Shuttle buses transporting cruise ship passengers to Weymouth will drop passengers off in the newly-reopened car park at North Quay from next month.

The current drop off and pick up point in Spring Road behind Brewers Quay has been a major cause for concern locally due to the many buses queuing up in the narrow residential roads.

Many hundreds of passengers usually make the journey to Weymouth when vessels stop off at Portland Port for the day.

As previously reported, residents in the Rodwell area of Weymouth have been left feeling ‘ignored’ after campaigning against the location of what they believe is a totally unsuitable drop off point.

Following a petition, letters from residents to both the port and council and Freedom of Information requests submitted, the site looks set to move from the roundabout connecting Spring Road, Newton's Road and Rodwell Avenue to the North Quay car park.

Dorset Council has opened the car park again following the demolition of the former borough council offices.

Dorset Echo: Plans have already been put into motion by the port, which performed a trial run with a bus to the car park to check it was suitable.

There have been concerns raised by the council and Portland Port regarding possible congestion and traffic implications on Boot Hill but according to a port spokesperson, the plan is to ‘switch’ location now the car park is open.

Dorset Council told the Echo last month it had proposed to the port that it could use the site as a drop off and pick up point.

Despite the announcement, residents will have to wait until the end of June to see a change in the drop-off point location with 10 cruise ships scheduled to call in the port before then.

Jenny Rains, a resident of the Rodwell area for the past eight years, has been leading the campaign to get the drop off point relocated.

Dorset Echo: She said moving to the car park was the ‘easiest option for them.’

Mrs Rains said: “Personally I don’t know how they are going to manage it as they will have to reverse out of the car park.

“I do hope they do something about this because in the summer months when the weather is nice, the noise and pollution is horrendous.”

Mrs Rains added that the shuttle bus service only became a problem for residents after the port installed its £26m deep-water berth allowing huge ships to visit.

A spokesperson for Portland Port said: “Discussions with Dorset Council have been ongoing to find the most appropriate location where cruise ship coaches can drop off and collect passengers in Weymouth.

“Following the completion of the North Quay car park, we have performed a trial run with a bus to test the facility.

“Although concerns remain about congestion on Boot Hill and traffic implications, the plan is to switch to North Quay now that the car park is open.

“Planning work remains to be done, including risk assessments and signage. We aim to move to the car park as soon as practicable, most likely by the end of June, although the exact date is to be confirmed.

“The site will be monitored and reviewed to ensure it meets with the satisfaction of the local community along with cruise line guests.”