HARBOURS in Aberystwyth, Aberaeron and New Quay need to receive “long-term capital investment” from cash-strapped Ceredigion council to help improve the facilities and provide a boost to the local economy, councillors have said.

A task and finish group established by the council’s Thriving Communities Scrutiny Committee says the council is not doing enough to make the most of the three harbours and said that improvements to the three harbours could provide a major boost to the county and its economy.

The group has called for maintenance and repair work at the three harbours.

It said development work was needed at Aberystwyth to boost business interest in the area, while extending New Quay’s pier and providing a wooden walkway along the pier would help to improve the area and create a better facility for boats and boost income.

The group has also said that improvements in Aberaeron should include rebuilding the south pier and engineering work at the rear of the harbour to better protect boats in the harbour from debris, as well as better dredging of at Pwll Cam.

The recommendations will be considered at a future meeting of the council’s Cabinet, but would depend on capital funding being found within the council’s strained budget.

However, the group said the proposals could boost vital income from the harbours.

One of the suggestions was to carry out work at Aberystwyth that would make the area more attractive to businesses as a long-term aim, after carrying out initial maintenance and renovation work.

The review from the group found that New Quay harbour provided the most income for the council but that the harbour is “constrained in size”, leading to a waiting list for moorings.

The proposal to extend the pier at the harbour has been suggested as a way of increasing capacity at the harbour and improving it.

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