Boat owners in Fleetwood's Jubilee Quay make point with new bollards

The mariners were angry that dock operators, Associated British Ports, had put up some bollards to foil fly-tippers, but it meant the men could not drive up to their boats with equipment or supplies.

So the men have replaced these bollards with their own ‘unlockable’ bollards, and will install CCTV cameras.

Joe Boe, who owns the boat Ida John, which is berthed in Jubilee Quay, said attempts to arrange meetings with ABP had come to nothing and the men had a series of grievances about amenities and the state of the dock.

He said: "We've replaced the ugly bollards but there are plenty of other issues.

“The dock is not dredged and is gradually silting up and because of the silt, boats can now only leave one hour before high tide and must be back in dock one hour after high tide, instead of two hours.

“In all my travels I have never seen a port or quayside in such a desperate state as our Jubilee Quay and it seems no one cares except the people of Fleetwood. It's so sad."

ABP says it will meet the boat owners and has simply been trying to protect the quay from fly tippers and intruders.