WORK has been ordered on Weymouth's dilapidated Pleasure Pier to stop it falling into the sea – amid a wider plan to improve the harbour and boost the town's fortunes.

The Pleasure Pier, which is more than 80 years old, will be closed off for six weeks from February 1 while concrete repairs are carried out underneath the deck, Weymouth and Portland Borough Council says.

It is hoped the elevated cafe, which has been closed for a few years, can reopen this summer.

The project to fix the pier comes as the council presses ahead with engineering and viability works associated with the Town Centre Masterplan – a redevelopment vision for key sites including the Pavilion peninsula.

In the meantime however, councillors and officers will be meeting this month for a 'brainstorming' session on what to do to improve areas of the harbour, including the peninsula, and how to generate income.

Discussions are also continuing with an operator for a potential new ferry service, although as reported in the Echo, this has been hit by delays as further financial backing is sought.

Management committee chairman Cllr Ian Bruce said: "We are still pressing the operator for a firm decision however we are making sure we have a 'plan b' because we can't just sit here and wait. We have to be proactive.

"We are discussing to see what else can come into the port and how we can generate income."

Cllr Bruce added: "I've always been of the opinion having one sailing a day is not sustainable and personally I would like to see two operators doing two or three sailings, something which could pay for itself and the harbour repairs.

"A number of different ideas will be discussed when we meet with officers, which also includes things we can do if we haven't got a ferry port.

"We will be looking at the harbour as a whole, there's many aspects to it."

Concerns have been raised that the council cannot keep propping up the harbour budget in light of reduced income.

Works are underway on two other harbour walls at Nothe Parade and Custom House Quay that need urgent repair after a £1.9m bailout was agreed earlier this month.

Cllr Bruce said: "I want to emphasise that we are not going to keep delaying things, in terms of the harbour area. We are pressing ahead with repairs to walls and structures and looking at a wide plan for the harbour."


'Significant structural defects'

THE Pleasure Pier, completed in 1933, was built by the Great Western Railway to serve the ferry terminal. In its heyday, it was a venue for dances, swimming competitions and brass bands.

In recent years, the elevated cafe became a tourist hotspot but has since closed – Cllr Bruce said he hopes the cafe can reopen this year.

The pier remains a point of interest for its views of the bay and as a fishing platform. However it has suffered from years of neglect.

Councillors were told of significant structural defects three years ago, following a survey of harbour walls to help draw up a priority list of repair and maintenance works amid tight budgets.

It was agreed to carry out works when necessary – rather than knocking it down completely or giving it a major overhaul – and the project in February is in the planned works budget. Works will not affect the car park, or visitors to the Jurassic Skyline attraction.