THE bill to fix Weymouth’s harbour wall has shot up again by more than half a million pounds.

It means the total cost of works to berth three will rise to more than £4.4 million.

Weymouth and Portland Borough Council is facing a race against time to get the quay fixed in preparation for Condor Ferries’ return.

Problems encountered on the harbour floor during the works, and the fact contractors need to put in extra hours to get them done in time is adding to the cost.

Council chiefs say the additional £550,000 is an estimate so the bill could rise further.

However, they remain confident the berth will be ready for cross- Channel sailings this summer.

Damage at the harbour wall prompted Condor to switch sailings to Poole last year, depriving the borough of vital income.

The company is keen to return and says it will start sailings on July 17 – if the work is done.

The council agreed to berth repairs last autumn, but it is a complex marine civil engineering project with ambitious timetable.

The cost has risen from £2 million to almost £4 million over the past year as the extent of the repair job became clear.

This latest development will put it up to £4,470,000.

The main reason for the increase is that a concrete ‘apron’ structure has been found beneath the seabed that must be removed.

Sorting this out will cost £350,000 alone. Other costs have come from the council instructing contractors to work extra hours, weekends and bank holidays to meet the deadline.

A report to the council’s management committee next Tuesday says the old quayside structure has been removed and foundation works completed. There were problems extracting the old piles.

The report adds: “The priority of the project has been to make every effort to achieve the programme, completing the repairs to allow Condor to resume services from July 17.

“The revised programme shows this to be achievable.

“The consequence of the difficulties experienced has led to a predicted outturn cost of the project £550k greater than the £3.92m budget approved.”

The management committee is being urged to approve the funding, to come from capital receipts.

Former harbourmaster Peter Tambling suspects the concrete structure beneath the seabed is linked to work he oversaw in the 1980s.

He said four holes close to the linkspan and passenger lounge caused by propellers from Sealink vessels were filled in during 1985 and 1986 using slabs of material from Second World War air raid shelters.

Mr Tambling added: “I’m not surprised the bill for the work has gone up. It’s an enormous job.”

Mr Tambling hit at the council over harbour underinvestment.

He said: “The quay was cracking when I was there in the 1980s.

Millions of pounds have been paid in harbour dues over the years but nothing was spent on the harbour.

The council has brought this on themselves.”

Dave Price of the Weymouth Hoteliers, Guesthouses and Leaseholders Association added: “If the money was spent in the first place ... we wouldn’t be having to go through this. It’s been complete mismanagement.”

Labour group leader on the council Colin Huckle said: “It’s a concern that it’s going over budget but on the other hand it’s hazardous job and an unknown because of the works involved. It’s critical the job is done on time.”

Council 'working hard' to get job done

AN UPDATE on harbour wall repairs published by
the council says the next phase of works, apart
from those outlined above, involves laying a scour
protection mattress on the seabed.
Divers will unroll the mattress and secure it. An
exclusion zone in the harbour will operate between
7.30am-5.30pm including weekends. Piling work to
build the foundations was completed in April.
Works are about to start on constructing the
concrete capping beam which will form the top
edge of the quay wall. Quarry material is being
imported to fill in and reinstate the harbour wall.
Council spokesman for environment and
infrastructure Ian Roebuck said: “There is still a lot
of work to be done and a number of project risks
remain, but we are working hard alongside the
contractor and are confident that the berth will be
ready for the return of Condor Ferries on July 17.”