A former Fife whaling harbour is being left to crumble into the sea due to a lack of public funding.
Cracks and holes have appeared in the pier at Dysart Harbour, which dates to the 15th century.
Billy Shields, commodore of Dysart Sailing Club, said the picturesque port is in danger of crumbling away and voiced fears over its future.
Plans for a Fife Council-led £6.5 million reconstruction project at the site were taken off the table during the recession and club members are now calling for urgent action.
“There are holes caused by the waves and the water is going under the pier,” said Mr Shields. “It’s like a shell. The pier needs repaired and there are new cracks appearing. It really needs attention.”
The club recently unveiled plans to rebuild its former clubhouse, which was destroyed by fire almost three years ago.
With the ability to allow visiting sailors to sleep over at the facility, as well as providing a place for club members to work on their boats, the club will be riding the crest of a wave, should funding be secured.
However, the future of the harbour itself could be in real jeopardy should the existing pier fail to cope with the constant battering of the waves.
Although a project to renovate the area was proposed several years ago, Fife Council vetoed the plans in light of the economic downturn.
Mr Shields said councillors were supportive of his calls to invest in the harbour, but obtaining the funds was proving problematic.
Dysart harbour was once a hub for international trade. Home to a lucrative whaling industry in the 1800s, ships regularly travelled to Scandinavia and the Netherlands from the port.
Although its days as a working docks are long gone, it remains hugely popular with pleasure sailors, tourists and locals.
Fife Council has told The Courier that although the pier remains “functional”, regular inspections are taking place.
Confirming there are no funds currently available for reconstruction, Derek Crowe from the local authority’s engineering services division, said efforts to protect the pier would be made.
“We have been in liaison with the local members earlier this year about the condition of the pier head,” he said.
“Some loose and spalled concrete was removed from the surface of the East Pier wave wall and block work repairs were undertaken to the inner basin.
“It is also proposed to reposition some of the existing rock armour at the east pier head within the next 18 months.
“At this stage there are no capital resources available to advance the c.£6.5m reconstruction project.
“The structure remains functional. Given its current condition, we continue to undertake inspections of the east pier head at least twice per year and after any storms.”