Marina court win for mussel men

An aerial photograph of the site of the proposed development

Controversial plans for a 400-berth £17m marina on Anglesey are in doubt after local mussel fishermen won a High Court case.

The fishermen claimed the scheme at Gallows Point near Beaumaris, was fundamentally unlawful and would damage other mussel beds in the area.

Anglesey council and Crown Estates said they would be considering an appeal.

The company behind the scheme said the marina will create jobs, and that they did not intend to pull out.

The case focused on the legality of the 1962 Menai Strait Oyster and Mussel Fishery Order in relation to the construction of a marina over seven hectares of shore land.

It would have been a huge economic loss to us if it had gone ahead Andrew Wilson, mussel fishermen

Although the oyster and mussel fishery covers an area of 761 hectares, opponents claimed the marina was earmarked for one of the prime locations and could "gravely prejudice the viability of the mussel fisher".

Lawyers for the owners of the foreshore and seabed, Anglesey Council and the Crown Estate Commissioners, argued the order was invalid and should be quashed, but Mr Justice Davies ruled in favour of the mussel fishermen.

After the judgement mussel fisherman Andrew Wilson, who leases his land from Anglesey council, said: "We're very pleased.

"It's what we had hoped for all along. It would have been a huge economic loss to us if it had gone ahead," he added.

'Side-by-side'

"There are other sites available for marinas but no other sites available for mussel growers in this part of north Wales," he said.

Crown estates said after the ruling: "Obviously (we are) disappointed with the result and are currently considering our options with regards to an appeal."

Anglesey Council said: "The council is disappointed with the decision and officers will be taking a report to the full council meeting on Friday, 9 May to consider the merits of appealing the decision."

Dafydd Jones, a director of marina company ABC, said he had no plans to scrap it.

"We are not going to give up, we've come this far," he said.

"Personally I believe the marina could live side-by-side with the fishery, it would only be on part of it, and it happens elsewhere, " he added.