Pressing case for public slipway

By Andrew Jarret

SUPPORTERS OF a public slipway for Arbroath yesterday met at a potential site for a facility they maintain would provide a natural extension to those at the marina.

Representatives of interested user groups visited to assess the possible site for a small boat slipway adjacent to the west breakwater, near the pumping station at Ladyloan.

The initial site investigated—alongside the lifeboat slip—was agreed by the group and Angus Council as unworkable due to cost issues and operational difficulties such as trailer parking and slip access.

The group, most of whom represent their members on Arbroath Harbour Joint Consultative Committee, have long extolled the necessity for a slipway at Arbroath as a logical development of the successful marina, and the case has been persistently fought by fellow committee member Councillor Bob Spink and others.

Mr Spink said, “With the run-down of the harbour as a commercial or fishing port it is logical we should seek to expand upon the marina’s success.

“Of course we should continue to operate as a mixed use harbour, and the interests of the reduced but valued fishing effort must be supported and encouraged, but harbours are expensive to maintain and Arbroath harbour seeks to re-establish itself as a major tourist attraction.

“As such I would be delighted to see the extension of the facilities Arbroath harbour has to offer, not only for those directly affected but for the visual attraction it provides, encouraging families to visit.

“Perhaps we may never be Cannes or Monte Carlo, but a busy functioning leisure and working harbour in itself is a great tourist attraction which benefits all of the town—pubs, restaurants, tearooms, gift shops and so on.”

Mr Spink said it was vital that Angus Council firstly accepted the need for a public slipway.

“We feel our views are not being adequately presented to the council and cold water is being poured on our proposals by the ruling Angus Alliance party who will not even accept the principle of the need for a slipway facility,” he added.

“But we shall not give up.

“The case is too strong and the support too strong for Arbroath to be denied a leisure slipway for much longer.”

His views were shared by the others who said all that was required was a sloping concrete ramp—not an expensive gated and manned facility which the local authority had costed at around £300,000.

Leisure craft owners’ representative Clark Ross said, “There’s plenty parking area at this site, so access shouldn’t be a problem.

“Basically all you need is a hard-core and concrete ramp. It’s definitely worth looking at this site as a lower cost alternative.”

Clive Wedge, commodore of Arbroath Sailing and Boating Club, added, “Arbroath doesn’t need anything different to the other small boat slipways found along this coast and across on the west.”

Local boat owner Barrie Munro said it didn’t make sense not to provide a means of launching and retrieving small boats if promoting Arbroath as a venue for watercraft.

Local businessman Harry Simpson said, “A public slipway is a natural extension to a marina and would undoubtedly play a part in bringing further prosperity to the town and its harbour area in particular.”