ADDITIONAL safety precautions are being put in place on the east pier at West Bay as the harbour improvements and coastal defence scheme progresses well in the calm weather.

Safety fencing has been put up from the end of the pier and approximately 10 metres along its western side to protect boat crews and construction workers.

Pedestrians will still be able to walk along the whole length of the pier and fishing will be available from the western end of the pier.

West Dorset District Council's principal engineer Peter Sunderland said: "Progress on the new pier has been going so well during the calm weather that it has reached the point of the existing harbour entrance.

"This means that the boats entering and leaving the harbour are having to come closer to East Pier. To ensure the safety of boat users plus the construction teams and divers working on the new pier, we have erected open steel fencing. "Fishing and swimming isn't allowed inside the harbour at any time for safety reasons and we have to be particularly careful in these circumstances.

"Fishing can still take place on the east side of the pier and the public will be able to walk its entire length and see all the activity taking place. We feel this is the safest way to keep the pier open for the summer and keep the scheme on schedule."

An information centre for the coastal defence and harbour improvements scheme is open from 9.30am to 5pm Monday to Saturday at the Salt House at West Bay. Anyone with enquiries or concerns is welcome to call in and view the exhibition on the scheme including historic photographs of West Bay.

Staff at the information centre can also be contacted on 01308 421517.

West Bay's historic piers and sea defences have suffered major and sustained damage over the past 50 years, leaving the piers and sections of the sea wall in urgent need of repair to prevent flooding and protect properties from the sea.

The £15 million coastal defence scheme being promoted by the district council in partnership with the Environment Agency will see the West Pier demolished and rebuilt on a new alignment, rock armour installed to protect the sea wall and replenishment of the beach. The East Pier will also be strengthened and extended.