01736 362523 // VHF Ch 12 // info@newlynharbour.com

 

Changes to Public Access

Why We’re Making These Changes

Newlyn Harbour is one of England’s largest and most historic fishing ports — a vibrant centre of our community and a vital part of the Cornish economy.

As the fishing industry continues to modernise, the harbour has become busier, with more vehicles, vessels, and people moving around the site. To protect everyone who works in or visits Newlyn Harbour, we’re introducing new measures to improve safety and manage access more effectively.

What’s Changing

Over the coming weeks, new signage and access controls will be introduced across the harbour. These updates are designed to make it clear which areas are open to the public and which are restricted to those working within the port.

Public Areas (Green)

  • Old Quay, public car park, and most of the North Quay remain open to visitors as usual.
  • The North Quay may be temporarily closed from time to time while beam trawl vessels load warps for safety reasons.

Restricted Areas — No Public Access (Yellow)

  • Net sheds, lorry park, seaward side of the fish market, and the end of the North Quay.
  • These areas are reserved for vessel owners, crew, and those directly involved in commercial operations.

Restricted Areas with Controlled Access (Red)

  • Mary Williams Pier, pontoons, and slipway are designated as no public access zones.
  • The pontoons and slipway already have gates, and similar measures may be added to the Mary Williams Pier in future.

 

Access Definition

For clarity, the public refers to anyone who is not a vessel owner, crew member, or someone directly involved in servicing a vessel on the quay or pontoon where they are located.

New Access Controls

Vehicle barriers at the entrances to North Quay and Mary Williams Pier will soon operate via Automatic Number Plate Recognition (ANPR).
Access will be granted automatically — or manually by harbour staff — to authorised users only.

Route Advisory

Please note that access to the public car park currently passes through a restricted zone. Until further changes can be made, visitors are encouraged to take the most direct route to the pavement on the opposite side of the main road.

Working Together for a Safer Harbour

We understand these changes may feel significant for some users, but they are an important step in ensuring the harbour remains a safe and efficient place to work and visit.

Thank you for your understanding and cooperation as we make Newlyn Harbour safer for everyone.

For more information, please contact the Harbour Office.

Jonathan Poynter,

Harbour Master,

 

Issued on 04/11/2025