Weymouth Town Council's ferry service business plan strongly criticised
Dorset Council say it fell far short of the professional standard they would expect.
Weymouth Town Council's business plan to bring a ferry service back to Weymouth has been strongly criticised.
Dorset Council say it "fell far short of the professional standard we would expect."
Councillor Ray Bryan says the town council were given 12 months to conduct a feasibility study, but the proposal submitted failed to address key considerations and had vague costings.
Weymouth Town Council say they did not have enough time to complete a feasibility study to draft a full business case.
Cllr Ray Bryan, our Portfolio Holder for Highways, Travel and Environment has made a statement in respect of the proposed ferry service returning to Weymouth.
"The business plan that Dorset Council received from Weymouth Town Council in respect of a proposed ferry service returning to Weymouth, fell far short of the professional standard we would expect to see in such a proposal.
"Weymouth Town Councillors were given 12 months to conduct a feasibility study and submit a fully costed business plan but the proposal submitted was weak, it was not received in good time nor did it address several key considerations. In addition, only very vague costings had been included and no thought was given to the loss of Dorset Council's current income streams from parking at the peninsula, or the council's obligations to its current Harbour clients. No thought had been given to the costs associated with a modern-day ferry service, such as border force security, dredging, pilotage and the impact of additional cars on the peninsula which would undoubtedly affect local people and businesses.
"The offer on the table from Weymouth Town Council was for a one day per week ferry service from Weymouth to the Channel Islands for 30 weeks of the year, which in our view is not a workable proposal. To make it feasible, Dorset Council would have needed a commitment for the provision of a ferry service which operates all year round and offers a daily service to multiple destinations, not just the Channel Islands. In its present form, the business case put forward is a non-starter.
"Dorset Council put its own plans and ambitions for the regeneration of this site, on hold, for more than a year so Weymouth Town Council could explore the ferry option. As it has disappointingly failed to produce anything of note, we will look into financially-sound regeneration opportunities for the peninsula area which we hope will bring benefits to residents, businesses and visitors to Weymouth and will breathe new life into this significant area of the town."