A HARBOURMASTER wants to launch a bid to attract multi-million pound foreign investment to regenerate the docks at Harrington.

Ged Doran is seeking permission to seek outside funding for the proposals, putting an end to a “make do and mend” attitude which he said would lead to further deterioration.

He wants to see a “reconfiguration” of the pier, the creation of pontoons and an improved road network to support the Harrington area.

He also wants to see the installation of a breakwater to make the harbour a more attractive mooring prospect for boat-owners, sailors and fishermen.

Mr Doran stressed that he was aware of the “financial constraints” facing the council which is why he wanted to seek approach aid from abroad.

He said: “I’m conscious of the financial situation – if you’re not getting money in it’s difficult to pay money out.  But the harbour has got to be in a state or a position where it can offer people good moorings.

“The problem with Harrington harbour is the swell. Any one coming into that harbour in the winter months will think ‘I’m not going to put my £30,000 or £40,000 boat in there’.

“Nothing has happened since the harbour was (first) opened up.

“It’s a make do and mend situation. But I would have thought Allerdale, as a council, would look it and think ‘This doesn’t want to be let go’.

“There isn’t such a thing as standing still – you just go backwards if you leave it as it is. It deteriorates and deteriorates and there isn’t the money to dig it out.

“I don’t know where the money is going to come from but I have never had an official go ahead to try and get some interest from businesses, even if they are not in this country.

“I honestly believe we should bring people in from the outside for this funding. I was going to go ahead and do it, but I have never had an official nudge.”

The harbour was ransacked last year by fire-starting yobs with objects, including a lifebelt and lobster pots, strewn across the dock.

And proposals to develop adjoining land suffered a setback last year when the county council agreed to award the grassed marina area village green status following a decade-long battle by councillor Hilary Harrington.

The proposal for Harrington marina had been opposed by landowners Allerdale council who had considered earmarking the land for a regeneration project.

However, the restrictions would not apply to the quayside area itself which could potentially be re-developed.

Responding to Mr Doran’s comments, Carole Armstrong, chairman of Allerdale council’s Harrington Harbour and Dock Board, said that he should have this conversation again with the new administration following the elections on May 2.

Mr Doran also proposed selling an Asset-Liability Committee report previously commissioned by the council to potential investors.