The operator of Watchet Marina has issued a statement after pulling out of Watchet Chamber of Trade.

The Marine and Property Group resigned its membership of the town’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 Harbour Advisory Committee’s meeting last week 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: “Last Thursday’s meeting was the most detailed and valuable that the advisory committee have had, and I 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.”

A petition presented to councillors in Carmarthenshire this urged the authority to enforce the long-term lease for Burry Port harbour it granted to the Marine and Property Group Ltd five years ago.

The petition by Friends of Burry Port Harbour said the facility had deteriorated to an essentially unworkable state and that boat users had no faith in the preferred method of dredging - known as water injection - to remove large amounts of sand and sediment.

Campaigners’ spokesman David Williams said the harbour was “an embarrassing eyesore” and that around 370 of its 420 berths were empty. He said boat owners felt the pontoons were dangerous and urgently needed attention.

Mr Williams suggested that the council looked for another tenant if the Marine and Property Group could not fulfil its responsibilities. “We want to see the harbour and marina return to the best possible condition,” he said.

Cllr Hugh Shepardson said he had never seen the harbour in the state it was now. “Something needs to be done. It’s a disgrace.” Cllr John James added that he felt the harbour was “close to the point of no return.”

Cllr James said local councillors had met representatives from the Marine and Property Group who, he said, “apologised for not meeting previous commitments and then gave eye-popping promises” which didn’t materialise.

Cllr James also claimed that staff from the company had not been paid, and that vehicles had been impounded. “How can we have confidence?” he said.

Asked to comment by the Free Press sister paper the Cambrian News, Marine Group director Chris Odling-Smee said: “Burry Port is a challenging harbour and has been loss-making for a long period of time.

“We are committed to complete the capital dredging works and have the capital agreed to deliver this.”

Mr Odling-Smee added that some salaries had been paid late but that affected staff would be compensated. “We are not looking for finance as we have the banking support that we need to grow and invest,” he said.