Portland Port has moved to reassure the community it is trying to avoid the cruise bus chaos of last year and has offered money for road improvements.
It comes ahead of a bumper cruise ship year which is expected to be another major boost for the local economy.
While the thousands of cruise ship passengers who visit each time are welcomed in Weymouth the shuttle bus service has come under fire from residents on Newtons Road and Spring Road because of the disruption it causes.
Thousands were seen queuing along the narrow streets over the past year, with some locals describing it as ‘hell’ towards the end of the cruise season.
Coaches were seen being unable to manoeuvre due to the small roads and a large volume of vehicles descending on the street, which has double yellow lines.
This year, the port is set to welcome 110,000 passengers after its ‘record breaking’ season in 2023.
Residents wrote to the port and Dorset Council in February, calling the current situation ‘unacceptable’ and were considering all options, including legal and civil action against both the port and Dorset Council.
In a bid to allay concerns, the port has issued a statement about its position.
It said it has ‘considered multiple options for the transfer location and continues to keep these under review.’
The port also announced it has offered a ‘financial contribution’ to Dorset Council in a bid to make ‘highways improvements’ at the Spring Road drop-off point, including to the mini roundabout.
Residents are not totally convinced.
One resident of Newtons Road said: “Without knowing how much money they have offered; I am not quite what they expect to do.
“I am not sure there is much that could be done to improve things.
“There doesn’t seem to be any way to turn the buses around. I know there was a lot of chatter about sending the buses to town instead."
Mick Church of The Maltings said: “We have a big issue. This building site and then a massive building going (Brewers Quay development). Vehicles can’t get down this road very easily.
“The solution is simple. Ask the port to move their buses to the (former borough) council car park opening on the harbour or drop them off at the King’s Statue.”
He added: “They all turn around outside my house and it is damaging the road. It is just not working.
“If there is an emergency on this road, then you can’t get a fire engine or an ambulance up here because of the cranes and buses.
“The access is just not fit for purpose. There is only one road onto the estate.”
Ian McQuade, Portland Port general manager commercial and chair of Cruise Britain, said: “There has been a lot of talk about the shuttle buses.
“I would like to reassure the local community that discussions with the council have been ongoing since we first started growing our cruise business.
“All aspects of the shuttle bus service have been reviewed; including timings, locations, logistics, costs, congestion, as well as what the implications would be for each alternative site.
“We actively review our operations and continue to consider other options. We have recently brainstormed ideas with our transport operator. We will obviously keep all stakeholders informed should an alternative option prove viable.
“We recognise that we don’t operate in a vacuum and genuinely remain committed to identifying workable solutions to ensure our shuttle bus service runs in the best way possible,” he added.
The port has contracted a professional traffic management company for all cruise calls, which includes the provision of traffic marshals.
Additionally, each year the port makes road space bookings with Dorset Council for the route its shuttle buses take for every cruise call.
At an early stage, Spring Road was considered the best location for access, bus travel times and timetables, traffic congestion and first impressions for visitors, however this decision has subsequently been regularly reviewed with Dorset Council, according to a spokesperson for the port.
Numerous alternative options have been considered, however, some were seen as unworkable due to timings and logistics, whilst others were unviable due to traffic flows and potential congestion issues.
This news comes after the port welcomed its first cruise ship of the season in February, with a further 45 more vessels carrying 110,000 passengers from April to December expected to make cruise calls in the season.
The figure is based on statistics from the Cruise Lines International Association (CLIA) trade body for spend per head of passenger and includes expenditure in shops, bars, cafes, tourism attractions along with transport and tours.
Most of the remaining passengers explore the local area using the port’s complimentary shuttle bus service, either choosing to stay on Portland or travel into Weymouth.
Some also use taxis to travel to and from Portland to Weymouth and local destinations.
A variety of businesses benefit from cruise visits throughout the year, including off-peak calls in the autumn and winter.
Dennis Spurr, of the Fantastic Sausage Factory in St Mary Street, Weymouth, said: “The cruise ships are absolutely fabulous.
“The number of people they bring into town results in a great a deal business for some people, so they have to been seen as a great plus.
“I always make the effort to chat with passengers and they are all happy because they are on holiday and love it in Weymouth. We’re a resort town so I can’t see any minuses.”
Josephine Parker, owner of the EBIKE Cafe on Custom House Quay, said: “We look forward to welcoming all the international visitors for the 2024 cruise season.
“Every time a cruise ship comes to Portland, we are inundated with visitors. They love it here, and we love them visiting us. Because of this, we now employ more team members.”
Ali Record, owner of the George Bar and Grill on Custom House Quay, said: “We really appreciate the business the cruise ships bring in. They definitely make the town busier, especially outside of the summer.”
Zack Phillips, manager of the Marlboro restaurant and take away next to the town bridge in St Thomas Street, said they keep track of cruise calls so they can prepare for the extra visitors.
“The cruise ships are great for business. The Americans particularly come in for their fish and chips. The restaurant is pretty much full the whole time they are here.”
Rosie Lawlor, owner of Rosies Retro Closet in St Alban Street, said: “There is a noticeable difference when the cruise ships come in.
“It is nice seeing more people in St Alban Street, which is so pretty and appeals to visitors. Many like going to local small independent businesses where they can buy things that they wouldn’t get anywhere else.”
Ian Ferguson, managing director of Weyline Taxis, said: “Portland Port is a significant source of work for our drivers, whom it has to be stated are local people both in terms of work, residency and socially. This year our average job count is around ten journeys per day, either to or from the port.
“During the summer we see an exponential increase in work, including tours to local landmarks and localities, bringing in much appreciated patronage and income for a wide variety of businesses.”
A Facebook post by a German passenger hailed the delights of Weymouth, following her visit on the AIDAsol in February.
She described Weymouth as a ‘pretty town with a beach, lots of small shops and pubs’ and said how her group enjoyed drinks in a pub as a ‘nice farewell at the last port of our trip.’
She added: “Back on the ship, the beautiful evening sky managed to get me out of my cabin again. Because this was our inaugural call, we were given a worthy send off with three cannon blasts, which I couldn't possibly miss.”
The AIDAsol was the first call of 2024 when she arrived with more than 2,000 passengers plus more than 600 crew.
Her visit marked the start of an 11-month long season with passengers due from February to December.
Cruise visits will continue throughout the spring and summer and into autumn with calls scheduled in September, October and November before the final ship arrives on December 10.
“Cruise calls create and support local jobs and the economy, but also generate significant exposure for the area and help to encourage further tourism.
“Our complimentary shuttle buses are a key component of this success and we really want this to continue to bring benefits for our community and economy.”
Portland Port invested heavily in its infrastructure over several years, the largest investment being £26m on its deep-water-berth, to increase capacity and capability.
This has allowed the port to welcome larger vessels, including ships up to 350m in length on opposite berths on the same day.
The Portland Port estate provides employment for circa 300 people in non-seasonal work. The port itself directly employs 57 in this total.
There are also indirect employees - such as hauliers and suppliers - as a consequence of direct employment.
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