Harbours across the north-east will soon be ‘shipshape’ thanks to a £150,000 investment in improvement works.
Banff and Buchan’s area committee will today discuss a report on local authority-controlled harbours in the area with a recommendation to approve a series of works to bring each of the ports up to scratch.
In his report to the members of the committee, Stephen Archer, the council’s infrastructure boss, said Aberdeenshire Council has a duty to maintain Rosehearty, Portsoy, Macduff and Banff harbours.
“It is proposed that, as in previous years, the programme of works will be flexible. This will permit re-assessment of priorities for emergency works such as storm damage, which may require immediate action to maintain the structural integrity of the harbour,” he added.
If the £152,000 programme is approved, Banff would receive £45,500 for work including dredging and the installation of water and electric points.
Macduff would be awarded £68,500 for the maintenance of its slipway and general repairs, and Rosehearty would also be buoyed with £27,000 to cover maintenance of its pier.
The remaining money would allocated to Portsoy with plans to revamp its facilities with a £3,500 scheme to repair its sea wall.
Last night, the plans were hailed by Councillor Ian Gray, of Portsoy, where the Scottish Traditional Boat Festival is staged each year.
He said: “There’s a fairly large hole appeared at the back of the pier last winter, so that’s going to be repaired.
“It’s very important that the harbour is maintained in good condition for all boats, but certainly for the boat festival as well. It’s hugely important, it’s put Portsoy on the map and it brings a lot of people into the community.
“A lot of money is spent over that weekend, so it’s good economically.”
Last year, the festival attracted more than 18,000 visitors to the north-east and brought in more than £1million to the local economy.