Pin Mill residents and houseboat owners have voiced their anger and disappointment that the £10,100.38 left over after the company set up to look after the interest of the picturesque boating hamlet's Hard area, will be given to an Essex barge.

Babergh district council has confirmed it will resume management responsibility for a key part of Pin Mill and will be looking at what improvements can be made to the area in due course, at the cost to tax-payers..

Pin Mill area needs repairs (Picture: Nub News)

The spokesperson added: "Since 2010, the Pin Mill Bay Management Community Interest Company (CIC) has managed and maintained the Hard on behalf of the district council and other interested parties.

"However, the CIC has been dissolved, meaning the council once again has responsibility for the area."

Babergh confirmed The Pin Mill CIC directors have asked the regulator for the money to be The Bread and Roses CIC, which is currently restoring Thames Sailing Barge, the May at a boatyard in Essex.

Danger at Pin Mill Hard (Picture by concerned boat owner)

However, the CIC regulator has been contacted by residents concerned as they believe the decision breaches the original agreement stated in the CIC 36 form, submitted as part of their incorporation, which stated: "The (Pin Mill Bay Management) company's activities will provide benefit to the marine and other communities of Pin Mill and Chelmondiston and their immediate neighbourhood."

A spokesperson for Pin Mill residents and boat owners told Nub News: "No one has problem with the chair itself but the £10,100 should be spent on repairs and maintenance desperately needed in Pin Mill.

"There are other options for the money to be transferred to, charities that we know will look to benefit Pin Mill and not another charity that is not located anywhere near Chelmondiston or Pin Mill, but instead based some 20 miles away, in a different county,

"This seems to go against the declaration on their CIC 36 form and wrong on so many levels.

"There are alternative charities, which seem to have been overlooked so any argument that may be put forward suggesting that there are no local applicable charities is simply wrong."

Pin Mill residents and boat owners want to see a number of works done.

This includes pot holes on the paths to Butt & Oyster, houseboats and down to the Hard after damage caused by boat trailers and heavy machinery.

Also, long standing calls to move the bridge leading to Pin Mill Green to prevent it being blocked by car owners, also flooding.

Potentially dangerous parts of the Hard have also been identified and residents fear more accidents could occur to unsuspecting visitors and boat owners.

They are also concerned at the likely conflict of interest by Jane Harman, one of the Pin Mill CIC's directors, who is also the owner of the Barge May where the funds will be transferred over, based in St Oyster Boatyard in Essex, which her family owns.

The spokesperson added: "Many of us here like Jane and her husband but it seems wrong that the money, which should be going to Pin Mill, is instead going to the sailing barge May, which her family owns, is being repaired in a boatyard in Essex, which she has an interest, and to the charity in which she is also a director.

"How can that not be a conflict of interest and just morally, and ethically wrong?"

Babergh councillor Daniel Potter, the Orwell ward member which includes Pin Mill, and who also portfolio holder for the environment, failed to address the issue of the cash going to an Essex barge when asked for comment by Nub News.

Instead he said: "We would like to place on record our thanks and appreciation to the volunteers who have supported the CIC through the years and worked hard to deliver a useful asset for people on the river."

Nub News has contacted the Pin Mill BMCIC, which is still waiting to be formally struck off, and the CIC regulator, which has not yet responded.

Concerns over future of £10k

Pin Mill CIC to be dissolved

Public footpath bridge often blocked (Picture contributed)