A MAJOR new development set to improve port facilities and increase tourism in an Essex town has been officially opened.Harwich MP Ivan Henderson opened Halfpenny Pier in Harwich, yesterday which has undergone a revamp as part of the £500,000 regeneration of the Quay.

A MAJOR new development set to improve port facilities and increase tourism in an Essex town has been officially opened.

Harwich MP Ivan Henderson opened Halfpenny Pier in Harwich, yesterday which has undergone a revamp as part of the £500,000 regeneration of the Quay.

The new building, which took three months to build, includes a sales area for fresh fish, the brand new Café on the Pier, and showers and toilets for visiting yachtsmen.

The large-scale development was carried out by Harwich Haven Authority in partnership with Tendring District Council, The Harwich Partnership and the East of England Development Agency.

The construction of the new amenities building follows the refurbishment of Halfpenny Pier and the provision of yacht mooring pontoons adjacent to the pier.

Harwich Mayor Dave McLeod said: "The new facilities on the pier will hopefully attract a wide range of people and tourists to the town, there is something for everyone."

"Harwich now offers such a variety of things to do and with the newly developed pier it's all nicely packed together in a small area so that people can have a walk around."

He said the authority hoped to attract coach trips to the town.

"The expansion is all part of the regeneration plans for Harwich which among other things aims to create jobs in the town. Things are looking good for Harwich but we've got to keep looking forward."

Chief executive of the Harwich Haven Authority, Nigel Pryke , said:

"People will certainly be attracted to Harwich as there is now somewhere to stop and have a look at the yachts and have a drink or a bite to eat. Café on the Pier only opened this week and has been a real success.

"Visitors now have the opportunity to buy fresh fish from Pier Seafoods and yacht owners will be encouraged to moor at the port as they can now use the showering and toilet facilities."

A future project in conjunction with the Haven Gateway Partnership will be the development of a year-round ferry service.

Mr Pryke added: "The all-year service is in the pipeline but for the next five years we are looking at an all-summer harbour ferry service which will operate between Harwich, Felixstowe and Shotley.

"We hope that the year-round harbour service will be in action by 2008. The size of the ferries we're going to use until then will increase, we hope to be able to accommodate 40-50 people."

A spokesman for Tendring District Council said: "The facility is yet another stage in the regeneration of the Harwich Quayside and is bound to prove extremely popular with both residents, tourists and in particular visiting yachtsmen who now have excellent on-shore facilities."