CONDOR has made its long-awaited return to Weymouth.

Seventeen months after the ferry operator switched its cross-Channel sailings to Poole due to a crumbling ferry berth the firm is launching its sailings for the summer season.

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The berth has been fixed over the winter in a project costing Weymouth and Portland Borough Council £4.47million.

Weymouth residents and holidaymakers were there to welcome the ferry alongside Mayor of Weymouth and Portland Councillor Ray Banham.

He said: “It’s great to personally see Condor coming back in and welcome home Condor Vitesse.

“It’s important to Weymouth that we have this marvellous service back providing a natural gateway to Jersey, Guernsey and St Malo.”

Condor is Weymouth port’s biggest customer and contributes more than £7million a year to the local economy.

Captain Fran Collins, 36, the Ports Guest Services Director for Condor, said: “It’s fantastic to be back and offer the service once again to our Weymouth guests.

“Also for our Weymouth staff and trade overall for the town it’s a good thing.

“Over 70,000 people have already booked to travel through Weymouth so it’s very exciting to be back.

“The location in Weymouth is excellent for us because of the shorter travel time to the Channel Islands as opposed to Poole.”

Dominic Lonsdale, Chairman of the Weymouth harbour board, said: “Condor’s return is all part of having a working harbour with a real variety, from a large vessel like Condor Vitesse to even the smallest of fishing boats.

“It’s great for the town and will bring a significant amount of business to Weymouth.”

Ian Roebuck, Briefholder for environment and sustainability at Weymouth and Portland Borough Council, added: “The project has been extremely well managed by our staff and Condor ferries have always been central to Weymouth.

“We have got the facilities here now that will last for 40 years and we welcome the return of Condor.”

PANEL HOLIDAYMAKERS and Weymouth residents welcomed the ferry’s return. Nicole Single, 67, said: “I feel very sentimental and it’s exciting to see it back. It will be good for business.”

Holidaymakers from Kent Linda and Robert Turner added: “We’ve sailed on Condor from Weymouth before; it was a brilliant trip and well worth doing.

There’s something about Weymouth that draws us back every year but no doubt the ferry will also help local tourism.”

Weymouth fisherman Dave Cotton, 56, said: “It’s a real pleasure to see it back in town and I think it will bring more visitors to Weymouth.”

Hoteliers said Condor’s return will also bring a boost to business.

Joint owner of Weymouth Sands hotel Colin Green, 60, said: “It’s good news for the town, all of us were suffering when it went away so it’s terrific to see it back.”

Owner of the Bedford Hotel Graham Depledge, 50, added: “The traffic congestion when it arrives will be bad but for Weymouth overall it’s a great occasion.”

STAFF and guests at a Weymouth hotel gave a special homecoming welcome to the returning Condor.

Owners Tim and Sue Mortimore hung a banner on the outside of the Alexandra Hotel to hail the arrival of the craft.

And guest Jean Smith was particularly delighted to see the vessel return as she has been visiting Weymouth from her home in Guernsey for the past 50 years.

Jean, 70, who lives in Castel, said: “I'm very fond of Weymouth and have been coming for the past 50 years.

“i am so pleased it is back in Weymouth again.

“It has been so difficult having to travel through Poole and carry heavy bags on the train.

“It's really good.”

Jean, who always came to Weymouth with her late husband Thomas, added: “We do value the Condor in Guernsey.

“It only takes just over two hours to get to Weymouth.

“I might well be back again later in the year.”

Tim and Sue, whose hotel is near Alexandra Gardens and the Condor berth, welcomed the return of Condor.

Tim said: “It's great to have the Condor ferry back .

“We have missed seeing her coming in and out of Weymouth.”

Sue added: “I hope now that the powers to be will have learnt their lesson and finally realised the importance to the local economy that Condor and tourism in general contribute.”

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