CAMPAIGNERS at a Welsh harbour operated by the company that runs Watchet Marina, have called on council bosses to look for new tenants if things don’t improve.

A petition presented to councillors in Carmarthenshire this week 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.

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