Harrington Harbour
Background
Harrington has been a haven for ships for
centuries. The marina sits on the Cumbrian coast south of the Port
of Workington and North of Whitehaven. In 1760, Squire Henry Curwen
built a quay at Harrington on the South side of the River Wyre.
Coal and limestone were soon being exported from Harrington, and
the increase in trade led to the development of the local
shipbuilding industry. A decline in manufacturing industry saw the
harbour’s usage drop dramatically and eventually the harbour was
closed and sealed off. In the 1960s local
people succeeded in re-opening the harbour to sea-going
vessels and the Harrington Dock Board ran the harbour on a tiny
budget.
A glimpse of Harrington's industrial heritage...
New Opportunities
Allerdale Borough Council has led on the creation of a
regeneration master plan for the harbour which aims to build on the
growth in sailing in the North West and revitalise the harbour as
the centre of the local community.
West Lakes Renaissance, the Urban Regeneration
Company, has also identified Harrington Harbour as a project worthy
of investment and have committed funding towards the first
phase of improvement works.
Vision for the future
The vision for the future is to create a harbour and marina
which is accessible to local people, tourists and visitors and
offers a range of facilities catering for a wide range of
water-based activities. We want the harbour to develop
sustainable sources of income and create a climate where new
investment can be brought to bear in the area.
Managing Harrington Harbour
In late 2006, management of Harrington passed back to Allerdale
Council as the previous Harbour Commissioners
resigned. The council has subsequently established
the Harrington Harbour and Dock Board.
Since early 2007 the Council has also
employed a part-time Harbour Master who works under the direction
of the new Harbour Board.
There is also a steering group of local
organisations in place to help the new Dock Board and ensure that
it’s decisions are in the best interests of local people as well as
the harbour itself. This steering group is made up of the
following organisations:
-
West Lakes
Renaissance
-
Harrington Marina
Regeneration Action Group
-
Allerdale Borough
Council
-
Harrington
Residents Association
-
Harrington in
Bloom
-
Harrington Sailing
and Fishing Cub
-
Cumbria County
Council.
-
Harrington History
Society
-
Harrington Boat Owners Association.
Next Steps
The master plan documents (see downloadable
documents below) have set the agenda for future regeneration in
Harrington. Allerdale Council aims to work with partners such as
West Lakes Renaissance to make the master plans a
reality.
Quay wall repairs were undertaken in
October 2007 and completed May 2008. The total cost was £335,000 of
which 75% was grant funded by West Lakes Renaissance. Works
assisted in increasing the safety of the harbour, and
consequently its ability to support any further developments to the
Marina. Works included repair and improvements to the dock walls,
the installation of new safety
features for the users and improvements to the railings.
In future Allerdale Borough Council will
be looking to work with the private sector and a range of public
partners to regenerate this important hidden gem on Allerdale’s
coast.