A DISUSED garage on Portland is at risk from vandals and arsonists, it was warned today.

The Dowsett Motors site at Yeates Corner was vacated by owners Nigel and Coral Dowsett in January and today remains empty and unleased.

The operations director of the nearby Heights Hotel, Angie Mustill, has described the site as an eyesore and warned it is now falling prey to vandals and trespassers.

She said: “The site has become a bit of a bad area really because it’s been abandoned.

“I’ve written to the council and contacted the local police to say that I’m concerned about potential arson attacks and youths using it as a gathering point in the evenings.

“We’re also getting burger vans coming down and setting up on the site and, within about ten minutes, the roundabout and the roads outside just get swamped.

“We’re also getting all the van and lorry drivers pulling off the road there to rest, which can be dangerous on this little roundabout.

She added: “Since it’s closed it’s become an eyesore, which is a shame because it’s a prime site.

“Also, with its placement in relation to the hotel, it’s as if we have 90 per cent spectacular views and ten per cent eyesore out the front.”

Mr Dowsett agreed that the site has become a gathering point for trespassers and troublemakers, adding that he was sorry to have left the site after so many years of trade.

He said: “The site has become an attraction for vandals and has been boarded up, making it look rather derelict. This has been a very stressful time for us and we would like to apologise to our many customers who no doubt feel extremely let down after we left.”

Mr Dowsett, who believes the site has a commercial value of between £550,000 and £600,000, added: “It’s an absolute prime site with a view over where the Olympic sailing events will take place.

“I had wanted to stay and look after my customer base but I simply was not able to.”

A spokesman for current owners Blue Homes Ltd of Bournemouth confirmed the police have contacted them about broken windows at the site and that the company took action by boarding them up.

He added: “The site has not been abandoned and we’re still trying to find a tenant for the premises.”

Coun Tim Munro, who is Weymouth and Portland Borough Council spokesman for community safety, said: “We have not had any complaints about the condition of the site or any unlicensed traders, although we will investigate the situation.

‘There are no planning applications currently submitted for this site. Any planning application is considered on its own merits, with reference to the Weymouth and Portland Local Plan, which guides overall planning policy and development in the borough.

“Within the Local Plan, this site is part of an area of land allocated for the development of a Portland Stone and Quarry Park to celebrate the island’s limestone industry heritage.”