Aberdeenshire Council has announced an investment of £500,000 for a programme of essential improvement and repair works at two of the regions busiest harbours.

The investment at Macduff and Stonehaven will address the majority of high importance pier defects detected during recent inspections.

Last year the council's Harbours Service addressed vital repairs to its facilities at Portsoy, Banff, Rosehearty, Gourdon and Johnshaven.

Cromarty Marine have been awarded the contract to undertake subsea repairs for scouring and void rectification to Macduff's Lighthouse Pier and North Pier respectively.

Keith Simpson Stonemasons will be rebuilding the wall under the fishmarket pier which forms the northern end of the wave trap.

The non-critical cosmetic concrete spalling to the end of the Lighthouse Pier will be addressed with spray concrete repairs during the next financial year.


Meanwhile, designs are being drawn up to repair cracking which formed after last winter's storms season and works will begin at the earliest opportunity.

At Stonehaven, Aberdeen Marine are now currently working on subsea repairs to the harbour to correct voids and scouring along with various non-critical defects.

The team will also be working with the Harbours Service to improve the lower storm gate sill to the inner harbour to protect against under currents. They will also be working with Aberdeenshire Council's Roads Service to rectify winter storm damage to the breakwater pier deck to improve safety.

It is expected that all works at both Macduff and Stonehaven harbours will be finished towards the end of August.

Stonehaven councillor and chair of the council's Infrastructure Services Committee, Cllr Alan Turner, added: "We are very fortunate to have such thriving harbours around the Aberdeenshire coastline which support a range of commercial and leisure activities. These latest repairs works at Macduff and Stonehaven demonstrate our ongoing commitment to these facilities to ensure they are safeguarded for years to come."

ISC vice-chair Cllr Isobel Davidson added: "I am delighted to see this continued investment in our harbours which not only protects the integrity of the infrastructure but also helps maintain existing operations and supports future opportunities which is great news for the harbours and wider communities."