CALLS to pedestrianise streets around Weymouth harbour have been ‘vehemently opposed’ by boat operators and residents who say it will kill the harbour’s lifeblood marine industry overnight.

Although no formal plan has been put forward, some councillors are proposing that areas including Custom House Quay should be temporarily pedestrianised to help with social distancing and support the hospitality trade – but incensed boat operators say it would destroy their industry overnight, and fear the measures would become permanent.

Richard Bright-Paul, operator of Weymouth Chieftain dive boat, said: “I think this is vehemently opposed by the vast majority of businesses and harbour residents.

“I’m hugely alarmed, concerned and worried about these plans, and how they’re turning the harbour into a magnet for people who want to drink the day away.

“There are a huge amount of businesses that rely on vehicular access; fishermen who offload fish onto the quay, diving charters that have passengers that need to load up equipment, shops that need deliveries, fish and chip shops that rely on locals being able to come to the door and collect.

“There’s also an elderly population who have been restricted in their movements due to Covid and local shops have been using a van to deliver groceries.

“Turning the harbour into a packed pub garden is hugely concerning for quality of life - it would bring a local lockdown if it caused a local spate of infections.

“You cut off the blood supply to the harbour and you kill the harbour.”

However, Councillor Kate Wheller said that pedestrianisation is needed urgently because streets are becoming crowded, making social distancing ‘impossible’.

“We need to act quickly because there are health hazards with crowds around the harbour,” she said. “From a health point of view I badly want a bigger space so that people will be able to get some distance.”

Cllr Wheller said she has “no wish or desire” to impact upon the marine industry, but that a compromise must be reached.

“The whole point of this is to kick start the economy - we’ve got to make people safe without damaging businesses; that’s what we’re trying to achieve,” she added.

“It is a temporary measure and it needs to happen sooner rather than later because what we don’t want is a spike in infections and having to lock down again.”

However Mr Bright-Paul believes the temporary pedestrianisation would become permanent.

He said: “I think it’s pretty short termist – those hospitality business will have their day in the sun but it will kill the harbour’s blood supply .

“Weymouth is the biggest centre in the country for charter angling and diving - those industries generate millions for the community.

“There have been councillors lobbying for this for years. It is ironic that they’re using Covid as a reason to push this through because on a sunny day with tables and chairs outside pubs the harbour will be rammed, not dissimilar to the seafood festival, with crowds of people who want to come down here and get drunk.”

In favour of the plan is Steve Philpot, owner of new harbourside pizza restaurant, The Loft.

He said: “I think it would be great for Weymouth - there’s been talk for about a year or so of making the town a food destination – the council needs to support us by making it a better environment for people to visit.

“We were told that only restaurants with outside seating will be allowed to reopen in July, so that’s no use to us whatsoever – but this (pedestrianisation) would allow us to put tables outside.”

Secretary of the Professional Boatman’s Association, Lyle Stantiford, added his concerns.

He said: “This would kill our business overnight. We rely on access – every commercial fishing boat relies on access to land catch, to load and unload – if they were to shut the south side of the river and can’t get their customers there they will cease to exist overnight.

“Parking in Weymouth and the risk of pedestrianisation are the two biggest threats to any marine operator that uses the harbour. The only people that will benefit are the few pubs and cafes.”

Ward councillor Jon Orrell said: “ As lockdown is relaxed the two metre social distancing rule and face masks are becoming more important. I support pavement and road changes that will save lives by stopping the spread.”

Peter Vincent, owner of Old Harbour View B&B said: “We don’t want it to turn it into a riot down here. The most outrageous thing is that all the residents have been kept out of the loop.

“The harbour is the lifeblood of the town. We’ve just gone through three months of lockdown and are all a bit war wounded. We need councillors to look after us.”

Resident John Lister who lives on the south side of the harbour, said: “It would just be absurd if they’re doing it on the basis of protecting the local community from Covid-19.

“I think it will encourage more visitors and the danger of infection from Covid would be magnified many, many times - I’m absolutely against it.”

Councillor Ray Bryan, Dorset Council’s Portfolio Holder for Highways, Travel and Environment, who has the final say over whether any measures are put in place, said that he believes pedestrianising the harbour would be a “disadvantage” to the people of Weymouth.

He said: “I will be consulting with local members and businesses. There is nothing that I have signed off on that would say we’re closing any roads – we’re not.

“I personally believe it would be a disadvantage to the people of Weymouth not an advantage. We have a lot of elderly people who have carers visiting them. I’ve already had one carer phone me to say they would not be able to transfer their equipment without access. This idea has only just come to light – it came to me today from a boat operator who asked if I was trying to kill his business. I very quickly stepped in to try and quash the rumours - it’s not fair as boat owners have been without their businesses for too long. There’s no point having a harbour if you don’t have boats.”

Following the Echo’s conversation with Cllr Bryan, a statement was issued by Dorset Council’s press team: It quoted Cllr Bryan as saying: “Due to the speed with which we are dealing with the pandemic and emerging central government guidance, it is unlikely we will be able to launch a formal consultation and gather its results before any temporary measures could potentially be introduced. However, as portfolio holder, I for one will not be signing off on any plans until I am satisfied that harbour users and other associated businesses have been consulted and will not be adversely impacted.

“Dorset Council officers are working hard to liaise with all stakeholders about potential plans for temporary pedestrianisation of areas across the whole county in order to gather local views. We have been clear that a general consensus will have to be reached with all affected parties before any changes will be implemented, including arrangements to deal with any effects these changes may have on local businesses or residents.

“This is an unprecedented situation with no perfect solutions. There is a balance to be struck between allowing currently-open businesses to continue operating while making sure social distancing can be followed when cafes, restaurants, pubs and bars open in the coming weeks. Undoubtedly there will need to be some compromises made, but it is in no-one’s best interests for Dorset Council to impose changes to the detriment of public health or the local economy. We will continue to listen to concerns from local stakeholders and will take their views into account before we confirm any plans.”

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