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Portpatrick Harbour Restoration

WORK will be underway on restoring Portpatrick harbour alongside a brand new heritage centre in a year's time.

That is the belief of the newly-appointed development worker leading the community in their bid to take harbour ownership into their own hands.

Joe Starbuck has been appointed by the Small Towns Initiative to oversee the village's bid to buy the harbour from present owners Leisure Harbours Ltd. Speaking to the Free Press this week, days before the first report from engineer's is released on the harbour's condition, Mr Starbuck said:

"I am confident that in a year's time the harbour will be in community ownership and the community will be well under way with their initiatives.

"And those, should include an idea for a heritage centre.

"Something that would bring out the local history, culture and heritage together with the undoubted history that the place has", explained Mr Starbuck.

Engineers from Dumfries and Galloway Council have carried out an "exhaustive" asset condition survey on the Category B Listed harbour.