Custom House Quay on Weymouth Harbour to close for 18 months

Dorset Council has published details of a temporary Traffic Management Order.

The order comes in to operation on October 4 2021 and will remain in force for 18 months, however it is anticipated that the works will be completed by April 14, 2022.

The closure may be extended if necessary, and is being put in place in order for resurfacing to be carried out along with improvement work associated with the public realm scheme.

It means that several one-way streets around the harbour will be open to two-way traffic so that cars can be diverted around the harbour.

All parking bays on Custom House Quay will be taken out of use.

Changes have been ongoing at Custom House Quay

The following changes will now be in place:

• Custom House Quay to close from the junction with the Esplanade to its junction with St Marys Street.
• All parking bays along Custom House Quay to be suspended, from the junction with The Esplanade to junction with St Mary Street
• Maiden Street to close between junctions with Helen Lane and Custom House Quay
• Maiden Street will become two-way between Helen Lane and St Edmund Street
• East Street will be closed between Helen Lane and Custom House Quay
• South Parade to be closed at Custom House Quay junction
• South Parade will become two way
• All parking bays on South Parade to be suspended
• Pilgrims Way to close at the junction with Custom House Quay
• Pilgrims Way will become two-way

The news was announced via a Tweet on Thursday

From Monday (4 October) Custom House Quay #Weymouth will be closed between St Mary Street & Maiden Street, with no through access for vehicles.
Drainage & final surfacing works are getting underway following on from the track removal earlier this year.https://t.co/GBOXcof5c5 pic.twitter.com/t5JmgCrlPj

— Dorset Council UK (@DorsetCouncilUK) September 30, 2021

There was no end date for the works - but full details are published as public notices on the council's website.

Previously, when changes were to be made as part of a Traffic Regulation Order that was deferred, a timeline of works was issued regarding road closures. 

Work along Custom House Quay will be carried out in the same way as during the removal of the disused tracks – with the road closed in sections to provide a safe working area while keeping as much access along the route as possible.

• Read more: More than half of residents back harbour layout changes

 Full details of the scheme have been published on the roadworks section of the council's website

It comes after the council announced that it was putting a decision on a permanent Traffic Regulation Order on hold.

On Septemer 30 the council was due to make a decision on a permanent Traffic Regulation Order (TRO) that included proposals to remove parking bays and create a contra-flow cycle lane along Custom House Quay, among other changes.

• Read about the changes that were proposed

However, just days before the meeting the authority announced it would defer the decision to a later date after concerns were raised by locals.

• 'Another nail in the coffin' - Outcry over major traffic scheme proposed at harbour

The council said the work being carried out from next week is not part of the TRO. It does not involve creating a cycle lane - which was one of the more unpopular proposals.

Safety concerns were raised about proposals for a contraflow cycle lane

• Read more: Decision on controversial harbour cycle lane and permanent parking removal DELAYED

In a statement last week councillor Ray Bryan, Portfolio Holder for Highways, Travel and Environment, said: “On one of my regular visits to Weymouth last week, and again yesterday, and having spoken with local people and other interested parties, I’ve had time to reflect on the planning report regarding public realm enhancements at Custom House Quay, especially considering feedback from both our survey and formal consultation. As a result, I have asked that the report be deferred.

“In short, Dorset Council is listening to Weymouth residents, councillors and businesses, and it is clear that there are still concerns to be addressed. I will work closely with Highways officers and key stakeholders to review the recommendations, potentially make changes, and bring the report back to committee in the near future.

"In the meantime, the imminent works at Custom House Quay are outside of the scope of the deferred report so they should proceed as planned from early October.”