North Berwick Harbour

Another important milestone has been reached, as North Berwick Harbour Trust
Association (NBHTA) take over the administration and running of North
Berwick Harbour from East Lothian Council in 2008. NBHTA have been working
with East Lothian Council for a couple of years, and in June 2007, a
Management Agreement was signed which transferred responsibility for the day
to day running to the Trust Association. Now, in 2008, responsibility for
the collection of fees for moorings and dinghy parking spaces, and the
administration and allocation of boat spaces and the mooring waiting list,
lies with the Trust. This phased approach provides the Trust Association
with the opportunity to demonstrate their competence, prior to the eventual
handover of the Harbour to the Trust. During this interim period, East
Lothian Council continue to keep an overview through regular liaison
meetings.

The legal and associated work, which involves a parliamentary Revision
Order, to allow final transfer the harbour to the full Trust, is likely to
take another couple of years. At that time, adverts will be placed looking
for new applicants to become Trustees.

The Trust Association has been busy since June 2007, with the ongoing
management of the harbour and arranging tidy up work, including self help
voluntary work parties to refurbish the Harbour Master's office, tidying up
the dinghy park and areas surrounding the harbour. A recent project, which
included the employment of a contractor working with volunteers, is
rearranging the dinghy park to provide extra parking spaces, all with tie
down rings for boats. This will be completed before the start of the new
season and will ensure that the waiting list for dinghy parking spaces is
eliminated.

Looking ahead, the Trust Association have other projects on the books to
look at the provision of a landing pontoon on the beach outside the harbour,
pontoons inside the harbour, the use of the changing rooms around the old
outdoor pool for use by local organisations, and the provision of a workshop
for the Harbour Master.

The Trust Association has also been busy reviewing the rules and guidelines
for allocations of moorings, to ensure fairness and transparency in the
allocation of moorings which are in short supply. This has included close
liaison with the fishing boat and commercial boat operators to ensure that
their interests are protected.

Gerry Hughes, the Chairman of the Harbour Trust Association, and Harbour
Manager, has said that we are in it for the long haul. It is an opportunity
for local people to take over control of a local asset, for the benefit of
harbour users, visitors to North Berwick and the local community, for this
and future generations.