Harbours consultation deferred by councillors.

Councillors today agreed to undertake a consultation with users and local communities on development plans for council-owned harbours in Moray.

The consultation will include proposals to increase berthing charges at its six harbours - Buckie, Burghead, Hopeman, Findochty, Portknockie and Cullen – which would have helped to move the six harbours closer to being self-funding.

They currently operate at an annual loss of around £135,000.

Councillors asked that a number of charging options be included in the consultation with harbour users. These included varying rates for types of berth – pontoon, quayside or storage, etc, where pontoon berths would be the most expensive.

The set of charges debated at the council’s economic development and infrastructure services committee are designed to bring Moray’s harbours more broadly in line with harbours elsewhere around the coast.

The consultation will also focus on individual development plans for each of the six harbours to help them realise their full potential and maximise development opportunities which exist at each of the locations.