Somerset Council has welcomed proposed improvements to Watchet Marina under the new leaseholders Western Marinas Limited.

Western Marinas Ltd has taken on the assets that were previously under the management of The Marine & Property Group Ltd. Its plans include the return of fuel sales and a full electrical refit as well as dredging at Watchet Marina.

Somerset Council is the Statutory Harbour Authority and owns the freehold to the Marina which was leased to Watchet Harbour Marina (WHM) Ltd in 2001. In 2021, WHM Ltd sub-let the lease to The Marine and Property Group Ltd who were in the process of buying the lease from WHM Ltd in a private transaction.

Captain Jessica Tyson MNM, Acting Harbour Master for the ports of Bridgwater, Minehead and Watchet, manages Watchet Harbour which encompasses the Marina and is looking forward to working with the new leaseholders.

Cllr Federica Smith Roberts, Lead Member for, Communities, Housing and Culture, said:

I’m delighted that the future prosperity of Watchet Marina has finally been secured after a lengthy but meticulous process.

We look forward to working with the team at Western Marinas Ltd to build on the progress that had been made rehabilitating the Marina, taking it forward to become a source of local pride and a jewel in the crown of our West Somerset coastline.