Courtown Harbour basin will be drained during the summer.

WORK HAS begun at repairing the 2014 winter storms damage at Courtown Harbour which means a summer of disruption will impact on the business and fishing community and while the rehabilitation programme costing over €2.5 million is welcome, many see the timing as unfortunate.

Full details of the programme will be discussed at a public information evening taking place in the Tara Vie Hotel, Courtown Harbour, on Thursday, April 9, at 7 p.m. All interested parties are welcome.

The stone reinstatement programme on the beach has already begun with the section beside the beach guards hunt and blue flag area cordoned off while the work is being carried out. It will be done in three sections.

The most significant development will be the closing off of the harbour mouth and complete drainage of the basin.

Fishing boats and pleasure craft who use the basin for mooring will have to find shelter in other harbours with Arklow and Wexford mentioned, however, it is expected that a number of vessels will relocate to Cahore Pier.

Contractors have to be off site by November 30.

Story this week in THE GOREY ECHO.