Harbour Storm Damage - Emergency Funding

8th February 2013

Fishing harbours affected by the recent storm damage are benefiting from an additional £1 million for emergency works.

The storms, which were caused by an unusual combination of south easterly gales, low pressures and high tides, were described as the worst in decades and caused damage across Scotland.

The funding will be used towards the costs to repair harbours, sea walls, and quaysides to ensure fisheries harbours remained operational. Talks are ongoing with other harbours who have been affected by storm damage.

Environment Secretary Richard Lochhead, speaking at the Inshore Fisheries Conference in Inverness, said:“When I, and other Scottish Ministers, visited harbours around Scotland in the aftermath of the recent storms, the extent of the damage which had been caused was clearly evident. However what was also evident was the reaction of those affected and the sense of community spirit on show in the clean up work.

“To do our part, the Scottish Government has been working closely with the local authorities and agencies too assess the full impact and I would like to thanks all those involved for their hard work. This funding will go towards vital walls and piers and ensure the harbours will be repaired as quickly as possible.”

The emergency harbour scheme fund is £400,000 per annum. An additional £1 million has been added to ensure enough funding is available following the unprecedented storm damage that occurred in December 2012.

The following funding has been allocated since December:

Highland Ports
Lybster (Private) – Up to £100,000
Balintore (Council operated) - Up to £100,000
Portmahomack (Council operated) – Up to £50,000
Wick (Trust) – Up to £250,000

NE Ports
Lossiemouth (Private) – £23,650
Peterhead (Trust) - Up to £250,000
East

Dunbar (Trust) – Up to £100,000
Additional work is continuing in respect of Fraserburgh (Trust) harbour to identify damage and costs.

The emergency harbour scheme takes its powers from the 1955 Fisheries Act and a such is limited to supporting the environs of harbours where fishing activity takes place. Where a harbour is trust or privately operated, consideration can be given to supporting 100% of costs. Where the port is operated by a Local Authority support is limited to 50% of costs.

In a number of cases insurers are funding the costs of repairs and replacement and the funds is contributing where funding gaps have been identified.

The total repair bill at Highland Harbours is £2.555 million. A total of 24 Highland locations were affected including: Scrabster – East Gills; John O’Groats Harbour; Freswick Harbour; Ackergill Harbour; Keiss Harbour; Staxigoe Harbour; Victoria Street, Wick; Scalesburn, Wick; Service Bridge, Wick; Latheron Harbour; Dunbeath Harbour; Helmsdale Harbour; Brora Harbour; Golspie; Embo Harbour; Portmahomack and its harbour; Hilton; Balintore and its harbour; Shandwick; Rockfield; Rosemarkie; and Nairn.