Dorset Council is reassuring local people that it has measures in place across the county to cope with any influx of visitors to Dorset. Now that most pubs, restaurants, bars, hotels and B&B businesses are open, the council is expecting Dorset to be busy this weekend, especially as the weather forecast is looking good.
Coastal towns and rural beaches are obvious hotspots and the council is confident it has robust plans in place, working alongside its partners, to manage the potential for high numbers of visitors across Dorset.
Anyone planning a day out is encouraged to ‘Know before you go’ and to plan ahead before setting off on a day trip. It’s worth checking @TravelDorset Twitter account for any accidents, delays or roadworks. It’s also worth knowing where you might park when you reach your destination as some places require visitors to book parking in advance.
The council is also reminding visitors to be respectful to our local communities by not using disposable BBQs, taking litter home and to please park considerately. Everyone should still be maintaining social distancing and keeping up with good hand washing practices whether on the beach, in a pub or out shopping.
Weymouth Harbour update
Last week Dorset Council put measures in place at Weymouth Harbour enabling businesses to re-open safely. As a result of comments received on these measures, some changes have been made, as follows:
- the layout now includes more signage which make it clearer which users have access into the affected areas.
- To help with congestion along the esplanade warning signs on the access roads into Weymouth are now in place. The permanent variable message signs (VMS) on the A354 relief road will display messages about the harbourside before motorists arrive in Weymouth.
- A variable message sign has been sited at the Pier Bandstand end of the esplanade which will show localised information depending on the level of traffic.
Dorset Council would like to remind people why these temporary traffic restrictions are in place.
- We were asked by Government to support local businesses to reopen safely, allowing for socially distanced outside seating, unfortunately we only had 10 days in which to do this.
- We have worked in partnership with Weymouth Town Council and Dorset Police on the current restrictions from the beginning, taking all harbour users into account.
- The vehicular restrictions are temporary until the end of summer.
- Resident and business vehicular access is unaffected.
- This is not pedestrianisation of the Harbour, this is restricting vehicular access for a short period to help businesses reopen safely, supporting the local economy.
- We ran an online engagement exercise to get ideas on pop-up cycle lanes and walkways across the whole of Dorset, which included Weymouth Harbour. To date we have received 180 comments or ideas relating to the Harbour area, 163 of which are in favour of reducing traffic and increasing space for social distancing on the harbourside, with 17 voicing concerns from residents or businesses, many of which have been resolved. In addition to this our Community Highways Officer spoke to many businesses in the area ahead of 4 July.
- We received a petition on 17 June containing more than 200 signatures which opposed closure of roads around the harbour. The temporary restrictions in place today were modified to take these comments into account, and as such, vehicular access for residents and businesses are not affected. Again, helping local businesses open safely.
- We have now contacted local security companies and have awarded the crowd management contract to a local firm.
- Permanent pedestrianisation of the harbour area would require full public consultation. It was never the council’s intention to introduce permanent pedestrianisation.
- As we move through the summer, our resources and restrictions can be adjusted to suit numbers and needs.
- Zone L permit holders may use permits in North Quay and Nothe Car parks for the duration of the temporary measures. We have also tried to create some additional Zone F permit holder spaces along Custom House Quay by making them ‘permit only’.
The handling of these temporary traffic restrictions was driven by a very short Government notice period to further relax lockdown and allow for social distancing. It simply was not possible to use normal and lengthy public consultation. The principle objective was to help businesses re-open with safe places to eat and drink outside of the premises.
We very much appreciate everyone’s cooperation with these temporary measures and wish everyone a safe weekend ahead.
