Petition calls to scrap 'totally wrong' Weymouth Harbour barrier plan

As previously reported, Health and Safety Executive (HSE) has 'advised' Dorset Council to put a 250-metre long barrier in place amid concerns about people being injured.

The barrier will be in place permanently along the harbour’s edge between Town Bridge and the fish loading area - the main stretch of the harbour that is frequented by drinkers and tourists.

It will be a mixture of metal 'key-clamp' railings and 'post and chain' type barriers, which the council said will ensure flexibility for harbour users accessing boats.

Looking onto Weymouth Harbour in Summer 2020.

Dorset Council say the work will start after the Easter bank holiday on Tuesday, April 6 and take approximately four weeks to be completed. The arrangement will be monitored, with any necessary changes being made in the autumn.

Following the announcement, residents have expressed their concerns about the plans, with some calling it a ‘totally wrong decision’.

A petition, set up by Tash Luther, has been created on Change.org in a bid to encourage Dorset Council to rethink the plans.

The petition, entitled “Prevent the installation of barriers along Weymouth’s Harbour Wall”, states Dorset Council ‘has not consulted the wider community about the aesthetic changes they are making to the harbour’ and questioned why only this section of the harbour wall is being barriered.

The Change.org petition against the Weymouth Harbour barrier has seen more than 1,400 signatures. Picture: Change.org

The petition states: “Installing these railings will change the wider aesthetics of the harbour.

“It will prevent families, tourists and passer-bys’ sitting on the harbour wall to enjoy the beautiful harbour that Weymouth has to offer, which will have a knock-on affect to small business on the harbour side.

“Railings will also encourage younger children to act in an irresponsible manner - climbing or sitting on them.”

Ms Luther adds she would like to ‘challenge’ Dorset Council on multiple points, including why the public was not consulted, why the barrier is only 250 metres and not around the perimeter of the harbour wall and called for the impact assessment to be released.

The petition at the time of writing has already attracted more than 1,400 signatures.

The petition has 'challenged' Dorset Council to further explain the changes to Weymouth Harbour.

Many comments on the petition claim the new barriers would ‘ruin the appeal of the Weymouth Harbourside’ and it ‘would detract from the historical design and beauty.’

Vicky Darley wrote: “I feel there is no need for railings.

“The community should have been consulted for a fair and informed decision to be made.”

Another person wrote: “This is a big change which will affect the way we use the area now.

“We should be consulted on proposals of this nature. Why has there suddenly been health and safety concerns raised and what exactly are they?”

Council say barrier 'addresses the risk of injury of people falling into harbour or onto pontoons'

The 250m-long barrier will be a mix of key-clamp and post and chain, which will ensure flexibility for harbour users accessing boats. Picture: Dorset Council

Councillor Ray Bryan, portfolio holder for Highways, Travel and Environment, previously said Dorset Council has ‘worked closely’ with the Weymouth Harbour Master about these changes and aimed to make the harbour safer.

He said: “We’ve been working closely with Weymouth Harbour Master on the installation of these safety railings.

“With the ever-increasing attraction of the harbour area, we needed to address the risk of injury to people by falling into the deep harbour water, or on to one of the pontoons.

“The initial materials are an interim measure as we work with the harbour users to determine what permanent solution may work best.”

Sections of pavement will be closed in the works area and move as it progresses along the harbour. The road will remain open throughout the work.

A council spokesman added: "The option for railings along Custom House Quay did not form part of the recent harbourside survey as this is an independent piece of safety work.

"Although the installation of railings has not been discussed with the wider public, discussions have taken place with various stakeholders within the Custom House Quay area."