North-east harbours left devastated by violent winter storms will be strengthened with more than £1million of crucial Scottish Government aid, it was revealed last night.
A fresh round of European Fisheries Fund (EFF) payouts will help repair structural damage to harbour walls at Peterhead.
Cash will also go towards rebuilding the town’s Mapco factory, which was wiped out by heavy winds one year ago.
The awards package was announced by Scottish Fisheries Secretary Richard Lochhead last night. Cruden Bay will get £100,000 to repair severe damage to its Port Erroll harbour.
The tiny port of Sandhaven, near Fraserburgh, has also received £25,000, which will go towards fixing its damaged quayside.
A total of £3.1million was announced by Mr Loch-head yesterday to support 45 projects across the country.
He said the new package brought total investment to more than £11million.
It follows an emergency £3million of Holyrood cash awarded to badly hit harbours at the start of the year. Last December’s storm – an unusual combination of strong south-easterly gales, low pressure and high tides – was described as the worst to hit the north-east corner in living memory.
Dozens of homes were evacuated in the Roanheads area of Peterhead, while the Mapco fish dehydrating plant was brought to the ground.
The local harbour trust will get £650,000 to help with its ongoing repairs.
Peterhead Port Authority chief executive John Wallace said last night: “There was significant storm damage around Peterhead harbour last December, which affected ourselves and many tenants.
“We are still working to repair damage and improve sea defences to vulnerable parts of the port.
“This £650,000 grant will unlock a further £1.3million of work which will benefit a whole range of fishing-related harbour users and businesses based around the port.
“We are particularly grateful for this, which comes on top of £250,000 of emergency assistance received earlier this year.”
Mapco boss Nasar Rashid, who secured planning permission for a replacement factory, said he was delighted. He said: “This will further enhance Mapco’s reputation to remain at the forefront of the fish-dehydrating sector among stiff competition from emerging markets.
“We will be able to make our production more energy-efficient, improve working conditions and be ahead of our competitors.
“The award will bring additional income into the fishing industry for a product which had previously been regarded as waste.”
Mr Lochhead said: “This package of support continues this government’s commitment to these industries.”
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