Council launch legal bid to remove abandoned fishing boat

A local authority has launched court proceedings in a bid to enforce the removal of a 21-foot fishing boat left abandoned and decaying at side of a pier in Lewis.

The ‘Silver Spray’ is owned by Willie Grafton, but he has ignored an appeal from Comhairle nan Eilean Siar (Western Isles Council) to remove the vessel from Carloway pier, an area considered to be of natural beauty.

Mr Grafton, who is now the skipper of another boat, is the ex-partner of Natalie Crayton –the former owner and managing director of the Hebridean Sea Salt company, which was liquidated two weeks ago following an investigation by the Food Standards Agency and council officers.

A council spokesman said: “The council had written to the owner requesting that the vessel is removed. As the vessel still remains at Carloway pier, we have started the legal process to have it removed.”

Mr Grafton, who is originally from Lochgilphead, is still living in Lewis. The couple are understood to have parted ways several months ago. Neither was available for comment.