Sutton Bridge Marina 'fails in every description'

Councillors have argued that more needs to be done to improve Sutton Bridge Marina which they feel ‘fails in every description’.

Members are looking to speak with Lincolnshire County Council again over the £915,250 marina after it was confirmed that there aren’t any current plans to carry out improvements to the river bank as part of an extension.

The county council had previously contacted the clerk to inform members that plans to extend the marina pontoons, funded by £679,000 which was awarded to the Sail The Wash project by the Coastal Communities fund, were‘at an advanced stage’.

However, councillors have argued that the controversial marina site doesn’t currently match the plans which were originally presented to them and villagers prior to it being built.

Coun Terry York said: “When this site was proposed it was going to be a benefit for the community which was landscaped with a picnic area. We were told that it would be an asset but it is not.

“It fails in every description and it’s got to provide more services.

“So far the promises which were made have just not happened. I think we need to remind them (Lincolnshire County Council) what the promise was and that it is not an asset.

“It’s a great shame but I think we should do our best to complain and ask that if they want to extend it, it should be with suitable waterways and walkways.”

Coun Ray Perkins agreed, adding: “To me it looks a tip and there’s nothing there at all.”

It is hoped that the extended pontoons will attract more boats to boost the village’s economy.

Simon Wright, principal officer for regeneration at Lincolnshire County Council had previously stated that the new pontoons would be able to cater for a variety of vessels.

He said: “The new pontoons are of a higher specification than the existing leisure moorings and will allow a greater range of vessels to use them. This is great news as it means not only can they be used by a wider variety of vessels, but also we hope that larger and older vessels will choose to visit the marina and become an attraction for visitors in their own right.”

However, Coun Michael Booth agreed with fellow members that more work has got to be done to make the site ‘more desirable’.

He said: “I was against it but we have got it and they have got to make it more desirable to make people want to visit. We were told it would be a chocolate box picture but the chocolates have gone and the box has deteriorated.

“We need to press on them to come along and do what we were told they would do.”

Coun Booth added that he had spoken to Coun Jack Tyrrell, who sits on the county council about the marina.

Coun David Bruch added: “You wouldn’t want to put a £50,000 boast on that site. They haven’t taken on board local knowledge.

“We are getting nothing for it.”