A RETIRED teacher has renewed calls for something to be done about the remnants of the Weymouth harbour tramway, after being reduced to eating through a straw following a nasty bike crash on the lines.

Weymouth resident Richard Sloan, 67, has, like many others, been enjoying early morning bike rides as his exercise during the coronavirus lockdown. On Monday, June 1 he went on a ride on the quiet roads and cycle tracks. Everything was fine, until he reached Custom House Quay.

"Having to cross the railway lines to go round a parked car I instantly lost control of my bike, smashed down on the road and sustained injuries that had me sent to hospital in Dorchester for treatment," he said.

"Skin ripped off, severe bruising, stitching to my mouth which doesn't yet open much, broken and bent teeth, a suspected broken thumb and displaced jaw. Not to mention the severe headache that continues and suspected concussion.

"They knew I'd been wearing a helmet and gloves as they said otherwise the injuries would have been even worse."

People in the area immediately went to help Mr Sloan after seeing the nasty crash.

He said: "I am immensely grateful to the people who rushed to my aid - men from the building site, John the taxi driver who phoned the emergency services and a manager from Dean and Reddyhoff who provided first aid both of whom stayed until I was taken to Dorchester.

"Then the treatment from all the hospital staff - on reception, portering, radiography and Al the nurse practitioner. Add to this list a consultant in Poole and my own dentist in Wyke and of course my family who leapt into action."

The Weymouth Harbour Branch Line (tramway) is a redundant railway line along Commercial Road and Custom House Quay. Boat trains used to run along the line to service the Channel Island ferries.

Many people feel the line is an important part of the town's industrial heritage and should be preserved – but the tracks have also been blamed for causing numerous accidents.

The line has been decommissioned and has since deteriorated.

Though Mr Sloan says he recognises the historical importance of the lines, he feels something needs to be done before someone is hurt worse than himself.

He said: "I was and still am a mess but I don't mention this for self pity - rather to raise the question how much longer do we have to wait for these unnecessary lines to remain in place?

"I was apparently the fifth person in two days to have come off their bike because of this anachronistic feature of the harbour side. There is no cycle path or easy route to avoid the tracks.

"And as for those responsible for the roads around Custom House Quay and those who have democratic responsibility for our town and community, this episode must raise questions that have to be answered with action. In a way I was lucky, the next person may not be."

AS PREVIOUSLY reported, Dorset Council won more than £1m to fund the removal of a section of railway line from Weymouth's old harbour tramway from the Department for Transport earlier this year.

It made a joint bid with Network Rail for funding to dismantle the rails and to reinstate the carriageway.

Exploratory work would help authorities understand how the tracks could be removed in future to improve safety.

At the time, Cllr Ray Bryan, Portfolio Holder for Highways, Travel and Environment, said: "We are delighted to have been successful in our bid to secure additional funding to carry out this work.

"The removal of the old tracks will help keep our roads safe for both cyclists and pedestrians."

Work did start to remove part of the line near the Pavilion however the work has been since been postponed.

Richard Parfitt, Project Team Manager, said: "We’re very mindful of businesses reopening following the national lockdown and so we’re currently planning to start the branch line removal after the summer.

"In the meantime, the team is continuing to assess the best phasing of the work, and associated temporary traffic restrictions."