WATCHET marina has been holding water at low tide for the first time for several months after repairs were completed on the hydraulic gate.

In a progress report, marina operators the Marine Group said: “We will continue to monitor the performance of the gate to ensure it continues to work effectively.”

A spokesman added: “The dredging campaign has resumed and will be carried out by different vessels from our fleet over the coming months. We remain focused on getting the marina fully watered as soon as possible.”

Marine Group director Christopher Odling-Smee will hold a meeting at the Watchet Phoenix Centre at 5pm on February 21 to update the community and review progress.

The latest development comes after concerns raised by boat owners over the condition of the marina.

Earlier the Marine and Property Group resigned its membership of Watchet's Chamber of Trade (WACET) after the Chamber’s chairman, John Richards had asked for an emergency meeting of Watchet Harbour Advisory Committee to discuss a proposed 200-year lease between the Marine Group and Somerset West and Taunton Council.

Asked for a statement on the Marine Group’s resignation from WACET and the situation in Burry Port, a marina it operates in South Wales, a spokesperson said: “We are working with many interest groups and continually evaluate the merits of each.

“We will soon be announcing our development plans for our other marinas, including Burry Port."

The Marine Group operates marinas in Burry Port, Aberystwyth, Dinorwic, Cardiff and Watchet.

The resignation at Watchet followed the last Harbour Advisory Committee’s meeting which Mr Richards said he had called amid concerns in the town about the current state of the marina and rumours about the Marine Group’s finances and the state of marinas they own in Wales. The concerns have been dismissed by the group’s director Chris Odling-Smee.

Mr Richards said at the time that the meeting "was the most detailed and valuable that the advisory committee have had".

He said he was "pleased that the district council apologised for not following the requirements under the Harbour Revision Order to consult the Harbour Advisory Committee.

“I assume that means that, moving forward, there will be better consultation all round. At the moment we do not know what is in the new marina lease.”

Mr Richards added: “Sadly, because the marine group didn’t like questions and suggestions about their finances, they decided to resign from WACET.

“Following on from concerns regarding the marina in Burry Port, in Wales, which is also run by the Marine Group, people are worried about the future of Watchet marina.

“We were assured by Mr Odling-Smee - at the advisory committee meeting - that everything’s all right and the harbour will be back in working condition in the very near future. I just hope that the promises turn out to be true.”