Sailors, rowers and swimmers in a pretty Victorian seaside resort face being left high and dry in a bizarre legal dispute over who owns an ancient slipway.
For more than a century boats have been launched off the 500ft-long slipway at Clevedon, North Somerset, and into the waters of the Bristol Channel.
But the sight of sailboats and racing gig boats could become a thing of the past as the 140-year-old slipway risks being washed away unless vital repairs are made.
The local council will not accept ownership, which has passed through several now-defunct authorities since it was built for Victorian pleasure boaters in 1884.
North Somerset Council (NSC) insisted it 'only owned a few' feet of it when first approached about repair work in 2016.
Eight years on there is still no solution and local groups including Clevedon Sailing Club (CSC) are becoming increasingly concerned about its state of disrepair.
The top surface is already pitted with potholes and CSC want the NSC to accept ownership and fund repairs which could cost up to £200,000.
This week NSC is set to divert cash earmarked for repairs to pay for work to 'row back' Clevedon's controversial £1.3m 'wobbly lanes' road scheme which hit the headlines last year.
CSC commodore Mark Elliott is concerned that sections of the ageing slipway could be soon be washed away in storms and be lost to the community forever.
His concerns have been backed by local MP Sir Liam Fox.
Mr Elliott said: "We are in a race against time and the elements, and the issue over ownership is holding everything up.
"This is a much loved community facility used by sailors, rowers, swimmers and families who love to come crabbing here in the summer.
"Even the RNLI and air ambulance use it in emergencies.
"If something is not done soon it will simply be lost forever not only be lost to the community but become a derelict eyesore next to our lovely beach and Victorian pier.”
"All we are asking is that North Somerset Council accept ownership and money be raised for the repairs."
CSC and Clevedon Town Council have both offered £20,000 each to match the £50,000 NSC had initially earmarked towards an initial £130,000 repair bill.
North Somerset MP Sir Liam Fox said he supported criticism that NSC's failure to accept ownership of the slipway was hindering repair work.
He also blamed the authority for mishandling the controversial re-working of the town's seafront traffic scheme.
He said: "Clevedon Sailing Club are just one of the groups in North Somerset who are paying the price for the incompetent management of the seafront.
"A project that nobody wanted has massively overrun its budget and now funds are being redirected from other areas to fill the gap.
"What a disgraceful state of affairs. Who at North Somerset Council will carry the can?"
A North Somerset Council spokesperson said it will cost £200,000 to make the slipway safe £500,000 to replace the entire thing.
It warned it may withdraw its own contribution of £50,000 as the project is 'not at the implementation stage and will require significant further funding.'
A statement said: “We already have responsibility for a range of coastal and other assets and have very significant funding challenges in respect of our existing statutory responsibilities and liabilities, and would be unlikely to take on further on-going liabilities at this very challenging time.
"We have offered our on-going support and technical advice which could include engaging with the town council or other local bodies on how they might take on responsibility for the Slipway as an important local asset.”
For more than a century boats have been launched off the 500ft-long slipway at Clevedon, North Somerset, and into the waters of the Bristol Channel.
But the sight of sailboats and racing gig boats could become a thing of the past as the 140-year-old slipway risks being washed away unless vital repairs are made.
The local council will not accept ownership, which has passed through several now-defunct authorities since it was built for Victorian pleasure boaters in 1884.
North Somerset Council (NSC) insisted it 'only owned a few' feet of it when first approached about repair work in 2016.
Eight years on there is still no solution and local groups including Clevedon Sailing Club (CSC) are becoming increasingly concerned about its state of disrepair.
The top surface is already pitted with potholes and CSC want the NSC to accept ownership and fund repairs which could cost up to £200,000.
This week NSC is set to divert cash earmarked for repairs to pay for work to 'row back' Clevedon's controversial £1.3m 'wobbly lanes' road scheme which hit the headlines last year.
CSC commodore Mark Elliott is concerned that sections of the ageing slipway could be soon be washed away in storms and be lost to the community forever.
His concerns have been backed by local MP Sir Liam Fox.
Mr Elliott said: "We are in a race against time and the elements, and the issue over ownership is holding everything up.
"This is a much loved community facility used by sailors, rowers, swimmers and families who love to come crabbing here in the summer.
"Even the RNLI and air ambulance use it in emergencies.
"If something is not done soon it will simply be lost forever not only be lost to the community but become a derelict eyesore next to our lovely beach and Victorian pier.”
"All we are asking is that North Somerset Council accept ownership and money be raised for the repairs."
CSC and Clevedon Town Council have both offered £20,000 each to match the £50,000 NSC had initially earmarked towards an initial £130,000 repair bill.
North Somerset MP Sir Liam Fox said he supported criticism that NSC's failure to accept ownership of the slipway was hindering repair work.
He also blamed the authority for mishandling the controversial re-working of the town's seafront traffic scheme.
He said: "Clevedon Sailing Club are just one of the groups in North Somerset who are paying the price for the incompetent management of the seafront.
"A project that nobody wanted has massively overrun its budget and now funds are being redirected from other areas to fill the gap.
"What a disgraceful state of affairs. Who at North Somerset Council will carry the can?"
A North Somerset Council spokesperson said it will cost £200,000 to make the slipway safe £500,000 to replace the entire thing.
It warned it may withdraw its own contribution of £50,000 as the project is 'not at the implementation stage and will require significant further funding.'
A statement said: “We already have responsibility for a range of coastal and other assets and have very significant funding challenges in respect of our existing statutory responsibilities and liabilities, and would be unlikely to take on further on-going liabilities at this very challenging time.
"We have offered our on-going support and technical advice which could include engaging with the town council or other local bodies on how they might take on responsibility for the Slipway as an important local asset.”
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