(Title Image: © Copyright Stephen McKay and licensed for reuse under Creative Commons Licence BY-SA-2.0)
Bridgend Council is set to introduce updated byelaws for Porthcawl Harbour (pdf).
Current byelaws date back to the 1950s and were introduced by the former Porthcawl Urban District Council. Given Porthcawl’s popularity as a watersports destination, different users often come into conflict in and around the harbour and the existing byelaws were believed to be out-of-date.
New byelaws are quite rare these days. The process of making byelaws in Wales is governed in Welsh law – the Local Government Byelaws Act 2012. This includes a legal requirement to consult with interested persons and parties.
Clauses in the proposed byelaws include (amongst other things):
- The responsibilities and duties of the harbour master as well as a duty on those controlling vessels to follow instructions when berthing or leaving the harbour.
- A 3-knot speed limit within the harbour (unless permitted to exceed this by the harbour master).
- A ban on vessels tying themselves to or lying against navigation aids/buoys.
- A ban on being in control of a vessel whilst drunk or under the influence of drugs.
- A ban on fishing and discarding dead fish in the harbour.
- A ban on parking within the harbour area except in designated spots.
- A ban on swimming and diving within the harbour (unless granted permission by the harbour master), but swimmers will be allowed to cross the channel at the entrance to the harbour using the shortest possible route.
- Sets restrictions on waste disposal.
Anybody breaking the byelaws would be liable to a fine of up to £500.
