Public consultation on strategy for the ports of Weymouth, Bridport and Lyme Regis
The views of RESIDENTS are solicited on a policy document which outlines future plans for the ports of Weymouth, West Bay and Lyme Regis.
Dorset Council has launched a public consultation on a ports strategy to guide the development of the three ports over the next ten years. The Dorset Ports Strategy Paper was approved for public consultation yesterday and the council hopes to gain the support of local communities and stakeholders by soliciting their views.
Action points included in the strategy include the financial self-sufficiency of the three ports managed by the council – the ports of Bridport and Weymouth are currently at a loss.
Meanwhile, the plan says plans will be put in place to make Dorset a premium destination “by supporting existing and developing leisure, tourism and commerce sectors”.
Other actions include improving communications regarding port issues – something that has been criticized previously.
The strategy was developed by the Dorset Coast Forum in collaboration with the Council’s Ports Committee and will unify the three ports under the leadership of Dorset Council while recognizing the unique qualities of each.
As part of this work, the Dorset Coast Forum conducted a first public consultation on ports in the fall of 2020 and used this feedback to guide the development of the strategy.
Councilor Mark Roberts, Chairman of the Dorset Council Ports Committee, said: ‘We are pleased with the progress made so far in the draft strategy and are now urging people to get involved to help us finalize the Dorset Harbor Strategy.
“We are particularly keen to hear your perspective on the port’s strategic goals and actions to achieve those goals. We need to ensure that this strategy sets achievable aspirations for how ports are managed so that they can thrive and continue to be at the heart of our coastal cities.
As reported, Dorset Council Ports Committee members discussed the plans at a recent pre-strategy meeting when Weymouth Councilor Louie O’Leary called for the document to be tightened up to make results more measurable .
He told the Dorset Council ports committee that many of the proposals lacked detail and it would be difficult to determine whether or not they had been completed.
The online survey is now live and will be open for eight weeks, until midnight on December 5, 2021.
Once the comments are considered, the final strategy is expected to be submitted to the Dorset Council Ports Committee for approval in March 2022.
To download the Dorset Harbors draft strategy and complete the survey, visit www.dorsetcoasthaveyoursay.co.uk/dorset-harbors-strategy
Hard copies of the survey are available on request by contacting [email protected] or 01305 224833 or at the harbor master’s offices.
