A FEASIBILITY study is to be carried out to examine the future development of Fisherrow Harbour – which has been branded “neglected”.

East Lothian Council is in the process of enlisting consultants to carry out the study, which will go out to tender.

The Musselburgh Area Partnership has provided £12,000 to fund the study, which will look at a range of issues, including tourism.

The cash boost has been welcomed by local groups seeking to boost the potential of the historic harbour, dubbed “the jewel in Musselburgh’s crown”.

Mark McClelland, Commodore of Fisherrow Yacht Club, said: “We would hope that a feasibility study, by putting a cold hard figure on the possible benefits, would make the economic argument and help the council recognise the value and potential value the harbour has, transforming how it is regarded from a white elephant to a cherished infrastructure gem.”

He added: “The historic harbour at Fisherrow is already the highlight and destination for many walkers, cyclists and other visitors to the area.

“It is part of the John Muir Way and is lucky enough to open right onto a prime area for water sports, a beautiful curving beach with no hazards and very little tidal flow.

“We feel that some expenditure on the harbour could massively boost its positive effect on the locality in terms of tourism and safeguard a local asset for the local people to enjoy too.

“The harbour and surrounds feels very much at the bottom of the list of priorities for local government in terms of maintenance and investment.

“Fisherrow Yacht Club has held meetings with the local MEP and MSP to raise awareness of the possibilities here.

“The west of Scotland and north of Ireland have combined to effectively target readily available EU money to transform the infrastructure in harbours all up those coasts, bringing massive benefits, yet the east coast hasn’t taken the chance to try and do the same.

“At these meetings the politicians were confident that funding could be sourced once a clear plan and a properly funded feasibility study were in place.”

Gaynor Allen, spokesperson for Fisherrow Waterfront Group, said: “We are keen to maximise the potential of our historic harbour, which has suffered from neglect in recent years, and we need the feasibility study to give the best options, and to look at the possibility of pontoons for easier access. We are also keen to see the front of the harbour being used as a public space and to see safe walkways introduced connecting the east and west beaches at Fisherrow. At the moment, getting between the two beaches involves going through a car park and is not safe for young families and people in wheelchairs.

“We welcome the area partnership investing in the harbour area and teaming up with FWG to get the best in terms of economic development and community involvement. We are keen that improvements to the waterfront area tie in with the town centre development and really think this could put Musselburgh on the map. The harbour is one of our best assets and we need to make the most of it.”

Michael Fairnie, who fishes for lobster out of Fisherrow, said any funding allocated to the area was to be welcomed but it was a drop in the ocean. He said: “Nothing has been spent on the harbour for years and years, and it has got to the stage a lot of money needs to be spent. It is the jewel in Musselburgh’s crown but is run down.”

While he understood the council had cash constraints, he claimed: “The council doesn’t seem interested in Fisherrow Harbour. If something happens in North Berwick or Haddington, something is done right away. That’s where all the money is spent.”

Mr Fairnie’s boat was written-off in an alleged incident of wilful fire raising recently.

He felt the £12,000 would be better spent on improving security of the area with closed circuit television and better lighting.

Mr Fairnie suggested formation of a harbour trust might be the way forward to obtain grant-aid but doubted if Fisherrow Harbour generated enough revenue for this to happen. He said this could also result in higher mooring fees which might not be popular with some harbour users.

Stuart Baxter, area partnership manager, said that the Back Sands and promenade would also be included in the study as it was hoped to encourage better use of the facilities.

A council spokeswoman said: “East Lothian Council has supported the creation of harbour trusts in recent years when user groups have indicated that this was a management model they wanted to introduce. The council and Musselburgh Area Partnership are working to continue improvements at Fisherrow to ensure that this continues to be a harbour that’s fit for purpose.

“If Fisherrow user groups are wanting to investigate further the possibility of creating a harbour trust, the council is very open minded to this possibility.”

She added that work to replace harbour side ladders had also gone out to tender.