I read with profound concern about Weymouth Harbour Wall (Dorset Echo, ‘Crack on with quay task’ Thursday, June 7).

The report to the April 2012 borough council management committee indicates the number three berth needs to be operational by March 2013 in advance of the 2013/14 season.

The report also indicates that the repairs will take 49 weeks in total.

The ferry service operator requires reasonable certainty, about five months before service commences, that repairs will be completed on time before committing for the new season. Given the very tight timescale and that initial repairs were a complete failure, the council is jeopardising next season’s operations by delaying work to avoid embarrassment during the Olympic Games.

Secondly: Having cost the local economy £7.7million (at 2002 prices) this year, plus incurring £2million in repair costs and losing £650,000 in harbour fees, the electorate demands some answers.

An independent inquiry is required into the events, decisions and actions that led to this grave failure.

Councillors and officers need to be held accountable and removed from office if found culpable.

Lessons need to be learned to ensure that similar failures do not happen again, including the publication of a risk register.

Instead of hiding the collapsed harbour wall behind screening and sweeping the issue under the carpet, our councillors need to admit failings, take responsibility, and resign from office.

NAME AND ADDRESS SUPPLIED