Over the past year, pressure for such a slipway for small boat users has intensified, with Angus Council apparently setting its cap against building any such thing.
However, the Council has now issued a questionnaire to find out people's views abo
ut a new slipway that would allow small, trailer mounted craft, such as sailing boats, small yachts, power boats, dinghies and jet-skis, to be landed and recovered.
Commenting on the questionnaire a council spokesperson said: "A new slipway would add to the facilities already provided for boat owners at Arbroath Harbour but, given the anticipated cost of such a development, the council is keen to gauge the potential demand before taking the project any further.
"Potential users are therefore invited to complete and return a simple questionnaire. This will provide the council with specific information about anticipated use of a slipway - for example would more people be encouraged to use the harbour more frequently and if so when would they want to be able to use it? - and help inform our discussions."
Anyone who might use such a slipway, however frequently, to launch a small, trailer-mounted boat, yacht, dinghy or jet-ski, is invited to give their view on the proposal.
Copies of the questionnaire 'Arbroath Harbour: New Slipway Proposals' are available from the council's ACCESSLine on 08452 777 778 or online at www.angus.gov.uk/hys, where views on the current consultation can be submitted.
The closing date for comments is Friday, April 18. Returns will then be compiled and considered by the Arbroath Harbour Joint Consultative Committee and thereafter by the council's Infrastructure Services Committee.
This news came the same week as the newspaper received a letter from an aggrieved, boat-owning reader.
Mr Bruce Stuart, 51 Kinghorne Street, has lived in Arbroath for 40 years, and for the past five he has been trying to be allocated a summer time berth for the use of his small boat.
Mr Stuart told us: "On April 1 I duly ... enquired once again about the availability and chance of being allocated a summer berth. I was informed that (the harbourmaster] only has three and he is re-allocating them to the people who had them last year! A totally unfair and prejudiced system.
"In my opinion, as a local resident who has had his name down on the waiting list and is willing to pay the money, I should be given a chance to berth my boat in my local area.
"I was told that I could launch my boat from the West Links, however I have done this before and had my name taken by the local police as the road leading in to the area is out of bounds!"
