A CAMPAIGN has been launched to retain the post of Aberaeron harbourmaster – an historic role dating back exactly 200 years.

The move follows fears that Ceredigion County Council could cut the number of county harbourmasters as part of their ongoing savings programme.

Anxious boat users in Aberaeron say they rely heavily on harbourmaster Peter Evans as their harbour is particularly vulnerable to hostile weather conditions.

An online petition set up last Sunday had already drawn 630 signatures by the time the Cambrian News went to press.

“Aberaeron would suffer from the loss of its harbourmaster far more than Aberystwyth or New Quay,” said Nick Sawyer, who set up the petition.

“Both Aberystwyth and New Quay have a resident lifeboat and coastguards, as well as a protective breakwater.

“Aberaeron has none of those things. We can have two-metre swells here, so getting in and out of the harbour can be quite treacherous.

“We really rely on Peter Evans who, as harbourmaster, is the permanent policing presence in control of all safety aspects – he knows all the strings to pull when someone is in trouble.

“No harbourmaster would mean no safety protection – we would be up a creek without a paddle.”

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