Hopes rising for boat hoist boost in port’s harbour

New plan to ease repair of fishing boats

HOPES ARE building that plans for a boat hoist for Scarborough harbour – which fishermen say is much-needed – will finally make progress.

At the moment fishing boats have to go to Bridlington or Whitby for repair and inspections to ensure they are seaworthy – a costly and sometime hazardous journey.

The idea has been put forward by crab boat owner Bob Roberts, who says it has the backing of local yachtsmen and the fishing industry, who can lose as many as three days when trying to fix an issue like clearing a fouled propellor.

Portfolio holder Coun Janet Jefferson said “there is support” for the lift, but said the final decision will be made at a harbour executive meeting at the end of the month.

Mr Roberts said a hoist could attract boats from elsewhere as Bridlington is often overbooked and Whitby has limited lifting capacity. A smaller “outdated and unreliable” hoist on Vincent Pier can only take leisure craft weighing up to four tonnes.

He said: “We are probably the only port on the East Coast that doesn’t have a boat hoist and the yacht club is firmly behind it. It would be a great asset and provide resilience.

“We lost the Formula One powerboats because we had no facilities to lift them in and out.

“The harbour actually makes a profit for the council and yet we have seen very little investment.

“We are looking at getting 75 per cent of the cost from the Marine Management Organisation.

“This would meet the true needs and requirements of the harbour – not the current proposals (for West Pier under the Town Deal) which is a one-trick plan for tourism.

“If you do something, do it for the benefit of the people who are going to be affected – and it’s going to affect fishermen big time.”

In a statement Scarborough Council said the plans did not form part of the £11m Town Deal proposals for West Pier, but they were looking at how a lift “might potentially be incorporated”.

It acknowledged that “the Maritime and Coastguard Agency’s changes to its inspection regime has brought this issue into focus”.

The plans for West Pier include new kiosks, public toilets and a restaurant as well as new bait sheds and facilities for tenants. The statement added: “We need to carefully consider the actual demand for a hoist along with the practicalities of how it would be operated and maintained and what infrastructure would be required to support it.”

Council leader Steve Siddons suggested it would be difficult to put a boat lift on West Pier because of its weight, but they were “accepting the idea of looking at it”.

He said: “I think it might be difficult to do, but I’m not an expert. This is why it needs careful consideration. I’m not sure how it would be accommodated on West Pier without knocking some of the buildings down.

“Given they are intended to be mainly for fishermen I don’t see how it could be done.”

We are probably the only East Coast port that doesn’t have one. Crab boat owner Bob Roberts.