UPDATED:

The management company responsible for running Pin Mill is to be dissolved with all its assets being transferred to Babergh and ABP (Associated British Ports).

Pin Mill Bay Management Community Interest Company revealed the move via a message shown only to people trying to get in touch with its members.

The CIC had received criticism over the past 10 years and was accused of not being fit for purpose by local businesses and users. It lost a costly court case, which left the CIC with a hefty legal bill amounting to nearly £10,000.

Partially as a result of the case, a licence outlining the Pin Mill Bay Management CIC responsibilities and ability to charge for moorings.

Associated British Ports, (ABP) which is responsible for the moorings at Pin Mill by virtue of the 1950 Dock Act, was empowered to issue a licence for the CIC to lay down, maintain and use the moorings at Pin Mill.

An ABP spokesperson said: "ABP has been informed that the Pin Mill Bay Management CIC is to be dissolved. ABP authorised the CIC to manage moorings at Pin Mill, but the licence to do this has now expired and management of those moorings will revert back to ABP. This will not change the terms and conditions for the users of these moorings.

Whilst ABP remains the statutory harbour authority for the portion of the River Orwell that incorporates Pin Mill, the Hard is leased from Ipswich Borough Council to Babergh District Council. As such ownership and maintenance obligations for that area of the river bed and foreshore sit with Babergh DC. "

Users of the moorings should direct any questions by email to [email protected]

Babergh District Council sub leases the Hard from Ipswich Borough Council, and in turn sub leased to the not for profit CIC, which was responsible for the maintenance, provision of moorings and collecting fees on the foreshore and the Hard.

A Babergh spokesperson said: "We would like to take this opportunity to thank the Pin Mill Bay Management CIC for all their hard work and commitment in looking after the area since 2010.

"We are now working with Pin Mill Bay Management CIC, Ipswich Borough Council, and other stakeholders, to put new arrangements in place so we can best support the local area and community for years to come."

Disputes have arisen in recent years, with a number of resignations from the Pin Mill Bay CIC, with people unhappy at the lack of communication, claims of poor management and concerns over the treatment of some users of the Hard.

The CIC had hoped the declaratory licence would clarify their responsibilities and make it easier to take enforcement action against people they see as transgressors.

Critics claimed that despite the licence, mooring charges are not easy to find publically. The website is outdated and communications remain an issue, and little maintenance has been carried out of late.

The PMBMCIC is still registered as operating at Companies House, with it current directors listed as: