On behalf of the Community Council, I want to update you on recent activities
regarding Charlestown Harbour. This issue has been raised on an increasing basis
with the Community Council and local politicians. 
 

Some Background

 

• The Harbour is owned by the Elgin Estate supported by their Factor DR Rural. 

• No fees are charged in the Harbour. There is no active management of the Harbour.

• Over time this has resulted in various craft being moored, abandoned and sunk.   

• There is no central register of boats nor is this a legal requirement.

• There is no formal record of craft or their owners.  

• Many craft are in poor condition, require regular bailing out to prevent them 
  sinking, or indeed have simply been left to deteriorate, sink, pollute the harbour
  and its wider environment.

• The pollution from these craft and the condition of the harbour is an increasing
  cause for concern – from a health, safety, pollution and environmental
  perspective.

• Boats are now being dumped on the land area contributing to the wider
  deterioration of amenity for our community and visitors.  

• The Harbour is required to have a spillage plan approved by SEPA and Fife
  Council. This is now underway.

• Forth Ports have shared a process to assist Harbour owners on how to deal with
  abandoned craft. They have already assisted with spillage events in the Harbour.

• Ultimately as a private Harbour, responsibility for it, resides with the owner.

 

Activities undertaken so far
 

• A mapping of the harbour and boats has been undertaken.

• Photographs of craft in the harbour have also been taken.

• Meetings have been held with the Estate to outline concerns and suggestions
  made on a way forward in terms of Harbour clearance and improvement.

• A Key Stakeholder working meeting was convened by the Community Council on
  2 May 2025 which had a high turnout of key agencies, and political leaders. (See
  list of attendees below).

• From this working session 5 workstreams have been identified and workgroups
  allocated to work on the range of actions and activities to improve the Harbour
  and the surrounding land area. Its actions are structured based on activities that
  can be taken in the short / medium and long term. (See separate notes).

 

I hope this update is helpful, and we will continue to keep you updated on progress.
In the meantime, if you have any information regarding boat or craft ownership, land
or water based, we would be very pleased to hear from you.

Lesley Laird on behalf of the Community Council

Stakeholders in attendance
 

Community Council: Geoff Cartwright, Sue Hamilton, Lesley Laird,
Political Representatives: (MSPs) Shirley Anne Somervile, Claire Baker.

Graeme Downie MP, document submission . Local Councillors, Brian Goodall and Andrew
Verracchia.
Agencies: Fife Council (Nigel Kerr), SEPA (Peter Finnie & Helen Swinney), Forth
Ports (Gregor McIntyre), Fife Coast & Countryside Trust (Robbie Blyth).
Elgin Estate: Lord Charles Bruce, Tess Gibson, Niall Milner
Forth Cruising Club: Commodore, Roger Hart, and Secretary Alan Gibson
Residents: David Blyth, David MacKay
CLP Nature Group: Joanna McFarlane and Phil Taylor

​

​

The Stakeholder Meeting Flip Chart Sheets, Suggestions for Working Groups and a copy of this document are available HERE