Gallows Point Marina Gets Welsh Assembly Approval

The controversial project, which has been criticised by environmental organisations and by the local fishing industry – which claimed that mussel fishing could be adversely affected – should now get underway next year.

Rupert Jones, who is Managing Director of the company pursuing the project, Anglesey Boat Company, said he hoped that construction of the 450 berth marina would start before the end of next year, once planning permission had been obtained.

Jones said the project would require substantial marine civil engineering work, including the construction of two breakwaters, dredging of the 4.5 hectare basin for the marina, and reclamation of 4.5 hectares of land for shoreside facilities.

‘We hope to have Gallows Point Marina in operation in time for the 2005 season’, explained Jones, who said he expected the project to create up to 150 jobs in the area and bring in around £2m to the local community every year.

The construction work is expected to take 21 months, although Jones said he was hopeful that it could be completed more quickly.

The development scheme for Gallows Point is modelled on another Welsh marina at Pwllheli, and unlike a lot of recent marina developments in the UK, does not include any residential or retail development.

Anglesey Boat Company undertook to produce an Environmental Impact Assessment for the Gallows Point Marina in 1998 and first submitted a planning application for the site to the local county council in April 1999.

A supplementary environmental statement was sought in July 1999, and in December 1999 Ynys Mon County Council’s planning committee approved the application to build the marina, only for the National Assembly of Wales to call in the project for consideration in March 2000.

The Public Enquiry was held in Beaumaris over five days in July/August of 2000, but a decision finally to allow the project to go ahead was not reached until 31 July 2002.

Anglesey Boat Company says it has also submitted a planning application to Pembrokeshire County Council for another 400 plus berth marina at Goodwick Harbour, Fishguard which will cost an estimated £7m.

The proposed development will consist of a marina and ancillary facilities including boat yard, marine engineering workshop, chandlery and administrative offices.

As part of the planning process a consultation exercise which includes preparation of an Environmental Statement will be undertaken and it is anticipated that this should be completed for the application to be submitted early in 2003. Speaking to Maritime Journal in early September, Jones said work on the environmental statement was now underway.

No facilities other than those associated with the day to day running the marina will be provided on site and there are no proposals or provision for any residential units, hotels, restaurants, pubs or any retail outlets. ABC says it believes that the development will bring significant economic benefits to sustain existing local businesses such as shops, pubs, restaurants, and B&Bs, and create new businesses to cater for the yachtsmen’s needs.

Based on experience elsewhere, such as Pwllheli, ABC believe that the marina will directly create around 40 jobs on site which would include marina staff and boat service jobs in brokerage, chandlery, marine engineering, marine electronics, surveying, boat building, repairs and fabrication. It would also create indirect employment outside the development providing further jobs in restaurants, shops, local accommodation, related manufacturing, leisure and tourist facilities.

‘Market research shows that there is demand for such a facility which will provide a further link in the chain of marinas along the Welsh coast.

We have in Wales some of the best and most spectacular yachting venues in Europe but need to provide such amenities to attract yachtsmen who now go elsewhere with the subsequent loss to the local and Welsh economies, ” said the company.