By Staff Reporter

Last updated at 12:48, Monday, 17 September 2012

A plan to revive a former deep water Solway harbour could boost the Port of Workington.

The Port of Workington

A timber transport firm has unveiled proposals that it says are already generating talk of possible links to west Cumbria.

The £250,000 plans centre on the Kirkmabreck Quarry Quay at Carsluith, near Newton Stewart in Dumfries and Galloway.

If the work to get large boats back in there goes ahead, it could take hundreds of lorry loads off the roads.

The tidal port on the River Cree estuary, which has been mothballed for the past 10 years, is capable of taking vessels up to 2,000 tonnes.

It is owned by Tarmac and a contract has been drawn up between Ayrshire-based John Scott Transport, with the transport firm operating the pier once work there has taken place.

A paper manufacturer has already expressed demand for more pulping wood from Dumfries and Galloway and James England, the south of Scotland timber transport officer, has suggested this could be shipped from Kirkmabreck to Workington.

He said: “It could save hundreds of lorry trips a year on the country’s minor road network. Several firms have expressed an interest in using the quay, including two large sawmill businesses and a large paperboard manufacturer. Initial operation of the pier could see six to 12 boats using the facility each year. Each ship load would be the equivalent of 60 to 80 lorry loads.”

Timber has become a major industry in southern Scotland and Cumbria.

Mr England added: “There are a number of local timber processing facilities in the area based at Dalbeattie, Lockerbie, Annan and further afield in Carlisle, with some smaller mills located within the region.

“To remain competitive against foreign imports the processing facilities are mainly state-of-the-art and continue to have significant amounts of money invested to ensure they maximise efficiency.”

If a link with the Dumfries and Galloway harbour were to be forged, it would be another boost for business at the Port of Workington, where there has been extensive investment in recent years.

First published at 11:26, Monday, 17 September 2012
Published by http://www.newsandstar.co.uk