Work to lift sunken barge finally starts

4:55pm Wednesday 16th July 2008

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MORE than £50,000 of taxpayers' money spent by Weymouth and Portland Borough Council on salvaging a sunken barge will be recovered, the council said today.

A two-week operation to salvage the barge Longsands from Weymouth Bay is now under way after nine months of chasing the owner to remove it proved unsuccessful.

Councillor Brendan Webster, leisure and tourism and community facilities spokesman, said: "Weymouth Bay is one of the jewels in Weymouth's crown and we don't want any junk in it.

"The barge sank in October last year, it's been here for some time and we'd like it removed now.

"We haven't as yet been able to persuade the person responsible - the owner of the barge - to remove it but we will be pursuing them for the cost of the recovery.

"We've given them quite long enough to remove it themselves but we feel it's spoiling the vista of the bay, spoiling use of the bay for our visitors.

"Therefore we've decided it's time for it to go and of course we have paid for it.

"That money is at risk but we are actively seeking for reimbursement of all costs from the owner or their insurer."

Coun Webster said around £52,000 had been incurred by the council since the barge first sank.

This includes a survey undertaken when the barge first arrived to assess the stability of it and risk of pollution, as well as the latest salvage work.

Coun Webster added: "We've got a duty of responsibility. When you think tourism is our biggest employer of 5,000 people, it's not beneficial to have a sunken barge in the bay."

The barge was originally being towed by the tug Luvly Jubbly on route from Cowes to Plymouth when she experienced mechanical problems off Portland Bill.

The barge was taken to Ringstead while repairs to the tug were undertaken but broke from her moorings and ended up aground off Preston Beach.

The operation, which is being undertaken by Portland-based Quest Underwater Services Ltd, will completely recover the barge along with the two diggers, one of which is still attached to the barge.

Coun Webster said the company has been instructed to restore the seabed to its former condition. The operation is expected to last for 14 days, weather permitting.