A group of north-east fishermen have made their case to a court explaining why they should be able to continue to use a historic Aberdeen Harbour.
Fishermen have used the small bay in Cove since the 19th century. However, surgeon Pralhad Kolhe has bought a house overlooking the site and wants them to remove their boats from the area.
He sent out letters asking them to do so within 14 days in 2014 and a legal battle has since ensued.
The case called at Aberdeen Sheriff Court this week where numerous members of the Cove Fishermen’s Association, set up by the group of fishermen affected, made their case.
Yesterday the court heard from William Westland, who claimed his dad spoke to Mr Kolhe shortly after he bought the house.
He claimed Mr Kolhe told his father he had no plans to make any alterations to the area and he wanted to keep the same arrangements.
He was asked by lawyer Robert Sutherland, representing Mr Kolhe, if he was sure his father was telling the truth.
He said: “He had a high opinion of the man, he would not have if he had asked him to remove the boats.”
Many of the fishermen who gave evidence said they had never met Mr Kolhe or been in the house since he bought it.
Earlier in the hearing Jim Adam, the chairman of the Cove Fisherman’s Association, claimed he had used the pier since 1955 when he was five years old and had never paid for doing so or obtained a licence to fish.
Mr Kolhe declined to give evidence to the hearing.
Sheriff Andrew Miller will hear submissions from both sides in June this year before reaching a decision on the future of the site.
