Work on the £35,000 project to begin in June

Work on a major new project to improve fish landing facilities at Axmouth harbour will get under way next month.

East Devon District Council has been working with the Dorset and East Devon Fisheries Local Action Group to obtain £26,000 of funding from the European Maritime and Fisheries Fund towards the scheme.

And additional £9,000 has come from EDDC and the East Devon Fishermen’s Association, in recognition of the importance of the facilities to the local fishing industry.

The harbour improvements which will get under way in June will include extending the existing concrete hardstanding and putting ducting in place to allow the EDFA to add better lighting, CCTV and wash down facilities.

The new works will complement previous improvements undertaken at the harbour recently by East Devon and the EDFA to improve the roadway, refrigeration and ice making facilities.

Ultimately, the improvements will help local fishermen comply with the various fisheries directives and will enhance the presentation of fish landed at the village harbour.

It will also help the fishermen keep the area clean and safe to use while they are working there.

The works are scheduled to start on Monday June 11, but the harbour will still be accessible while the improvements are carried out, as barriers will be put in place to guide people through the works.

Councillor Tom Wright, East Devon District Council’s portfolio holder for the environment, told The Midweek Herald: “It’s great to see these improvements going ahead to help the fishing community at Axmouth continue to thrive by improving the quality of their catch.”

Angus Walker, a local fisherman, the assistant harbour master and a representative of the East Devon Fishermen’s Association, said: “We’re really pleased to be working with East Devon to improve the quayside facilities, which will help ensure the viability of fishing from Axmouth.”

* The Dorset and East Devon Fisheries Local Action Group (FLAG) has been established to deliver community-led Local development in the area’s fisheries sector. Amongst its key aims is to support the industry by enabling diversification, up-skilling and training, and increase the knowledge and understanding of the sector to• attract a younger workforce.