Plans have been approved to upgrade power and water facilities at four leisure harbours in Moray.

Improvements will be carried out, where practical, at Hopeman, Findochty, Cullen and Portknockie harbours.

To cover maintenance costs, the council's Economic Development and Infrastructure committee has agreed to raise berthing charges at six harbours. Boat owners will now pay £60 a metre for a pontoon berth, up from £40.

-- Advertisement --

Overall, the increases will raise an extra £33,831 a year, bringing harbour income from berths to £103,430 a year.

Cllr John Cowe said the rise in price was reasonable given the cost of maintaining the harbours.

"Given that we last raised the fees by more than inflation in 2008, it's perfectly reasonable to implement an increase now. In these straitened times the council cannot subsidise what is now largely a leisure activity exclusively for a few.

"The harbours are expensive to run - we have an annual deficit of £135k on our harbours meaning that we spend that much more than we earn from fees at present. This is clearly unsustainable."

(LM/CD)