Berthing structure is rescued.A CRUMBLING berthing structure vital for Tyneside's fishing industry is being rescued under a multi-million pound plan. The run-down Western Quay, at the western end of North Shields Fish Quay North Shields Fish Quay a fishing port located close to the mouth of the River Tyne, in North Shields, Tyne and Wear, North East England, eight miles east of the city of Newcastle upon Tyne. , in North Tyneside North Tyneside is a metropolitan borough of Tyne and Wear in the North East of England. Its seat is at the Town Hall, Wallsend. Created in 1974, the borough lies within the historic county boundaries of Northumberland. , is in need of urgent repair. Its deterioration has been caused by years of use by fishing boats as well as the effects of the weather and sea tides. The area, owned by the Port of Tyne and leased to the North Shields Fish Quay Co, is used by up to 80 trawlers a day for landing fish and prawn prawn: see shrimp. and is a backbone for hundreds of jobs in the North East. It was facing closure because of its dilapidated condition. But a pounds 5.75m scheme has been drawn up to ensure Western Quay is brought back up to standard. The project is run jointly by the Port of Tyne, North Tyneside Council, the Fish Quay Co, One North East and the Marine and Fisheries Agency The Marine and Fisheries Agency of England and Wales controls sea fishing in seas around England and Wales. Responsibilities include enforcement of sea fisheries legislation, licensing of UK commercial fishing vessels, sampling of fish catches, management of UK fisheries quotas and . Work will begin next week and is expected to finish in October 2010. Alan Clarke, chief executive of One North East, said: "This project is essential for large-scale fishing to continue in the North East, which currently supports around 1,200 regional jobs. The Fish Quay is a unique regional facility and this investment from One North East and our partners to renew the Western Quay will build on the major regeneration work that has already taken place at this thriving visitor and commercial centre." North Tyneside's Mayor Linda Arkley added: "Western Quay is vital to the success of the fishing industry and the future of North Shields Fish Quay, which as a designated port supports the whole regional fleet." The scheme will be funded by pounds 2m from the European Fisheries Fund, pounds 1.5m from the council, pounds 1.2m from One North East and pounds 1m from Port of Tyne. Jeremy Pritchard, managing director of North Shields Fish Quay Company, said: "That such leading organisations are supporting this project is testament to the importance of commercial fishing and its associated employment to this region." Andrew Moffat, chief executive at the Port of Tyne, added: "For centuries the Fish Quay has served the community well, providing economic prosperity and a strong regional identity to North Shields Coordinates: North Shields (or locally just Shields) is a town on the north bank of the River Tyne, in the metropolitan borough of North Tyneside, in North East England. It is located eight miles (13 km) east of Newcastle upon Tyne. . "The Port of Tyne is keen to sustain the Quay not only for future generations but also to support the fishing industry." |
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