A POPULAR seaside resort's town council is calling for volunteers to help secure the future for its decaying harbour area.As reported in The Journal last month, Southwold Town Council is a step closer to taking over the management of the town's harbour from Waveney District Council.

A POPULAR seaside resort's town council is calling for volunteers to help secure the future for its decaying harbour area.

As reported in The Journal last month, Southwold Town Council is a step closer to taking over the management of the town's harbour from Waveney District Council. The town council has been campaigning to have the harbour area returned to a local control so that new funding opportunities can be explored and help repair the harbour's crumbling walls and ensure the future for many of the area's businesses.

The cost of general repair and regeneration work at the harbour has been estimated at £5 million.

A fortnight ago the town council received a letter of intent from its colleagues at Waveney, meaning a new trust can be set up to run the harbour on behalf of the town.

Now, town mayor Teresa Baggott said: “Southwold Town Council is looking for individuals with the right skills and competencies to become trustees of the Southwold Harbour Lands Trust which it is in the process of setting up.

“The Trust will receive back into local control, from Waveney District Council, the Southwold Harbour Undertaking which includes not only the harbour but also the caravan site, camping site and car parks, and will then form a limited liability company to undertake the day-to-day management of these assets.

“The aim in taking the harbour back into local control is to boost local pride in the facility, to revitalise the local economy by improving the amenities there, to make the harbour and caravan site safer environments for users, to strengthen communication with those users and ensure a more accountable management structure.

“Greater local involvement and effective management will achieve a sustainable future for the harbour and help preserve its character which will be in the best interests of the town, the surrounding area, the harbour users and its visitors.”

The town council is seeking to appoint trustees with experience in marine operations, business, financial or leisure services who have an interest in the local area, and invites such people to contact the town clerk Jenny Hursell, at the Town Hall, Market Place, Southwold, Suffolk IP18 6EF or 01502 722576 or email: southwold.tc@virgin.net by November 21 to register their interest and receive an information pack.

The closing date for applications will be December 18.