Subscribe to our newsletterNewsletter June 2007 |
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Chairman's MessageDunbar harbour is one of the town’s major attractions both in terms of its active fishing industry and its popularity with leisure craft and water sports enthusiasts. The aim of the Dunbar Harbour Trust is to give its support to the fishing industry and improve and develop the facilities at the harbour to encourage more visitors which will benefit the whole community. The members of the Board of Dunbar Harbour Trust give a considerable amount of their free time towards achieving this aim and I would like to thank them all very much for their support. As anyone involved with voluntary charity work knows, the lead time required to achieve a result is lengthy as projects inevitably require considerable consultation, planning, tendering, authorisation and funding before any work can commence. This can be a period of frustration, excitement and disappointment and a period during which, to the outside world, little appears to be happening and yet, it is the period during which those involved are putting in most of their effort. The last six months has been such a period for the Trust. My thanks as always to the tremendous support and enthusiasm shown by all the members of the Board. I hope you enjoy reading this newsletter. THE BRIDGE
It is important that the structure is reliable and easy to operate so that, in times of bad weather, boats can move into the inner harbour at any time of day. After the bridge is lowered into position it is expected to take about one week before it can be made to lift. Initially the lifting will be done with manual pumping of the hydraulics but this will be automated shortly afterwards. BATTERYThe Dunbar Harbour Trust is also beginning to look at plans to improve Lammer Island, the home of the old gun battery that protected the harbour in times gone by. This area could be transformed to become a real asset to the harbour and consideration is being given to how best to achieve this. The development of this area fits well with the Trust’s objectives – to work to improve the harbour for users and visitors for the benefit of the wider Dunbar community. SLIPWAYThe slipway used for launching trailer carried boats into Broadhaven is to undergo a major repair and refurbishment. The slipway has become increasingly tricky to use and the Royal Army Engineers have agreed to carryout repair work as part of their Aid to the Civilian Community programme. This gives soldiers training opportunities and helps community projects at the same time. An Army survey of the work to be undertaken has already been carried out. Captain Stone of the Royal Engineers has begun working on a plan to carry out the work. TOILETS AND SHOWERSDraft plans are under development to construct a toilet and shower block at the harbour. This will provide showers and changing rooms for crews of visiting yachts and others like the many divers who enjoy exploring the fascinating underwater wrecks off the Dunbar shoreline. Proposals are being discussed with local residents and their ideas and suggestions are being taken on board. A possible site for the facilities is on the area of land previously occupied by the Victoria Ballroom which is currently owned by the East Lothian Community Development Trust (ELCDT). The ELCDT has kindly given the DHT permission to use the land for this purpose if it is decided that this is the best location. Funding applications are being prepared. MCARTHUR’S STORE INFORMATION BOARDSBoards are to be erected at various parts of the harbour to help visitors and locals alike to understand the history and working of the harbour. The first of these is currently being designed and will be installed once the content is agreed by interested parties. SEABIRD CENTRETwo fixed position cameras will shortly be installed by the North Berwick Seabird Centre. This will allow live images of the castle kittiwake colony to be transmitted to the visitor attraction along the coast and will be available on the Trust website BATTERYThe Dunbar Harbour Trust is also beginning to look at plans to improve Lammer Island, the home of the old gun battery that protected the harbour in times gone by. This area could be transformed to become a real asset to the harbour and consideration is being given to how best to achieve this. The development of this area fits well with the Trust’s objectives – to work to improve the harbour for users and visitors for the benefit of the wider Dunbar community. FUEL OILA new fuel oil facility has been completed at the harbour which is available for all craft; fishermen, pleasure craft and visitors. For the fishermen this has the benefit of being able to refuel at will with the Dunbar Harbour Trust managing the supply of fuel. The harbour benefits from the removal of the bowsers which have been an unsightly addition to the harbour for many years. HARD STANDINGA hard standing area is to be constructed in the Broadhaven area of the harbour to allow a safe, drying berth next to the harbour wall. The berth will allow boats to moor and crews to have access to the below waterline areas on the receding tide. LADDERSA number of new ladders will be installed at various points around the harbour. Some are going to be cut into the stonework of the piers to allow boats using them to come right alongside the pier. Others will stand proud of the walls. Talks are continuing with the RNLI and fishermen to achieve the desired result – easier, safer access to boats. HARBOUR WALL SURVEYA surveyor has recently been on site assessing the condition of the harbour’s seawalls. A full report is awaited which will include a frank assessment of the condition of the stonework and recommendations on repair methods. WEBSITEYou will find more information about the activities and projects of the Trust and its Harbour Management Committee on our website. If you think you can help or would like to contact us then use the feedback form on our website. |
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Much needed refurbishment and improvement work on the lifting bridge, which connects the two sides of Dunbar Harbour, is coming to an end. It is hoped the bridge will be back in place shortly after the writing of this newsletter. The lifting mechanism has been automated and the raising of the bridge will no longer require two people, on each side. 
Detailed plans and funding is now in place for the major renovation of what is Britain’s oldest continually used fishermen’s store and working area. The first step in the project is to create temporary accommodation for the users of the building to allow them to carry on their work; mending nets and making creels.