WEYMOUTH’S remaining eyesore gas holder will stand for at least another two years, it has emerged.

UK gas distribution company SGN, which owns the old harbourside gasworks site off Westwey Road, has put back the demolition in its programme of works.

The company notified Weymouth and Portland Borough Council of its intention to pull down the structure, which is more than 50 years old, in summer 2014. It then emerged it would not come down until at least autumn 2015.

Now SGN says the demolition is “planned at present for the 2018/19 financial year”.

It needs to carry out work to enable the structure to be demolished and needs neighbouring land to do this safely.

A spokesman said: “We still need to complete some ‘gas mains rationalisation’ work first, plus wait for adjacent land to become available.”

The landmark gas holder, or gasometer, is the last of three to be cleared from the site. Such structures are no longer required due to developments in gas pipe technology.

Gas holders across the country are being torn down and SGN says it changes its programme of works.

The Victorian gas holder next to the Oval cricket ground in London was given listed status earlier this month due to its historical background and importance to the landscape.

It has long been the vision of the borough council to see the old gasworks site redeveloped and site owners have previously said the land would be sold for appropriate uses.

In the Weymouth Town Masterplan, which is being progressed by the borough council, the gasworks site is part of a segment of land which the council believes could be used for community facilities, a public square, a modern hotel with conference rooms and improved marina facilities.
SGN said there were no plans for the site’s future at present.

County councillor for Weymouth Mike Byatt said: "It is a strategic site and we'd like to see it come to the market. However there are a number of sites we are looking as part of the masterplan which may be able to be developed first."

Old and derelict buildings are gradually being cleared from the inner harbour as part of redevelopment plans.

The fire station has been replaced with McCarthy & Stone retirement flats based on a design influenced by Georgian Weymouth. The 40-year-old council offices next door on North Quay will soon become vacant as the borough council moves to new sites as part of cost-cutting plans.

Meanwhile, plans are still under consideration to build 25 homes on the derelict electricity switching station next to the gas holder.