went out to tender and is currently being reviewed – as soon as this has been agreed the details will be shared with harbour users. Following the removal of the pontoons and the chain and anchors it became evident that the type of dredging required was more land based, as Selkie would have difficulty in accessing the area. The dredging licence is in place, but the one for installation is not yet.
"The pontoons are currently being manufactured and we await a marine licence for the installation, which is being assessed and followed up. Once this is in place installation of the pontoons can begin."
Local councillor and Findochty Harbour Advisory Committee chairwoman Sonya Warren said she sympathised with the boatowners' sentiments.
She continued: "The replacement of the pontoons at Findochty Harbour has been a long time coming and I can fully understand and appreciate their frustration at the delay.
"As the process unfolds I sincerely hope the council maintains a meaningful dialogue with boatowners and other stakeholders.
"I realise that concerns about the plans remain and that these are taken on board by the council.
"As chair of the Harbour Advisory Committee I'm happy to listen to the concerns of the boatowners and other harbour users at any time. "
Fellow ward councillor Gordon Cowie added: "I feel the frustration of the boatowners in Findochty and I sympathise with them over this.
"We as councillors have been pushing to get a firm start date and end date. The dredging of the harbour has not gone as it was originally explained.
"It's nothing to do with licences hence the reason land dredging was spoken about as the tides limits the time the dredger can work.
"It is also unfortunate that the lockdown came when it did and disrupted the progress of the project.
"We are trying to arrange another meeting with the management off the harbour to see exactly where this contract site time-wise."
