SOME readers may have read the public notice in the Echo (23/07/16) regarding Weymouth & Portland Borough Council’s proposed sale of the Council Office site including car parks on North Quay Road.

I would urge all residents to object in writing to the sale of all the public car parks in that area because if the disposal goes ahead as planned the reduction in public parking spaces will prove extremely detrimental to the harbour area itself and Weymouth and Melcombe Regis in general.

A number of parking spaces along North Quay Road were lost when the bus lane was constructed, there are proposals to restrict and reduce parking along both sides of the harbour and plans to sell off car parks behind Brewer’s Quay.

At the same time the popularity of the harbour area is growing as is demonstrated by the success of the recent Sea Food Festival and the Folk Festival.

The many small businesses and several churches, which are supported by both visitors and locals, will suffer if there is nowhere to park nearby.

Councillors seem to forget that for a variety of reasons many people who wish to enjoy the harbour area are unable to walk long distances making car parks in the town centre or further afield untenable.

The decimated Park and Ride service exacerbates the problem.

Is it too much to ask to retain at least one area of public parking (from which the council can continue to make money) for the benefit of all in the future?

Objections to the proposal should be made in writing by noon on Monday 8th August 2016 and should be sent to The Legal Services Manager, Head of Property & Litigation, Weymouth & Portland Borough Council, Council Offices, South Walks House, South Walks Road, Dorchester, Dorset. DT1 1UZ and marked with the reference RG/SH 13-0188.

S A L Frith

William Street

Weymouth