What will happen to the port of Bideford after local government reorganisation? That is the question being posed in a recent proposal from Bideford Town Council. 

At the moment, Torridge District Council (TDC) is the harbour authority and its Harbour Board, consisting of both councillors and independent members, oversees its statutory role. But with district councils set to disappear by 2028, the headquarters of the new unitary authority will most likely move elsewhere. Bideford Town Council has therefore floated the idea of forming a Trust Port, independent of local authority control. This poses several pertinent questions, all of which need consideration if we are going to preserve our maritime heritage and develop it for the future. 

How big an area should the new port authority be responsible for? In the light of new marine safety requirements, North Devon Council has recently been consulting on the future of its port facilities in Barnstaple and at Fremington Quay, with the suggestion that they may be too expensive to maintain. The Trust Port proposal suggests that a new port authority should have full responsibility for managing the whole of the estuary. Currently Bideford is required to provide pilotage for the whole area, but its statutory governance, which allows it to charge mooring fees, covers only the Bideford Quay area. 

So, what about Appledore? The recent upturn in visiting cargo ships springs from an agreement with shipyard owners Navantia (previously Harland and Wolff) to use their dock as the materials they bring in, like animal feed, are not suitable for offloading into Bideford. Meanwhile, there is no control of shipping using Appledore quay, a privilege which locals claim dates back to ancient manorial rights. 

This anomaly is even more glaring in relation to East-the-Water, where houseboats  – and hulks – pay no dues and little can be done to ensure they do not become a liability for cleanliness and safety in the harbour. TDC is currently working with the Crown Estates (who own the riverbed) to enforce control on illegal or abandoned craft. 

The costs of maintaining a working harbour currently outweigh income from shipping and Torridge has been unable to invest much in developing the facilities. Much more investment would be needed if the port were to be extended to cover a vastly increased area, and the legal responsibilities would similarly multiply. 

There is an important debate to be had about what we want from the port in future and the most suitable vehicle for taking it forward.