Stevenson Welcomes Scottish Government Support for Peterhead Harbour

Local MSP Stewart Stevenson has welcomed the announcement from Fisheries Secretary Richard Lochhead that Peterhead Port will benefit from Scottish Government support of £¼million towards the cost of recovery works from December’s storms.

The storms, which were caused by an unusual combination of south easterly gales, low pressures and high tides, were described as the worst in decades and caused damage across Scotland.

The funding will be used towards the costs to repair harbours, sea walls, and quaysides to ensure fisheries harbours remained operational.

Environment Secretary Richard Lochhead, who visited Peterhead Harbour with local MP Eilidh Whiteford in December, said:

“When I, and other Scottish Ministers, visited harbours around Scotland in the aftermath of the recent storms, the extent of the damage which had been caused was clearly evident. However what was also evident was the reaction of those affected and the sense of community spirit on show in the clean up work.

“To do our part, the Scottish Government has been working closely with the local authorities and agencies too assess the full impact and I would like to thanks all those involved for their hard work. This funding will go towards vital walls and piers and ensure the harbours will be repaired as quickly as possible.”

Local MSP Stewart Stevenson added:

“The harbour is the heart of the Peterhead economy and many of the area’s businesses rely on the activity there either directly or indirectly for providing jobs.

“I’m very pleased that the SNP Government is supporting Peterhead Harbour following my colleague Richard Lochhead’s visit here in December to see the damage at first hand.”

The emergency harbour scheme fund is £400,000 per annum. An additional £1 million has been added to ensure enough funding is available following the unprecedented storm damage that occurred in December 2012.

Additional work is continuing in respect of Fraserburgh (Trust) harbour to identify damage and costs.

The emergency harbour scheme takes its powers from the 1955 Fisheries Act and as such is limited to supporting the environs of harbours where fishing activity takes place. In a number of cases insurers are funding the costs of repairs and replacement and the funds is contributing where funding gaps have been identified.