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A significant grant from the European Fisheries Fund (EFF) is being used towards the regeneration of Southwold harbour in east Suffolk.
Waveney District Council recently undertook preliminary investigations at the harbour and has scheduled work on the £2.4 million project to begin in September 2011. The project is being partly funded through a £1.2 million grant from the EFF and Marine Management Organisation.
The project is expected to take nine months to complete and will see the creation of a new 278m quay wall and 16 additional mooring opportunities. It will also make use of the surrounding land with the construction of a fish landing and cold storage. As a result of the facilities it is hoped the local fishing fleet will be able to improve the quality and price of their catch which may in turn attract other vessels to the port.
The project, which is one of the largest to have been funded so far by the EFF in England, will also help to safeguard 41 jobs.
David Gallagher, Head of Customer Services and Commercial Partnerships for Waveney District Council, said: “The old harbour wall, which was in a bad state, was likely to have failed by 2013. If this were allowed to happen existing commercial and recreational activity in the harbour would be would significantly affected.
“The wall’s poor condition also meant that the surrounding area was unable to be developed. The funding is therefore vital in helping us to secure the economic viability of the area.”
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