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Dredging Delay at West Pier

COUNCIL staff given the job of organising dredging at Stranraer's West Pier knew nothing about how to do the work.

So instead of the scheme being done this summer, it could take until November - and there are no guarantees it will be completed by then.

Boat users who had hoped to see the work done on time have attacked the delay and on Friday they were given the reasons why. Tony Fitzpatrick, a Dumfries and Galloway Council official who has been seconded to spend two days a week on the Stranraer Harbour regeneration project, spoke to members of the SHIP group of harbour users. One of them reminded him:

"We met you in February and you told us funding had been approved and that the harbour would be dredged by Easter".

Mr Fitzpatrick admitted that was his understanding at the time. He added:

"Clearly that has not happened and I hold my hand up and take my share of the responsibility for that".

He explained that two licences were needed before work could take place adding :

"It is fairly new territory for the council".

Dredging last took place over ten years ago and none of the council staff had any experience of the subject.

"I was quite surprised to discover that", he said.