Work is due to start at the Weymouth Harbour peninsula quayside next Monday, 16 October, to create new facilities for fishing, charter and harbourside businesses and improve the public spaces in this part of the harbour.
The improvements are thanks to a grant of £3.79m which was awarded to the then Weymouth and Portland Borough Council in partnership with Weymouth Area Development Trust, in March 2019 from the Government’s Coastal Communities Fund. The bid was submitted on behalf of the Weymouth Coastal Community Team.
The currently disused area of the harbour behind the Pavilion will see the relocation and construction of a brand-new fish landing quay, the creation of new fuel pontoon and new compound areas for storing harbour and fishers’ materials, including an ice-making facility and refrigerated chilled catch store.
In addition to the new facilities for fishing and harbour businesses, pedestrianised access and seating areas will be created along the quayside eventually joining with other walkways linking the harbour with Weymouth’s award-winning beach. The pavilion and car park on the peninsula will not be affected by the developments.
Cllr Ray Bryan, Dorset Council Portfolio Holder for Dorset Council said:
“Between this brownfield site development and the various Levelling Up projects, Dorset Council is investing many millions in Weymouth right now. We are committed to kickstarting Weymouth’s waterside economy, and this scheme is just one part of that commitment coming to fruition.
“Our harbour businesses contribute significantly to the local economy so we hope these changes will help us retain that talent in the town, as well as making it a more attractive place for start-up businesses to consider positioning themselves.
“Along with ongoing work at the other end of the harbour at North Quay, this scheme will even further enhance the successful public realm improvements we completed in 2021 at Custom House Quay. We are sure that together, these regeneration schemes will bring long term benefits to residents, businesses and visitors to Weymouth.”
The Weymouth Harbour team will be producing regular updates throughout the duration of the work, which can be found at www.weymouth-harbour.co.uk
Work is scheduled to take around 25 weeks, with a view to being completed in spring 2024. No public access will be permitted at this part of the Harbour throughout the course of the work.
Oh thank you councillor Bryan for the many millions Dorset council is investing in Weymouth…..Would them many millions be in addition to the coastal community fund already awarded to the now defunct Weymouth and Portland Borough Council….Dorset council would of spent it elsewhere if they had been awarded it I’m sure…
Yes, as well as the £3.79m for this programme of improvements we’re also spending £19.5m around the Harbour currently. The £3.79m awarded to Weymouth & Portland Borough Council came to Dorset Council through the LGR process.
The “improvements” already carried out on Weymouth quay have made it nothing like the real working quay it once was. I do not believe for one minute that the barriers placed around the quay were a requirement of the HSE. The HSE has too often been used as the scapegoat for inappropriate and irrational commandments, such as banning the playing of conkers in schools
Hi Andy, the addition of railings around this side of the Harbour was implemented on the direct advice from the Health and Safety Executive to ensure we protect people from falling in the harbour. Over the last decade there have been three fatalities and at least 11 other incidents of people accidentally falling into the harbour, and the council has a duty to ensure adequate measures are in place to prevent future accidents.
Will work be done in to the East side where there have been barriers for sometime making seating unavailable & a litter trap.
If not perhaps it would be an idea to remove the gateway sign.
Hi Brenda, the work on the east side of the peninsula will be to the pedestrian walkway which will essentially hug the outer part closest to the sea, and I think seating will feature as part of this work. Kirstie
In the risk assessment for this scheme, what are the measures incorporated into the design that will enable all elements to survive the estimated sea level rise over the next 25 and 50 years, and increased frequency of severe weather events?
Hi Keith there was a full flood risk assessment carried out. I’ve asked the project manager for the report which I can email you. Kirstie