Two historic waterfront locations in north Devon have been preserved as official ports after a community led campaign.
Rolle Quay and Castle Quay in Barnstaple, which have served the community for nearly a millennium, will continue operating as marine facilities after the council initially considered shutting them down.
The authority had explored decommissioning all three local quays because they failed to meet requirements under the new Port Marine Safety Code, with compliance upgrades estimated at up to £500,000.
A more economical alternative involving the removal of buoys, ladders and mooring rings would have cost approximately £75,000.
However, following a three-month public consultation and structural assessments costing £30,000, councillors opted to maintain the town centre sites.
The public consultation proved instrumental in reversing the council’s initial direction, with residents demonstrating overwhelming support for preserving the waterfront heritage.
Of the 105 responses submitted to North Devon Council, just 13 backed removing the facilities, while nearly two-thirds confirmed they visited the Barnstaple quays on a regular basis.
The sites serve a diverse range of users, including fishing enthusiasts, sea cadets and boat owners whose families have moored vessels at the quays across multiple generations.
Castle Quay and Rolle Quay in Barnstaple have now been saved
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NORTH DEVON COUNCIL
Councillor Malcolm Wilkinson praised the exercise as an example of effective public engagement, noting that early audit reports had recommended keeping only Rolle Quay.
Speaking to residents revealed Castle Quay’s significance, he said, expressing satisfaction that the committee had heeded community voices.
Fremington Quay faces a different outcome, with the committee agreeing to decommission the site as a formal port facility.
Members heard the location sees no commercial or recreational marine activity, making the investment required for compliance unjustifiable.
North Devon Council confirmed they would be saving the quays in Barnstaple
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GETTY
The quay will instead be made safe for visitors, though those who currently use the area for fishing, rowing and cycling will notice no practical difference to their activities.
Ilfracombe harbour master Georgina Carlo-Paat emphasised how deeply the waterfront’s heritage resonates with local people, noting this sentiment was particularly evident during a public meeting held at the council’s Green Lanes Shopping Centre hub.
She confirmed that while Rolle Quay hosts no commercial operations, nearly all vessels moored there remain in active use by their owners.
The precise cost of maintaining Rolle Quay and Castle Quay as operational marine facilities remains undetermined, with councillors told this week that further investigation would be necessary.
A sign marking the site of Rolle Quay
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GOOGLE MAPS
Officials described the upcoming assessment as “quite a piece of work”, encompassing the removal and replacement of ageing ladders alongside the installation of additional safety equipment.
The harbour master highlighted how the quays’ historical significance and the community bonds formed around them clearly mattered to residents.
“The history and the community around the quays was really important to people,” Georgina Carlo-Paat said, adding that this connection “certainly came through” during public engagement sessions.
The decision marks a victory for local campaigners who argued the waterfront’s near-thousand-year maritime heritage warranted preservation despite the financial challenges involved.
