A SOMERSET marina will be given a new lease of life as its new owner has committed to upgrades and regular dredging.

Watchet Marina has been acquired by The Marine Group following “careful of and collaborative negotiations” with Somerset West and Taunton Council and Watchet Harbour Marina Ltd.

The Cardiff-based company, which officially takes ownership of the site on April 1, has promised to upgrade the harbour, including regular dredges to ensure that boats are not stranded.

This follows a commitment by the council to continue dredging the outer harbour, heading out into the Bristol Channel, as part of its annual budget.

The Marine Group currently operates a number of marinas along the Welsh coast, including Cardiff, Swansea, Aberystwyth, Burry Port and Y Felinheli near Anglesey.

The company has promised to upgrade the harbour to deliver “a first-class marina matching the very best in the UK”, with significant community input.

Company director Christopher Odling-Smee said: “Watchet is a proud and beautiful town, and we owe it to the community to deliver a harbour that reflects its potential as a destination and a fabulous place to live.

“We are pleased to also welcome the existing marina employees to the company and to count them amongst our team.”

The council has not disclosed how much the marina was sold for, citing commercial sensitivity.

As part of its investment in the site, The Marine Group has pledged to begin a “comprehensive” dredging campaign in the late-spring, ensuring that adequate water depths are available for navigation by the summer.

It will also institute a long-term maintenance programme to ensure this problem never returns.

While the inner harbour and the marina is the company’s responsibility, the council will remain responsible for the outer harbour, committing an additional £25,000 towards regular dredging in its annual budget agreed on February 18.

Councillor Marcus Kravis, portfolio holder for asset management and economic development, said: “We are delighted to be working with The Marine Group and support their plans to invest in Watchet.

“Their development plans will bring welcome investment, jobs and enliven the harbour.”

Director of operations Rob Freemantle added: “Having conducted a successful dredge campaign in the outer harbour at Watchet in 2020, we are familiar with the technical dredging requirements of the marina.

“The harbour management team are looking forward to be working on a comprehensive campaign to renovate Watchet Marina.”

The Watchet Marina redevelopment will follow on from the East Quay regeneration, which is due to be completed by the summer.

The £7M project, spearheaded by the Onion Collective, will see offices, an art gallery, a restaurant and self-catering holiday pods built a stone’s throw from the marina.

Watchet has also been earmarked within the Somerset post-coronavirus recovery plan, put together by Somerset County Council and the four district councils, for future regeneration efforts.