Weymouth's Castle Cove Beach: Council told to speed up path decision

Safety concerns closed the sloping footpath to Weymouth's Castle Cove Beach in 2013

The government has given Dorset County Council a deadline to decide whether to grant a public right of way to a beach.

Castle Cove in Weymouth was closed in 2013 after the access steps were damaged in a landslip.

The campaign group Friends of Castle Cove Beach wrote to the Planning Inspectorate amid fears the decision would not be considered until 2019.

The council, which now has until 17 July to determine the application, is yet to respond.

Campaigners have been locked in legal discussions for three years in an attempt to re-establish access to the popular beach on Portland Harbour but they have been hampered by issues over liability and safety.

'Not reasonable'

The group applied to have the route classified as a right of way in October 2014 but was told the application was in a queue and unlikely to be considered until late 2018 or early 2019.

They are hoping to lease the necessary land to rebuild the steps and be responsible for their maintenance but, before that can happen, they must become a charity and raise the necessary funds.

In its ruling, the Planning Inspectorate said: "The Secretary of State is of the view that the anticipated length of time to commence the determination of this application is not reasonable. Nor is there any indication of when the council will reach a decision on the application."

Tony Dobbs, of the Friends of Castle Cove Beach, said: "There are so many people who use the route - hundreds of people go down there.

"It's becoming dangerous - where the steps were, people are walking on the slope and it's becoming steeper."

The 15m (49ft) sloping footpath, which is on private land, was closed after large cracks appeared and a section of steps at the bottom was taken away by Weymouth and Portland Borough Council.