A NEW mud removal system will be tried out at Watchet Marina next week after berth-holders threatened to withhold their fees.

They claim that the build-up of mud has made it increasingly difficult to use their boats.

At a recent meeting of Watchet Boat Owners’ Association (WBOA), it was agreed that members could notify the marina company of their intention to withhold mooring fees when they were due for renewal at the end of the month if conditions had not improved.

But a Watchet Harbour Marina spokesman told the Free Press this week that trials with a water injection dredger from Cardiff would begin next Monday (March 26) in the hope that this could be at least a partial solution to the problem.

WBOA treasurer Martin Stevens said: “Boat owners have been very patient, but the marina’s dredger has been out of action since last August and the state of the mud in the harbour has got steadily worse.

“Boat owners are not getting what they have paid for, and they feel it is time for decisive action.

“The association has always supported the marina manager in his efforts but the present situation has gone on far too long.”

Marina manager Ian Lambert said: “I absolutely sympathise with the boat owners. The standard of service is at the moment way below what I want to provide.

“I have done my best to get the dredger repaired and for whatever reason haven’t managed to achieve a wet marina for the forthcoming season.

“That’s why I have worked very hard over the last fortnight to broker a deal with West Somerset Council and the Cardiff Marine group to get the water injection dredger over to Watchet to to relieve the situation in both the marina and the outer harbour.”

Mr Lambert said the dredger would inject high-volume low-pressure water into the mud, putting it into suspension, to be carried out by the ebbing tide.

It would initially clear areas adjacent to the slipway, the marina gate and entrance and around two lines of pontoons, plus a channel through the outer harbour "and as much extra dredging as we can do in the time”.