Trust to consider fate of historic Peerie Dock
Rosalind GriffithsThe fate of the historic Peerie Dock in Symbister will be considered in private at a meeting of Shetland Amenity Trust tomorrow.
The dock, the original and oldest part of the harbour, has been deteriorating for years and last November the harbour board deemed the structure unstable, with the east side causing the most concern. A survey at that time indicated that a decision on the dock’s future could not be delayed.
Last year a meeting of the harbour board heard that the amenity trust could take over the repair of the Peerie Dock. It was suggested at the time that the council could part-fund the project, or that the amenity trust could also access this funding on its own.
SIC port engineering team leader Andrew Inkster said discussions had taken place with the amenity trust. He said: “There has been a suggestion that the council could contribute, but talks are at an early stage and no agreement has been reached.” The cost of the repair was last year estimated at £100,000.
Mr Inkster said the dock is very much in need of repair, but there had been “no significant worsening” in its condition recently.
He said: “We’re keeping a close eye on it.” He added that the dock was still partially used by very small boats, but access had been removed from the worst areas.
The dock itself is not listed, but is attached to buildings that are.
Speaking at a previous harbour board meeting, councillor Alastair Cooper said the dock is the “people’s heritage”, and no-one wanted to see it gone.
Jim Leask
With the millions that the LPA are making could they not be a good source of funding? THey could fix it up and moore a bonny barge to it 😉
john bennett
if only the council was run like the harbour trust we would not be in the mess we are in now.
Ivor poleson
As the ferry service to Whalsay is now heading back to the level of the 1970,s the council should waste no time in fixing the peerie dock up. They might need it again for the flitboat !.