Marina expansion plans get underway

Visitors to Swansea Marina may be wondering about the latest vessel seen floating around the waters.

Those who are curious enough are not seeing things, it is a JCB on a barge. The heavy plant machinery, normally seen on firmer ground, is carrying out sand-dredging works as part of a £530,000 project to expand Swansea Marina.

It is hoped that the project will help create an extra 100 berths in the marina. Tonnes of sand are being dredged from the western section of the marina in order to provide a depth of 2.5 metres for the new berths. Sand collected from the area will be deposited in low areas of the old half tide basin.

The award winning marina is already a popular destination for visitors and boat owners. Once the scheme is completed, the extra space will be able to attract even more visitors.

Steve Kern, Manager of the marina said, "The dredging works are going very well so far.

"This work will assist in providing a significant number of berths and enable us to attract even more visitors to enjoy what the marina and Swansea has to offer."

Swansea Marina is already the biggest in South Wales with 410 berths.

John Hague, Swansea Council Cabinet Member for the Environment said, "The marina is the hub of the continuing development in Swansea , especially with the new SA1 and Port Tawe plans taking shape.

"The expansion of the Marina will give even more people the opportunity to experience what Swansea has to offer."

The scheme is being funded mainly by contributions from Persimmon Homes Plc and Earthquake Plc who are undertaking developments at Swansea Point and Ferrara Quay.

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