AN apparent deadline for completing the main dredging of Watchet marina has been missed for the third time, campaigners say.

This week, despite the latest pledge to boat-owners by operators the Marine and Property Group that an intensive dredging programme would restore retained water to the marina by early April, all 60 boats in the marina were still aground in the mud for up to 16 hours a day and the company’s dredgers were not currently working in the harbour.

It was reported that the company’s largest dredger, the 55-ton CMS Doonhamer, which had been scheduled to “work day and night to get on top of the situation,” had been hired out on contract elsewhere.

“When promises sound too good to be true, they usually are - as in this case,” said Watchet businessman Chris Moiser who has organised a petition urging the district council to withhold a 200-year lease from the Marine Group and start enforcement proceedings if conditions don’t improve.

Up to yesterday, 432 boat-owners and residents had signed the petition.

Mr Moiser told the Free Press: “I was at the meeting when Chris Odling-Smee, a director of the Marine Group, assured us that there would be retained water in the harbour, whatever the conditions, by the first of April.

“It is a great disappointment that the harbour is still not functioning properly despite what was said.

“And the secrecy surrounding the lease doesn’t help. We don’t know what the council has done and whether or not they have agreed a lease. I’m very keen that it’s sorted out for Watchet’s sake.”

The harbour’s owner, the outgoing Somerset West and Taunton Council, was asked whether a lease with the marina owners had been negotiated and signed, but no one was available for comment.

Previously, SWT’s assistant asset management director Jonathan Stevens had said that the council hoped to have the extended marina lease completed by the end of January.

The missed dredging deadlines brought a torrent of comment on social media. Typical posts were “The marina promises are impressive but the facts speak for themselves” and “Two years on, our boats are still in the mud and we’re paying top marina rates.”

Following criticism about the state of the marina, Mr Odling-Smee has been holding monthly “clear the air” meetings in the town. The next will be on April 6 followed by an appearance at the town council’s AGM on April 17.

It was in April 2021, on taking over the marina, that the Marine Group pledged that it would contain at least 1.5 metres of water at all times by October that year.

In October 2022, Mr Odling-Smee told the Free Press: “The works have been completed later than planned due to the fact that we have been working on external dredging contracts.

“But all areas will be fully watered and serviceable within the next few weeks.”

In January 2023 at a meeting in Watchet, Mr Odling-Smee said: “Our commitment to delivering a fully-watered harbour for Watchet as soon as possible remains. Our objective is that it is all watered by the beginning of April.”

He added: “I am contrite. I am frustrated. It has taken us longer to get to the point where an amount of mud has been taken out, but this will be resolved by April. Our objective is that it is all watered by the beginning of April.”

Asked about the missed deadlines, Mr Odling Smee said this week: “The statements we have made were clear.

“We are planning to ensure the harbour is fully watered by the spring (not April) and will continue to target further depths throughout the season.

“The timing of works is dependent upon third party contracts and we are looking to commission a fourth dredger to support demand.”

Mr Odling-Smee added: “There is no difference in our message. We are targeting being fully watered by the spring. I explained in the meeting we had planned for dredging to resume in a major way in April. This may be the confusion.”

This week a Watchet Boat Owners’ Association spokesman told the Free Press: “Of course our members are disappointed with the dredging delays and particularly that it might discourage visitors bringing their boats to Watchet. We can only hope that major improvements will be completed before the main season gets under way.”

John Richards, chairman of Watchet Chamber of Trade (WACET) added: “While WACET and others are working really hard to make the town more of a tourist destination, we are also disappointed that the marina operators have not done what they promised.”