THE last sea-going paddle steamer in the world could be coming to Bideford.

The Appledore Book Festival team is hoping that the Waverley will launch the 2010 festival and mark the start of a new tourism venture for Torridge.

Bideford councillors agreed to Cllr Peter Christie's request that the town council pays for the pilot/harbour dues, which could be anything up to £500, which was one of the main hurdles in the campaign.

Bideford mayor, Cllr Andy Powell, said he would love to see the Waverley in Bideford.

However, he said he didn't believe it could come to the town as the captain had told him that to get directional steerage, the boat has to travel at seven knots.

He said if it steams in to Bideford, there is the possibility of a collision with the newly-restored Long Bridge.

He said: "The captain tells me it would be quite a feat to get in and out of Bideford."

However Jim Jackson from the Appledore Book Festival committee said the Waverley management team had told him that there is no reason why it can't come in to Bideford.

He said: "The only reason they can't come in is the charges. It would be nice to go back to them and say the council has given a positive response."

Cllr Christie questioned what had changed as the Waverley had been to Bideford in the past - in the mid 1980s.

He said: "I think it will be a tremendous tourist draw."

"This is the last ocean-going paddle steamer and it's a really splendid boat.

"Although the book festival is in Appledore, there are a lot of spin offs for Bideford. A lot of people come here for the Appledore Book Festival."

Cllr Roger Vanstone asked if Torridge District Council could be asked if it could waive the fees but was told the harbour board does not have such powers.

Cllr Emma Farrington said: "The fees will only be paid if the boat docks. We manage to turn around cargo ships and the Kathleen and May uses tug boats. Surely the same thing could be thought about with the Waverley.

"Appledore Book Festival is not just vital to Appledore, it's vital to Bideford and I don't want to see it go like the Bideford Folk Festival."

Cllr Christie added: "I think at these times with problems getting new trade, we need to do everything we can.

"If they come here and lots of people turn out and they get a good reception it could convince the people behind it to come back to Bideford on a regular basis. It is a sprat to catch a mackerel."