The loss of Condor is indeed tragic, and the company has treated Weymouth with cont-empt over this whole affair.

Having said that, questions must be answered by the council.

There was a contract in place between the company and the council between 1991 and 2001 and again between 2001 and 2011.

Who was responsible for not renewing this? Was it Condor, the council or both parties?

Also, the question remains unanswered as to what both parties knew or did not know about the ‘new’ larger vessel coming into service when £4m of taxpayers’ money was spent on repairing the harbour wall only to find in less than a year the berth could not be used by the larger vessel and £10m was needed to revamp another berth.

Cllr Mike Byatt was quoted as saying that ‘it was now time to look to the future and the harbour was covered in the town’s grand masterplan’.

While I agree the council has to look forward, ‘forward to what?’ must be asked. Cllr Byatt omitted to say there is no money for this grand masterplan and the council has been trying to attract inward investment all this century without success, which is not really surprising in the current economic situation that is not likely to ease until 2020 at the earliest if ever.

Clearly to sell off everything or close everything down is not the answer.

While, like myself, there are many who wish to see the prosperity of the Weymouth and Portand area, we and the council have to face up to the situation as it is.

I think the council could do worse than open up to the citizens of the town in seeking solutions to the present problems David Peach, Coronation Road, Weymouth