I have written on several occasions about the Condor situation at Weymouth over recent years.

However I find it necessary to put pen to paper over the latest problem regarding Condor’s proposal to possibly introduce a new larger craft on the Channel Islands route.

Firstly, unlike the past when the WPBC seemed to have all the questions to answer, there does appear to be some questions that need to be aimed at Condor on this occasion.

When Condor came back to Weymouth after the berth repair barely more than a year ago, it was with great fanfare that they announced their arrival and there appeared to be at least a tacit implication that they were back for the long run.

I do think they have some explaining to do seeing as they were quite happy to let berth three be repaired at a cost of some £4m to the local taxpayer, not to mention the long-term cost of borrowing with interest chages added.

It was known then and indeed some years before that any change to their fleet would mean larger craft.

There appears to be at least some moral obligation on Condor to explain why less than a year later they threaten to pull-out unless a further £10m is spent on upgrading a completely different berth.

Having said that WPBC doesn’t look too good yet again either, because the council knew that if craft were replaced new ones would be larger, surely between the two parties some discussions on this issue were included in the £4m project of last years upgrading of berth three?

What tends to depress me more is the reported exchanges in the Echo of late where WPBC seems to have adopted a public stance that suggests strongly that if it is not possible for the new projected craft to run out of Weymouth, then they at least would like the present craft to continue running from the port.

The present craft are going to be phased out if the new craft comes in, so locally WPBC seem to be adopting a position of failure to secure the future of Condor (which is so important to Weymouth) before that future has been decided.

One thing is sure, if you plan for failure you certainly will achieve it.

David Peach,

Coronation Road,

Weymouth