Work will start next week to install railings along the harbour wall on Custom House Quay in Weymouth.
Acting on advice from the Health and Safety Executive, a barrier is being put up along the harbour’s edge between Town Bridge and the fish loading area
The 250m-long barrier will be a mix of key-clamp and post and chain, which will ensure flexibility for harbour users accessing boats. This arrangement will be monitored, with any necessary changes being made in the Autumn.
Cllr Ray Bryan, Portfolio Holder for Highways, Travel and Environment, said: “We’ve been working closely with Weymouth Harbour Master on the installation of these safety railings.
“With the ever-increasing attraction of the harbour area, we needed to address the risk of injury to people by falling into the deep harbour water, or on to one of the pontoons.
“The initial materials are an interim measure as we work with the harbour users to determine what permanent solution may work best.”
Work will start on Tuesday 6 April and take around four weeks for the railings to be put in place. Sections of pavement will be closed in the works area and move as it progresses along the harbour. The road will remain open throughout the work.
The option for railings along Custom House Quay did not form part of the recent harbourside survey as this is an independent piece of safety work. Although the installation of railings has not been discussed with the wider public, discussions have taken place with various stakeholders within the Custom House Quay area.
What a waste of taxpayers money ,people will just climb over/ under the chains . Sorry but the only people who will benefit from this is the hospitality trade/ pub who have outside seating .Work starts on 6th April not much time for a petition to be started. WHY was the people of Weymouth not consulted about the plans.
From a very annoyed local resident.😡
I think this is a terrible idea. Sitting on the wall eating fish & chips is one of Weymouth’s best attractions.
Feels like society is being dumbed down to protect the stupid and the drunk rather than educating the stupid & drunk to take better care of themselves & their environment.
The railings are great & look very smart along the raised section of the harbour wall from the lobster pots area to the Pavilion, but it is a massive mistake to continue the railings to the bridge.
A great shame no one thought to ask the tax paying public what they wanted for their town.
This is such a stupid idea, it has to be an “April Fool” stunt.
Who do we pillory if it isn’t???
Why was this not mentioned anywhere on the survey as you knew there would be overwhelming negative reaction especially as your pictures imply the posts will be at the road side of the wall rather than seaward side thus preventing people siting. Is this also being put up to prevent the public having free access to the wall and consuming their own food and drink rather than pay the high charges levied by the licensed establishments. Surely every local resident ,who pays an exorbitant council tax in relation the their wages, is a stakeholder not just the few businesses who are getting extra seating areas for alfresco dining. Why were we not consulted or is it as a consequence of yourselves allowing this exterior seating on the wall side of the road that this ‘health and safety label can be used. People have sat on the wall for many reasons for generations without the need for railings; Why sneak this through without any consultation?
Seems like a very big coincidence that your all so concerned about health and safety, the very moment you agreed to rent the public highway to private companies. All you half wits should all hang your heads in shame for ruining family traditions of having fish and chips or an ice cream on the harbour wall. Let’s hope no one votes you bunch of liers in next time at the local elections.
People have been sitting on the harbour wall for years i used to fish off the harbour wall back in the day. Families go crabbing off the harbour wall. You can buy fish and chips and beers and sit on the harbour wall. Why would you want to stop all these things that locals and holiday makers enjoy.
I am absolutely appalled that the Council is planning to install harbourside railings without any consultation with residents. This is a total over reaction to an event last year. The harbour is an historic and much loved working and leisure area which will be negatively impacted. You urgently need to hold a public consultation and LISTEN to residents!
People sitting on the wall having fish and chips is Weymouth it’s part of the holiday and children put in a line over crabbing don’t take this away from the people it’s part of the holiday experience
is there a campaign to stop this vandalism, a petition perhaps? I wouldlike to sign it. instead of railings maybe the HSE might demand that all residents and visitors to weymouth should be forced to wear life jackets at all times including overnight and in bed just in case the combination of global warning and spring tides cause surprise flooding? perhaps all HSE personal should be pushed off the wall in weymouth to demonstrate that people falling off the harbour wall will not drown unless bystanders throw bricks at them?