A COMMITTEE meeting became heated when members questioned why they had not been consulted over plans for a huge development in Weymouth.

Weymouth and Portland Borough Council’s strategic director Martin Hamilton was quizzed at a meeting of the Harbour Management Board.

Co-opted members, who as non-councillors do not usually have a role on other committees, challenged the borough’s officer on why they had not been consulted on the proposed development on the Weymouth’s Pavilion peninsula.

The plans to turn the spot into a leisure destination came before the council’s Management Committee on Tuesday September 20.

Councillors voted to move the scheme along into the next stages.

Steve Pitman, a boat surveyor, is one of the co-opted members who spoke at the board meeting on Wednesday.

He said: “The harbour board hasn’t been brought into this decision making at all. This is completely the wrong way to go about it.

“We’ve not had the opportunity to discuss or speak about it.”

Turning the peninsula into a leisure zone would, it is thought, bring an end to any hopes of large ferries returning to the town’s harbour.

Cllr Kate Wheller said: “I think at the very least there should have been a workshop where the development was discussed.

“It’s insulting to the harbour board.

“I absolutely agree that you’re getting nowhere with negotiations on bringing Condor back.

“But two or three years ago Alderney were looking at bringing a foot passenger service here.

“While we are looking at investing in that site, it is something we should be reconsidering.

“A pedestrian ferry would require considerably less infrastructure but would be a draw to the town.

“It’s all very well bringing tourists onto the Pavilion site but that doesn’t mean income to the harbour.

“Some boats may use it but that would be a minor bonus.

“The harbour board need a workshop to talk about the options for the area.”

Mr Hamilton said: “With the next stage of this work, we will see how the harbour and the council benefits. 

“I can see there is a real benefit for the council as a whole and I regard the council and harbour as being inextricably linked.

“The harbour is operated by the council, it’s all part of the same thing.

“When I think about the benefits for the council I include the harbour in that.”