Withernsea fishing compound the 'reel deal'
Plans to breathe new life into Withernsea's seafront have been welcomed.
As first revealed on the Mail's website yesterday, East Riding councillors have approved plans to extend the fishing compound and create a single-storey workshop.
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From left, Withernsea town mayor Councillor Kevan Hough, Councillor Arthur Hodgson, chairman of regeneration, and Councillor Gordon Hodgson, deputy chairman of the project, outside the compound.
It is set to further improve the shellfish industry – worth £1m – in the seaside town.
Plans for a boat slipway south of Pier Towers was also approved at the planning meeting.
Once built, fishermen will not have to travel more than 300 metres along some of Withernsea's busiest roads.
The £4m scheme will ensure the long-term viability of the south Holderness fishing fleet.
It will also mark the start of a £9m regeneration project, which includes a new cultural and business centre and improvements along Withernsea South Promenade.
Councillor Kevan Hough, Mayor of Withernsea, welcome news of the green light for the first phases of the plan.
He said: "This project is one of the five main arms of the seafront redevelopment.
"Without this part of the programme, it is probably fair to say, the whole scheme will fail.
"As Withernsea is a town with much higher than average levels of deprivation it is vital the South Promenade scheme goes ahead in order to kick-start private inward investment into Withernsea.
"The facilities will greatly enhance the local fishing industry, which is important to our fragile economy, as it is estimated to bring one million pound's worth of crab and lobster."
Despite concerns by some residents close to the South Promenade compound that the extension would lead to a loss of green area, councillors were fully behind the plans at the planning meeting.
John White, chairman of the Withernsea Fishermen's group, said: "There's never been much done to Withernsea's compound.
"It is quite important and will help with the development of the business.
"Any improvement is a good thing."
The Withernsea and South East Holderness Regeneration Partnership will now look at sources of funding.
3 Comments
by Arthur, Ezzle Road
Tuesday, February 09 2010, 9:21PM
“Withernsea- what a plaice, something definitely fishy here, it haddock-urred to me how some poor soles could live there, then John Dory, who's a dab hand at these puns, told me not to be crabby, don't skate on thin ice, have a drink it warms the cockles of your heart, anyway time to go on my motor-pike and side-carp, to see the poor old trout at home, it will cost me a few squid in petrol but anyway my mate - eel pay, when we get to Wales there'll be a whelk-ome in the hillsides.”
by Chinese DVD Gang, Warton Stleet Malket
Tuesday, February 09 2010, 5:18PM
“Smells a bit fishy to me. Not the plans... Withrensea.”
by hardpressed oap, Withernsea
Tuesday, February 09 2010, 10:06AM
“Well Mr White I think as a commercial business your organistation has had more money spent on it than any other in the town. Your members would be better advised to keep what they do have tidy which would encourage further spending. I hope the Town Council are not going to throw more ratepayers money away like they did on the composter. We are a small town with retired people struggling to pay over inflated rates used to provide for totally inefficient services,”