AN exclusion zone has been set up around part of Eling Wharf amid fears over the stability of the quay wall.

People sailing in and out of Eling Creek are being warned to stay at least five metres away from the quay for the next six months.

The site is owned by Associated British Ports (ABP), which has cited the “degradation and erosion” of the wooden retaining wall.

An ABP spokesman said: “As a precaution we have issued a Notice to Mariners with a small exclusion zone around the section needing the most attention.

“This is aimed at keeping kayakers, paddleboarders and others using the water a safe distance from the wall.”

The spokesman added that a “full assessment” would be carried out, but was unable to confirm when repair work would take place.

Eling Wharf was formerly owned by Burt Boulton Holdings (BBH), which spent years developing a “once in a lifetime” plan to transform the site by building 350 homes, plus shops and businesses.

BBH’s scheme would have created hundreds of jobs but in 2018 the site was sold to ABP for almost £14m.

The area affected by the Notice of Mariners forms part of the southern edge of Eling Wharf and includes land that has been used to store containers.

A large number of pleasure craft are moored in Eling Creek, which is home to a sailing club.

The notice says: “An exclusion zone will be in place due to degradation and erosion of the quay. Mariners are asked to keep a minimum of 5m from the quay wall.

“This restriction is expected to remain in place for at least six months.”

Earlier this year people living near the wharf launched an action group after complaining about late-night noise and bright lights shining into their bedrooms.

They said issues included the use of heavy machinery, vehicles travelling over uneven ground at all hours, and warning sounds made by container-stacking equipment.

The ABP spokesman said: “We are currently carrying out a major programme of improvements, including those falling under our £1m Road Improvement Campaign, where resurfacing Eling Wharf’s carriageway network has substantially reduced noise levels.”

The wharf, which overlooks the River Test, has been an industrial site since medieval times, when it was a shipbuilding centre.

Other uses over the years have included a chemical works, a coal importation centre and a tar distillery.