AN extended and revitalised Watchet marina could bring up to £2 million a year into the local economy, the boss of the company which has taken over the ailing boat haven said this week.

In an exclusive interview with the Free Press, Chris Odling-Smee, director of the Cardiff-based Marine Group, which also runs a 350-berth marina at Cardiff and other marinas at Bury Port, Aberystwyth and Port Dinorwic, described Watchet marina as the ‘potential jewel in the Bristol Channel crown which just needs a little polishing’.

The Marine Group takes over the marina lease on April 1 from Watchet Harbour Marina Ltd, which ran the business for 16 years, and plans to spend an initial £447,000 on dredging and other improvements.

“Watchet marina has enormous potential and we are eager to get to work and make it the major boating and recreational centre that it can so easily be,” Mr Odling-Smee said.

“We have long regarded Watchet as a logical part of our network of Bristol Channel marinas and in the future it will be a key player in our plans. For instance, information about what is happening in the town will be fed to our entire customer network of many thousands to encourage them with special deals to come to Watchet for the weekend.

“Watchet will become an attractive and inviting marina with water in it at all times and which will work wonders for business in the town. For instance, Royal Yachting Association statistics show that every occupied marina berth can generate between £9,000 and £18,000 worth of revenue a year for the local economy.

“Ultimately, we would like to maximise the potential of the harbour and aim to fill it to capacity. So if you are eventually looking at perhaps 200 extra berths in the marina, which is perfectly feasible, that could be anything up to an extra £2 million a year for the town.

“We plan to improve landside facilities by carefully engaging with the local community at the appropriate time, but the next 12 months is all about getting the harbour to work – dredging it, renovating it and getting it full of boats – that’s the priority.”

For the full story see this week’s West Somerset Free Press.