North Devon Council will look to retain marine facilities at two quays in Barnstaple following feedback from a public survey. 

The council's Strategy and Resources Committee voted to retain facilities at Castle Quay and Rolle Quay at its meeting on Monday, 2 March.

The decision reflects views gathered during a recent public consultation on the how the facilities at each site are used. The survey highlighted a wide usage at the two Barnstaple sites, and residents and community groups made clear their wish to see the quays retained.

The council has been conducting a review of its facilities following the introduction of the Ports and Marine Facility Safety Code in April 2025. The two sites, along with Fremington Quay, were identified as full marine facilities due to their mooring equipment and slipways and it was recognised all three facilities required upgrades to make them compliant with the code.

Following an external audit, Fremington Quay is deemed to be outside the scope of the code. A separate project will be prepared to support repairs and maintenance at the site.

The consultation, which ran from October 2025 to January 2026, was launched to gain an understanding of how each of the sites were used, and to ensure the cost of the upgrades would be in the interest of the community.

An investigation will now take place to identify the scope of the work required to make Castle Quay and Rolle Quay compliant with the code.

Councillor David Clayton, Leader of North Devon Council, said: “Throughout this process we are aiming to balance the rich history of each site, our duty of care to ensure the facilities are safe and meet industry standards, and making sure the cost of required upgrades are reflective and proportionate to how the sites are used.

“The feedback we have received has been instrumental in shaping the outcome, which we hope will see Castle Quay and Rolle Quay remain active parts of Barnstaple and safeguarded for the future of local users. There is still a lot of work to be done, but I would like to thank everyone who took the time to share their views by taking part in this consultation.”

The Ports and Marine Facility Safety Code sets out a national standard for every aspect of port and marine safety. While not mandatory in itself, it is underpinned by marine legislation and general legislation such as the Health and Safety at Work etc. Act 1974.