QUEENSFERRY and DISTRICT COMMUNITY COUNCIL

THE HISTORY OF PORT EDGAR

 

Prior to the building of the Forth Bridge, Port Edgar was the departure point for railway passengers travelling north from Edinburgh. At Port Edgar they would transfer from the train to a ferry which carried them across the Firth of Forth to North Queensferry from where they continued their journey by train. The original railway pier can still be seen at the west end of the Port Edgar complex. After the Forth Bridge was constructed, use by rail passengers ceased. The harbour area was developed as a base for the Royal Navy. This continued until well after the second world war when the Royal Navy gave up the site to the local authorities.

 

Since that time a sailing school yacht club and marina facility have been developed. The marina and sailing school are run by Edinburgh Leisure. Also on the site are a number of sailing-related commercial businesses selling and repairing boats and providing other ancillary services. The majority of the buildings and facilities are left over from the two wars and are in need of replacement if Port Edgar is to continue with sailing activities.
Over the years there have been several proposals put forward to upgrade the marina and sailing school. These have all relied on selling off the land for houses, raising money for any upgrade. The community council, believing that loss of ground to housing would spell the end of the marina and sailing school, has resisted the housing proposal and requested that the City Council seek other ways to finance a marina redevelopment.
The City Council are now considering a proposal to invest in the Marina (£13million refurbishment) by building new industrial units to house marina businesses, increasing the number of pontoon berths to 395, and infilling part of the eastern harbour to provide more land for dinghy parking. The means of funding the proposals will be by disposal of surplus land for housing, borrowing against rental income and improved marina facilities income, and grant funding from Sportscotland. 
Consultation on the proposals will be held on 20/21 January 2006 at Port Edgar. Please click HERE for information on the consulation.

BACK