Finlay Carson has won a commitment from the Scottish Government that it will assist in addressing the damage caused to the harbour at Drummore by Storm Barra.
The Galloway and West Dumfries MSP raised the financial plight now facing the local community group that runs the local harbour, after 40-foot long section was washed away on Tuesday after being battered by 70mph winds and mountainous waves.
Speaking in the Holyrood chamber on Wednesday, the Dumfries and Galloway MSP sought an assurance from John Swinney there would be help on hand to Kirkmaiden Community Harbour Trust.
Mr Carson said: “As the Deputy First Minister is well aware, there has been severe damage across the coast of Dumfries and Galloway.
“In particular, 40-feet of Drummore Harbour has been destroyed. It is a huge setback for the community group, which only recently took over ownership of the harbour with a view to providing more marine-based services to support the fragile local economy.”
He added: “Will the Government commit to engaging and working with the community to address that devastating setback to its ambitions?”
Assuring the local MSP that assistance would be made available, the Deputy First Minister said: “I am delighted to give that commitment.
“As Mr Carson might recall, a few weeks ago, in the aftermath of a previous storm incident, I visited Annan. One of the issues was the loss of two significant footbridges, and I agreed to engage constructively with the local community once it had had an opportunity to consider its next steps.”
Mr Swinney continued: “With regard to the circumstances at Drummore, the involvement of a community group is a welcome endeavour, and we will happily engage with it to see what we can put in place to practically support its efforts.”
In the wake of the latest storm, that also caused damage to the roof of Stranraer High School and other local schools, co-ordinators from the Scottish Government’s regional resilience team have been drafted in to provide help and support.
Speaking afterwards, Mr Carson said he had been heartened that assistance would be offered to the community group.
He revealed: “I have been actively involved in helping the community harbour trust take over the running of Drummore Harbour and have warmly welcomed this wonderful initiative for a long number of years.
“It is unfortunate that there has been extensive damage to the harbour wall, but hopefully, this will be rectified quickly to allow the community group to continue to move forward quickly with its future plans.”
“The trust has worked tirelessly to achieve their dream of owning and running Drummore Harbour and I have always promised to assist them in any way possible to ensure that it becomes another local success story.”
Praising the MSP’s intervention, Alex Peebles of the community harbour trust said they were “extremely appreciative” of Mr Carson’s intervention.
He said: “Finlay has been an enormous supporter of Drummore and, in particular, the trust and we are all grateful for his tireless efforts on our behalf.
“We fear the damage may be greater than first feared and our budget is already extremely limited, so any help would be wonderful.”
It is not the first time Drummore Harbour has found itself under attack from the elements.
Several years ago a series of storms meant the entrance to the harbour was completely closed off, with fishing boats trapped inside, threatening many livelihoods.
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