NEWLYN's fish market, dubbed an eyesore by some residents, could be facing a bright new future.
The harbour commission looks set to secure more than £130,000 to help refurbish the market – or knock it down and build a new one.
Commissioners have agreed with many living locally that the bunker-like building on The Strand is letting down the port.
Resident Helen Burnham has called on the authority to take action to boost trade in Newlyn, as well as its appearance.
"I do think the stakeholders would benefit if there was a building which didn't detract from the harbour," she told a recent meeting.
The harbour commission is applying for £135,000 in European funding to spend on improving the facility.
Its members say that that could be just enough to revamp the current building, built almost three decades ago.
"Modern low-cost sheds have a much better rendering on the outside than the one we have got at the moment; they can be a lot better-looking than the one that was built in the 80s," said Juliet Taylor who heads the commission's assets committee.
She believes a new building, even a relatively cheap one, could be an improvement.
"One would hope to regain some of the view of the harbour which is totally blocked out. That is something from which the whole of Newlyn would benefit," she said.
Kevin Bennetts, chairman of the harbour operations committee, said: "We do have serious financial constraints and we are not in a position – however much we would like to – to build a palace.
"We are still wrestling with the various points of view; I don't think whatever is done will please everybody. We are working as a commission to a very, very tight timescale which is quite concerning."
Commissioners must come up with a plan for the fish market within the next few months in order to meet the deadlines for funding.
A working group was set up two weeks ago to consider the building's future.
"We are setting up a fish market working group to look at the short term and the longer term and find out what kind of market we should have," said chairman Gilbert McCabe.
In August, the harbour commission turned down more than £3 million in grants to fund a new fish market, a decision which critics said sounded the "death knell" for Newlyn.
A community group has been set up to assist the harbour commission. Chaired by fish merchant Joe Clive, it met for the first time last month.
Made up of ten representatives from the fishing and yachting sectors, as well as traders and local councillors, it will meet four times a year.
article copyright THE CORNISHMAN