HOPES that the tidal gate at Watchet Marina – out of action since last September – would be back in place next week have been dashed.

Members of Watchet Boat Owners Association had been told that the repaired seven-ton structure, believed to have been damaged when something became trapped beneath it, would be reinstalled next Thursday.

But yesterday (Thursday) Sam Westmacott, spokesman for the marina operator, confirmed the date had been put back by at least a month.

She said that although repairs to the gate, which was floated out of position before Christmas, had been completed by Hunton Engineering in Kent, there was a delay on the replacement hydraulic ram operating system.

She said it had been thought the ram was a standard piece of equipment and could be "bought off the shelf".

"But it was actually a one-off custom-made ram which is unique, and as we have no drawings or design details the company in Newcastle which has been given the job is literally having to copy each of the components from the original," she said.

"This is obviously taking far longer than everyone anticipated and is also putting up the price."

But Ms Westmacott said the work was expected to be completed by the end of June.

"That is the date we are working towards for getting the gate back in and then installing the ram," she said.

"Obviously this is incredibly frustrating for our berth holders, who have been amazingly patient throughout this long process."

The cost of the repairs has so far topped £100,000, much of which has been covered by insurance, but Ms Westmacott said the marina operator had paid for some additional improvements to the gate in a bid to reduce the level of mud.

And she said insurance cover had also paid for a 25 per cent reduction in berthing fees for berth holders this year.

"We are particularly pleased to have been able to do this because things have been so difficult for boat owners.

"These problems have had a huge impact on the number and type of boats that can use the marina so we are obviously very keen to get the situation back to normal as soon as possible."