Funding For Major New Scottish Marina Approved

by Robert Lee, Tax-News.com, London

09 December 2008

Plans for a major new marina on the coast of Caithness in Scotland have gained the approval of the Crown Estate, the Nuclear Decommissioning Authority and the Highlands and Islands Enterprise, who have agreed to join together to provide the funding for the project.

The project, which will cost an estimated GBP576,000, will convert Wick harbour into an enormous marina development with the potential to increase the opportunities for employment and the capacity to trade within the area.

Commenting on the news, Willie Watt, chairman of Wick Harbour Authority, explained:

"This project is a major step forward in diversifying activities in the harbour and provides an important new income stream."

The harbour's trade has already increased by 40% over the past 12 months, and officials are hoping that as well as boosting this further, the new development will also attract the business of passing yachts, in particular.

Of this, Randall Bergelt, from the NDA, remarked:

"We are delighted to be contributing to such a valuable asset for Wick. The new marina will enable yachts to have individual berths rather than be tied up next to each other or to the harbour wall. Easier and safer access to the harbour will encourage many more yachts to visit and travellers to disembark and make use of local services."

Additionally, Roy Kirk, HIE's area manager for Caithness and Sutherland, explained:

"This development is essentially strengthening the sailing infrastructure in the north of Scotland and marketing will be targeted towards the Scottish and UK markets."

Construction of the development will begin almost immediately, with the view to complete the transformation by the summer of 2009.

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