Consultation launched on the future of three historic North Devon quays

Residents are being invited to have their say on the future use of three historic marine facilities in North Devon.

The council is reviewing facilities at Castle Quay and Rolle Quay in Barnstaple, as well as Fremington Quay, following the introduction of the Ports and Marine Facility Safety Code in April.

The code sets out a national standard for every aspect of port and marine safety. While not mandatory, it is underpinned by marine legislation and general legislation such as the Health and Safety at Work Act 1974.

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The three sites have been identified as full marine facilities in accordance with the code as they each have mooring equipment or a slipway allowing any type of vessel to launch, moor or recover.

If the sites are to be retained as marine facilities, the council will be required to upgrade them to ensure they are compliant with industry standards.

A meeting early in September heard it would cost £500,000 to bring all the facilities up to scratch to comply with the new code.

The cheaper option – at around £75,000 – is to remove buoys, ladders and mooring rings and other items from the quays and decommission the sites.

It would mean Barnstaple would lose its status as a port after a millennium of shipping usage, though the river has not been dredged for many years and would not be navigable for larger vessels.

The council says it is looking to find out more about how each of the sites are used and is inviting residents and those who use the facilities to take part in a consultation, which runs until January 5.

The outcome of the consultation will be considered by the strategy and resources committee in March next year and will help inform a decision on whether the sites are retained for use into the future.

If the sites are not kept on as marine facilities, ladders, fenders, mooring rings and bollards will be removed. Existing slipways will remain useable and access to the water from them will not be affected.

Councillor Malcolm Wilkinson, lead member for coastal communities at North Devon Council, said: “We recognise that Castle Quay, Rolle Quay and Fremington Quay each have their own rich history.

“If they are to be retained for ongoing use, we have a duty of care to ensure our facilities are safe and meet modern industry-standard requirements.

“This is a significant undertaking, so we need to ensure any upgrades are in the interest of our communities and that the cost of doing this is reflective of how the facilities are used.

“We encourage everyone to share their views by taking part in the consultation. The feedback we receive will help us identify the best way forward and make an informed decision on the future of these marine facilities.”

People can take part in the consultation by visiting https://letstalk.northdevon.gov.uk. Paper copies are available for completion from the Town Centre Hub in Barnstaple's Green Lanes Shopping Centre, the Ilfracombe Centre and the Amory Centre at South Molton.

Paper copies or large print copies of the survey are also available on request by emailing consultation@northdevon.gov.uk