Lochmaddy harbour revamp

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Harbour revamp gets underway 18/3/14

Work to improve and expand North Uist's marine tourism facilities is set to start this week following a £380,000 investment from The Crown Estate.

The revamp of Lochmaddy harbour will benefit locals and attract visitors by increasing moorings and space for cruise liners, with knock-on benefits for the local economy.

The construction of pontoons with 26 berths and floating walkways, lighting and electricity, and a car and bus park will be carried out by Gael Force Engineering and local contractors Mcinnes Brothers. The facilities will be fully operational in May.

Angus Macaulay, chair of Comman na Mara - the local body responsible for the project - said: "After months of planning and preparation, work starting on site is a really exciting milestone - and the support from The Crown Estate has been critical in getting this project up and running.

“These new facilities will benefit the local economy by taking advantage of the huge and growing opportunities in marine tourism, ensuring that the Western Isles is firmly on the map for sailing."

At Lochmaddy, it is anticipated that the first year of operation will see 357 visiting boat nights and seven cruise liner visits. The income generated will be used for further pontoons and other facilities, as well as community events.