THE owner of an iconic 70-year-old restored lifeboat which has become a tourist attraction in Watchet has told the town’s marina operator the Marine Group that the business is now in crisis and he is withholding payments for his berth until further notice.

Experienced yachtsman and former headmaster Jonathan Pearman owns the Liverpool class lifeboat Elliott Gill, which saved 24 lives during its RNLI service.

In a letter this week to marina manager Matt Driscoll, also circulated to Somerset Council officers Chris Hall and Jonathan Stevens, local Somerset Council member Rosemary Woods, and town council clerk Sarah Reed, Mr Pearman said: “As putative leaseholder, the Marine Group have failed to manage this asset.

“Worse, the neglect is apparent and there is increasing concern for the future.”

Mr Pearman said his decision followed several public statements of intent earlier in the year by Christopher Odling-Smee, now sole director of the Cardiff-based Marine Group, in which he claimed that an intensive dredging programme would be followed through the summer and better management practice would follow.

Mr Pearman said: “The dredger has not moved since May.

“Mr Odling-Smee also pledged that the water-retaining gate would be repaired. It is now immovable with the weight of mud.

“The gate-linked safety lights at the marina entrance no longer function.

“Staff are unpaid. There is an atmosphere of insecurity for both staff and boat owners.

“We have seen the worst of business practice - forcing staff to work in the hope of being paid.

“Staff absence has now caused a Notice to Mariners Caution - 24/10/23, when this harbour has a safe refuge role.

“As owners of the harbour, Somerset Council have failed over many years to ensure the leaseholder upholds even minimum standards to keep the marina open.

“It now becomes impossible to predict the future of this asset.

“The role of Somerset officers and councillors is opaque. There have been meetings but so far an inadequate response.

“Why is this information confidential and 'not in the public interest' when the business failures of the Marine Group with other marinas are clearly evident on social media?

“And in this marina, where the neglect is all too obvious.

“I own an historic ship the Elliott Gill. I am very aware of the responsibility for a unique piece of history with its provenance.

“The Watchet community would certainly miss its presence if conditions forced me to move her.

“Other boat owners are looking elsewhere.

“Watchet harbour shares an even more important history - for the town, community, and county.

“As custodians, Somerset Council must see this as an urgent case for immediate future planning.”