£1m bill ‘disaster’ looms at Amble harbour

Oct 24 2008 by Brian Daniel, The Journal

HARBOUR bosses in Northumberland could face a £1m repair bill amid fears insurers might not pay for flood damage.

Severe storms last month left a gaping hole and a series of cracks at the port of Amble after flooding caused an increase in water pressure on the harbour wall.

And managers last night reported a double blow as they revealed repair costs could soar to £1m – and they might not be covered by insurance.

The harbour commissioners could now take a decade to repay the cash needed to fix the harbour.

Stabilisation work has been continuing since the damage appeared and initial fears that a section of the wall could fall into the water have abated. But part of the harbour remains sealed off.

Engineers have been drawing up plans for long-term repairs, although the full extent of what needs to be done remains unknown.

Warkworth Harbour Commissioners are in discussions with their insurance company over whether it will cover the cost of repairs, but are already expressing fears the insurer might not pay out.

The harbour has only one source of income – dues paid by the pleasure boat and fishing industries – but it is not a big moneyspinner.

If the insurance company does not pay, the commissioners would have to apply to bodies such as Defra – the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs – for funding and are already exploring such possibilities.

Spokesman Dr Paul Morrison said: “The harbour commissioners are a bit dismayed about the enormous costs to put it right. They are a bit worried because the insurance company has not said it will definitely cover the damage.

“We are very very worried. If things do not go to plan, it is going to take the harbour over 10 years to recoup the costs of actually repairing the harbour.

“We have no choice because it is part of the living, working harbour. It is the last thing we want when the commissioners are providing for the sailing and fishing.

“To have that rug pulled through storm damage is a bit of a shock. It is a disaster for the harbour authority.”

Amble Development Trust executive director David Milburn met the commissioners yesterday to be brought up to date on the harbour repairs.

He said: “The stabilisation works are ongoing, there are divers on site today doing more survey work with the consultant engineers appointed by the harbour commissioners.

“The site is going to remain fenced off for issues of public safety and the full extent of the works is not yet known.

“The estimation of potential costs could be anything up to £1m, which is obviously highly significant.

“The commissioners are doing all that they can to move the matters on and we are working very closely with them at the trust to determine how we might move this matter forward and how we might resolve the issue, because obviously the harbour is a vital resource for the economy of the town.”

After the cracks appeared, a section of the harbour and the town pier were sealed off.

A funfair was evacuated and 18,000 litres of diesel in a leaning tank on the harbour had to be drained amid fears of oil getting into the River Coquet estuary, causing a major pollution incident and endangering wildlife.