£35M MARINA IS BACK ON TRACK in Bridlington


Plans for a £35m marina in East Yorkshire have resurfaced after warring groups agreed to work together.

Blueprints for a new marina in Bridlington, which would create thousands of jobs in the region, are again being discussed, the Mail can reveal.

Bridlington's Harbour Commissioners, East Riding Council and the town's Regeneration Partnership are now pushing for the final proposals to be complete by the end of next month.

The news was welcomed by dignitaries in the town, who believe a marina is vital to its regeneration.

The project has been embroiled in controversy since it was first suggested in the late 1990s. There have been numerous fall-outs between the commissioners, the council and regeneration leaders.

Chris Wright, chief executive of the Harbour Commissioners, today confirmed they were in discussions with other parties.

The commissioners had proposed a smaller inner- Harbour marina, which would have cost about £12m.

Now they are back on board with the council's plans for a £35m scheme, which could berth as many as 500 boats and would include improved facilities for fishermen.

Mr Wright said he was confident the best solution could be found for the town.

He said: "We need something to suit everybody."

Alan Menzies, assistant chief executive for economic development at East Riding Council, said: "The project is absolutely critical for the future of Bridlington. We're very pleased and hoping to move the project on."

Bridlington Regeneration Partnership chairman David Dowson said a deadline of July 31 had been set for new plans to be finalised.

He said: "The marina is going ahead in one way or the other, even if it means another public inquiry."

Bridlington Mayor Les Taylor said: "It's a step in the right direction."

If built, the marina would be tied into wider regeneration plans for the area, which would create as many as 2,500 jobs.

In October 2001, a public inquiry was called over the original £60m scheme.

The two-year investigation saw plans dismissed by the Government and led to East Riding Council proposing the £35m marina.

Talks over that scheme have proved slow going since it was unveiled by the local authority in July 2004.
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