Scarborough Borough Council has paid £22,000 to purchase the facility and has promised another £6,000 to bring the building up to good working order. A report that went before the council’s cabinet said: “In March, the council was advised that the Whitby Fishermen’s Ice Society Ltd who operate the ice making plant at Whitby Harbour was unable to pay itscreditors.

“The company had a lease from the council of the building in which the plant was housed, and had purchased the plant with a mortgage.

“The company were unable to maintain the mortgage payments and faced liquidation as a consequence.”

The council stepped in and bought the building from the Whitby Fishermen’s Ice Society and now a new group has been set up to run the facility, Chill Owt Ltd.

The fishing industry and the Shellfish Holding Facility in the harbour rely upon a ready supply of ice.

If ice is not available at the port it would severely impact on the port’s viability and lead to major losses for the town’s economy.

Dave Winspear, of Alliance Fish and who is also a director of Chill Owt Ltd said: “When the plant was opened about 10 years ago the fleet was about triple the size it is now.

“As the fleet shrank past levels no-one could foresee there wasn’t the money to pay back the bank loan.”

Having ice at the harbour is a vital facility for any port.

“Without ice there is no fleet,” said Mr Winspear.

“If boats can’t get ice then they will go to other ports, and then they will land their catches at those ports as they will want to get more ice to head back out.

“All the fishermen are very grateful to Scarborough Borough Council for stepping in as they have realised the importance of having ice in the port to protect the Whitby fishing industry.”