Port change plan could end ferry hopes

Dorset Council is considering a change to the legal status of Weymouth Harbour

The possibility of the return of cross-channel ferries sailing from Weymouth may be ended over changes being considered to the port's status.

The last ferry service stopped in 2015 and despite on-off talks to persuade an operator to return, none have been tempted.

Dorset Council is considering a legal change in the status of the harbour – currently classed as an Open Port.

It said the change would be beneficial to redevelopment work on the peninsula.

The ferry service to Guernsey sailed from Weymouth in March 2015.

Condor Ferries subsequently moved its operation to Poole following the delivery of a £50m, 102m (335ft) vessel, which was too big for Weymouth's port.

Under the proposals the right to enter and use the harbour would be restricted to vessels no longer than 24m

Weymouth Harbour master Ed Carter told a meeting of the council's harbour advisory committee that larger vessels, including tall ships and the Waverley paddle steamer, were not likely to be excluded despite being longer than 24m.

Mr Carter told councillors that not being an Open Port would be helpful for the peninsula redevelopment and remove an obligation to provide facilities that were seldom, if ever, used.

“The change would give us a choice in what we wish to accommodate and remove an obligation to provide costly services to all larger vessels,” he said.

Tim Day from the Weymouth H arbour consultative group told councillors that many people would be very upset if they felt the idea of ferries returning one day was being closed forever.

“It will need to be explained very carefully why we are doing it,” he told the council’s harbour advisory committee.

A final decision will be made later in the year by Dorset Council’s cabinet, with £40,000 set aside for the process of making the change.

Any planned change would be subject to a public consultation.

A council report noted the there could be a substantial increase in legal costs should complex objections arise.