A POTENTIAL new ferry service for Weymouth is being hit by delays.

Negotiations between Weymouth and Portland Borough Council and the people behind High Speed Ferries are indicating a 'delayed introduction while further financial backing is sought', a report says.

It comes as the cash-strapped council examines funding for the coming year and where to make savings as it attempts to balance the harbour budget with reduced income. Three out of six port posts look set to be cut as part of this process and there is likely to be a 90 per cent reduction in the harbour works programme. The council will be raiding its reserves to prop up the budget.

It is hoped a new fast ferry service to France can start in April 2016 to fill the gap left by Condor Ferries which has switched its service to Poole and had been a great source of revenue for the council.

Independent operator High Speed Ferries, which announced its intentions to run a new service earlier this year, has been paying Weymouth and Portland Borough Council some money to keep the port available for use ahead of a possible spring sailing launch.

The council said in September it remained 'cautiously optimistic' as it agreed to continue negotiations.

Jonathan Packer of High Speed Ferries declined to comment when contacted by the Echo citing 'commercial reasons' – but said he would provide an update in the new year.

Chairman of the management committee Cllr Ian Bruce said: "I remain optimistic a service can run from Weymouth. People should remember it's not the council which is providing this service, it's down to the operator.

"We've asked officers to keep us up to date how the negotiations are going. The operator is paying a substantial amount to money to keep the port open."

A brief update on the project is mentioned in a report to the council's Harbour Management Board next Wednesday (Dec9) as part of budget setting.

It says negotiations are continuing to hopefully start a service but that the way ahead for the port is 'far from clear'.

It warns a wider review of the port area will be required if the project is not successful.

With uncertainty regarding the coming year, 'a worst case scenario' harbour budget is having to be drawn up assuming there will be no income from a ferry service.

The budget uses the £400,000 of reserves and there is a reduction to a commitment to a rolling programme of works in order to balance the books.

The report says: "In 2015-16 the harbour budget has lost an income of £600-750k and at the same time there is a concerted effort to try to rectify the condition of the infrastructure, which has manifested some issues which are close to being safety critical. "The harbour will play an important role in the progression of the Town Centre Masterplan and decisions by the council on the future of the harbour will need to be taken in this context."

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