Weymouth harbour repairs

Engineers say they're determined work to shore up Weymouth's crumbling harbour wall will be finished in time for a promised return of cross channel ferries in July.

Ferry services have been running from a Poole harbour since big cracks started appearing last February.

Councillor Ian Roebuck from Weymouth & Portland Borough Council says the harbour is an essential part of Weymouth and a lifeline for the Channel Islands community

Engineers say work to repair the harbour wall in Weymouth will be ready for the return of ferry services in July. The new retaining wall has been built and the construction team are filling the space behind it.

It was announced on March 6 that all ferries running out of Weymouth will be suspended for the entire summer due to a damaged harbour wall. Weymouth and Portland Borough Council have sent a statement on their current position.

Weymouth & Portland Borough Council Briefholder for Environment and Sustainability Ian Roebuck said:

“Contractors working on behalf of the borough council have been carrying out immediate works in an attempt to stabilise the area around the berth used by Condor Ferries.

“Careful monitoring has revealed that the instability is continuing. The expert advice is that the immediate work has been unsuccessful and we need to look at a different and lasting solution.

“Public safety must be the borough council’s over-riding concern and we have kept Condor informed of the developing situation.

“The council understands the importance of Condor Ferries to the borough. It is committed to working with the company to ensure any long-term plans for the harbour peninsula meet its future business needs and that Condor is able to resume sailings from the town as soon as possible.”

Condor Ferries has announced that all of their ferries in and out of Weymouth will be relocated to Poole for the summer including the Olympics

Work's started to stabilise Weymouth's harbour wall. Cracks have started appearing in the quayside. Cross channel ferries have been diverted to Poole in Dorset for a month for safety reasons. More now from our Dorset correspondent

The cross channel ferry service from Weymouth wont run for another two weeks following damage to the harbour. It will have been out of action for a total of five weeks by the time the service re-opens.