HARBOUR users in Weymouth are in uproar over plans to replace Parking and loading bays with a ‘bus lane to nowhere’.

As part of a transport package preparing the resort for the 2012 Olympic Games, the harbour would lose 22 parking slots and two loading bays along North Quay.

These would be replaced by a new bus lane.

Weymouth Angling Centre owner Andrew Selby is handing out leaflets to outline the concerns of the harbour community.

He said he was ‘astounded’ to find out about the proposals and said objections had to be lodged with the council by the end of today.

Mr Selby, 48, said parking for both commercial and recreational sailors is already limited on the harbour.

He added that the loading bays in particular are crucial for angling charter boats, emergency vehicles and disabled anglers who need to gain access to the pontoon and the Charter Boat Freedom that is adapted for disabled passengers.

Mr Selby said: “The council has a £900,000 deficit and now it wants to take away a parking-generated income as well as 22 bays for the general public to use.

“Parking in Weymouth is already an issue and I don’t understand why a bus lane is needed along North Quay. It’s going nowhere.

“When you look at the whole plan, there are many areas that are going to be effected and this is just one of them.

“If this is all for the Olympics it seems crazy because people who live in the town are going to have to suffer for years afterwards.

“I would urge people to contact the council to object to any of the proposals you have concerns about.”

Charter skipper of Flamer, Colin Penny agreed that the loading bays are ‘crucial’ to his business.

The plan is just one of many proposals outlined in the Weymouth Transport Package for the 2012 Games.

Dorset County Council engineers have put together the package to improve public transport to encourage more people to leave their cars at home and reduce congestion.

Andy Ackerman, Dorset County Council’s Head of Highways, said: “The parking restrictions are necessary as the road space is needed to provide a bus lane on the other side of the road. The bus lane is an essential part of the Weymouth Transport Package, which is primarily a public transport scheme.

“We are aware of the concerns of boat users and we are currently looking at the detail of the scheme to identify a way of providing loading space on North Quay.”

Subject to its approval, construction is scheduled to start in spring 2010, lasting until summer 2011.

The plans can be viewed at dorsetforyou.com and those specific to the harbour can be found at weymouth.gov.uk/home