Press Release...

PRESS RELEASE 10th September 2008


Portgordon Community Harbour Group held a public meeting in the Village Hall on Monday 8th September to update villagers on recent developments and discuss the way forward for their proposed harbour regeneration project. Following on from a recent recruitment campaign the meeting was also an opportunity for new members to meet the Group and acquaint themselves with the story so far.

Harbour Group Chairman, Ron Billing welcomed everyone to the meeting and said that the Group had recently received a major boost with the receipt of a “letter of intent” from Smith’s Gore, Agents for harbour owners, The Crown Estate. After considering the Groups Feasibility Study and Business Plan the Crown have now indicated that they would be willing to transfer ownership of the harbour and surrounding area to the Portgordon community, at a date to be agreed in the future and subject to the necessary funding becoming available. Harbour Group Vice Chairman, Derek Murray, advised the meeting that unfortunately, a recent report in a daily newspaper had incorrectly indicated that “ownership of the village harbour was finally secured by the residents”. This had been incorrectly reported in the press and he stressed that there was still a lot of work to be done and some hard decisions to be made in the future by both the community and the Crown before ownership is transferred. However receipt of this letter now allows PCHG to move towards charitable status and pursue the major funding bodies for grant assistance. The Group also now intend to step up their local fundraising activities which have traditionally been centred on their annual Raft Race and Gala Day.

Mr Murray then went on to summarise the history of the Group from it’s formation in 2003 through to the present day including the environmental improvements carried out around the harbour in 2004, the completion of a comprehensive feasibility study in 2005, the preparation of a business plan in 2007 and, more recently, the publication of the booklet “Portgordon Harbour – The Future” which was distributed to every household in the village and to other interested parties. He added that “amongst all of this we have now run 5 annual gala days and other fundraising activities. We have also had numerous meetings with the Crown Estate, Smiths Gore, Moray Council, HIE (Moray)(the local enterprise company) and with Councillors, MP’s and MSP’s as we canvassed support”.

“The booklet “Portgordon Harbour – The Future” encouraged villagers to sign up to membership and show their support. We also asked many of those who attended the gala to join the group. The Group consider it fundamental to the success of the project that we can demonstrate to potential funders that the village is fully supportive and part of the project. Potential funders such as lottery will be looking for a high level of community support and involvement before awarding any grants. Membership places no obligation on anyone either financially or in terms of your time but, having said that, any help that is offered would be greatly appreciated”. “He added that the recent membership campaign has increased membership from the mid thirties to around 120 but anyone who is not a member and wishes to join can still return the membership form at the back of the booklet or they can join by going on-line at www.portgordonharbour.org.

The group became a limited company in 2005 and currently has 4 voluntary Directors. A restructuring in April this year led to a Committee of 12 being formed with representatives from various local groups and organisations such as the harbour users, local businesses, Lennox Community Council and Moray Council. Once ownership of the harbour passes to the village it is proposed to set up a harbour trust.

Mr Murray then went on to discuss the feasibility study and the business plan in more detail. “It was a comprehensive study and looked into all aspects of the project including the history of the harbour, an assessment of its current condition, market assessments for the proposed marina, regulatory requirements, repair and maintenance costs, operating costs and funding. The study was launched at a packed meeting in this hall on 9th May 2005 and a summary of the contents can be found on our website”. “The study confirmed that there was a demand for berths in the Moray Firth and that there was a huge potential for these berths being provided at Portgordon Harbour”.
Our Business Plan, prepared with assistance from HIE, was submitted to the Crown in September 2007 and approved in principal by the Crown at a meeting in December last year. The plan updated the market assessment done in 2005 and laid out a 5 year construction plan (initially estimated at £1.3M), and a 5 year financial plan, and detailed the amount of funding required.

In terms of local fundraising Mr Murray said that “because, up to now, the Group had been relatively few in numbers, all our efforts have gone into running the gala and raft race. We have never been short of ideas for fundraising but never had enough people to deliver them. However we need to now step up our fundraising activities big time! Grant organisations will fully expect the community to be seen to doing its bit and therefore we urge everyone to show their support and help with fundraising activities”.

It is clear to PCHG that major fundraising will be the biggest task ahead for the group and again any offers of support would be appreciated. It is likely that any funding would have to come from a large range of organisations but there is a long list of potential funders and grant organisations that might be able to assist. The Group noted the Knockando Woollen Mill regeneration project as an example as they have a long list of backers, large and small, and have recently started a campaign to get individual and company sponsorship for various parts of the project.

PCHG also indicated that nothing yet was cast in stone in terms of the project and they invited ideas, suggestions & proposals for the regeneration of the harbour and the surrounding area fro the village.

A lively question & answer session then followed which covered many aspects of the project including such issues as land ownership, berthing fees, construction programme, the financial aspects, facilities that the village would hope for in the harbour area, the effect (if any) on events such as the fireworks night and the gala day. The potential for community groups working closer was also discussed.

Mr Billing thanked everyone for attending and advised that PCHG Committee members meet every two months in the Lampie Hoose and anybody with matters they wish to raise should contact a Committee member or email the Group through the link on the website www.portgordonharbour.org Further public meetings will also be held in the future.

ENDS

Anyone wishing to discuss this press release further should contact the Group’s Chairman, Ron Billing on 01542 831963.

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