It is a year since North Berwick Harbour Trust Association (NBHTA) took over the management of the harbour on behalf of East Lothian Council. Many changes have taken place and important developments are in the pipeline.

Developments and changes since June 2007:-

• Dinghy Park – development to provide additional spaces and general improvement to cleanliness and tidiness. Removal of old flagpoles. There are still some dinghy spaces available – contact the Harbour Master if you are interested.
• Harbour Master’s Office - refurbishment and installation of electricity
• Administration – close liaison with boat owners to ensure bills paid on time and to answer queries about boat allocations. Improvement to the accuracy and tidiness of the database of boat owners.
• Fee Collection – improvements to collection of launching fees and temporary winter moorings. Agreement with third parties (e.g. ELYC, Commercial Boats, and West Bay Mooring Holders) that fees to be paid for use of harbour for boats not allocated a mooring or space.
• Mooring Applications – review and update of the guidelines
• Mooring Allocations – review of commercial and fishing boat allocations and removal of decommissioned boat. Pro active prevention of sub-letting of recreational boat moorings.
• Gate - replacement of gate beside ELYC, used for access to Anchor Green
• Doors - Replacement of doors to buildings around Dinghy Park (old swimming pool changing rooms)
• Commercial Users – guidelines for, and register of Commercial Boats using the landing facilities
• Cleanliness & Tidiness – significant improvements and removal of rubbish around and inside the harbour, and removal of trip hazards
• Lighting – improvement around harbour
• Web Site – revision and addition of more information for users of the harbour. Addition of historic and current photographs. All meeting minutes are available to view.
• Liaison – close liaison with Scottish Seabird Centre, Harbour Residents, East Lothian Yacht Club, commercial boat owners, fishermen, other users and East Lothian Council.
• Safety – removal of fuel storage in Commercial Fishermen’s store.
• Self Help – establishment of self help work parties for maintenance to supplement Harbour Master duties. Typical tasks are:- weeding and sweeping up harbour walls and dinghy park, Harbour Master’s Office external paintwork, fitting new chain, remove old seats around dinghy park and paint walls.
• Harbour Master – regular support and supervision by Harbour Manager or Deputy.

Plans and Actions Ongoing and for the Future

• Passenger Landing - Investigation of projects to refurbish Galloway’s Pier and to provide a landing pontoon on the outside south wall of the harbour. This is primarily for commercial boats and involves applying for external funding.
• Fabric of the Harbour – ongoing negotiations with East Lothian Council about the state of the harbour and fittings. Consideration of replacing the crane for insertion of defensive booms. Looking at the integrity of some of the main harbour walls. Condition of railings.
• Refurbishment – of buildings around dinghy park for possible use by divers and kayakers, and to create a Harbour Master’s Workshop
• Legal Work – involved in the drafting the Parliamentary Revision Order that will formally pass the harbour to the Harbour Trust, targeted for completion in 2009. Agreement of the exact footprint of the land and buildings that will be passed to the Trust.
• Trustees – planning for method of advertising and appointment of Trustees when full Trust comes into being (when Revision Order signed)
• Mooring Allocations – further review of recreational boat moorings.
• Self Help – ongoing self help work parties for maintenance
• Safety – review of Health and Safety with East Lothian Council
• Future Projects – more time required to consideration of future projects and associated funding.

Contact: Derek Braid, Secretary, North Berwick harbour Trust Association
Tel: 01620 890780
Email: secretary@nbharbour.org.uk