The Suffolk coastal town of Southwold looks set to retake control of the town harbour after a long-running dispute over its ownership.

According to a local news website, EDP, Waveney District Council’s cabinet has agreed to send a letter to the secretary of state by the end of the year confirming its intention of returning the harbour undertaking to local management, a process necessary for the handover.

Its intention is to sign over the land to the newly formed Southwold Harbour Lands Trust.

Waveney’s cabinet voted in favour of setting up a harbour committee working group, made up of four cabinet members and four prospective trustees of Southwold Harbour Lands Trust.

The cabinet also agreed to offer a £25,000 loan or grant to the trust, which would be repaid following completion of the transfer.

The harbour has been run by Waveney District Council since the 1970s, but its intention to sell the caravan site at the harbour in 2003 angered local people, who said the land was in trust to the town. Last year Waveney decided to start the handover process.