Historic waterfront saved after community pressure

6 minutes ago

Alison StephensonLocal Democracy Reporting Service

News image — North Devon Council said in 2025 would need to find £500,000 to make sure the three quays complied with the new port and marine safety code

North Devon Council Castle Quay at Barnstaple on a cloudy day. There is a row of yellow mooring bollards along the iron railing of the quayside with one prominent in the foreground. Over the calm water is a row of five-storey housing. Spanning the water in the background is a road bridge. — North Devon Council said in 2025 would need to find £500,000 to make sure the three quays complied with the new port and marine safety code

Historic quays have been saved after residents made clear how much the waterfront means to them.

North Devon Council's Strategy and Resources Committee was considering decommissioning Rolle Quay and Castle Quay as well as Fremington Quay Barnstaple because they did not comply with the new Port Marine Safety Code and would be costly to bring up to scratch.

Members agreed on Monday Rolle Quay and Castle Quay would stay open as marine facilities, said the Local Democracy Reporting Services (LDRS).

The decision followed strong community support from families with long links to the water, sea cadets, boat owners and people who fish along the river.

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Fremington Quay will not be upgraded because it is not used for recreational or commercial marine activity. It will instead be made safe for visitors, with no major changes.

The council received 105 responses during the consultation.

Only 13 supported removing the facilities and 63% of people said they used the Barnstaple quays regularly.

Back in autumn 2025, the council estimated upgrading all three quays to modern standards could cost up to £500,000. Decommissioning them by removing buoys, ladders and mooring rings was expected to cost about £75,000.

Councillors heard this week final costs for keeping the Barnstaple quays would not be known until further investigations were carried out, which they described as "quite a piece of work". This will include replacing old ladders and installing new equipment.

Ilfracombe harbour master Georgina Carlo-Paat said the history and the community around the quays "was really important to people" and that this "certainly came through".

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