WATCHET Marina operators, the Marine and Property Group, has resigned from 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.

The resignation followed the 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: “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.”