A MAJOR project to protect Weymouth Harbour is continuing – with the noisiest phase now underway.

Dorset Council started three months of work at the end of September to maintain the harbour walls.

It says the work is essential to preserve the harbour walls, and thsi project has been carefully timed to avoid the main tourist season.

Part of Custom House Quay at the Pavilion end is closed, some parking bays have been taken out of use and part of the Pavilion car park has been taken up by a works compound.

The works are expected to be complete by Christmas, but the whole project is weather dependant.

The work began with the demolition of the old brick and concrete kiosk at the top of the ferry steps before 76 metres of quay wall near the kiosk are replaced.

This will involve driving a new line of sheet steel piles into the ground in front of the existing harbour wall.

This pile work has now commenced, and will take up to six weeks.

Dorset Council says the hammering in, which often causes the most noise will only be done for short periods.

Cllr Ray Bryan, Dorset Council Portfolio Holder for Environment, Highways and Transport, said: “All is going well at this stage. Good progress has been made and piling started on October 14.

"It’s good news that there have been no delays so far, however the team remain cautious due to weather conditions and unknown ground conditions which can both delay piling. We are asking residents and businesses to please bear with us during the piling, we apologise for any inconvenience. This work is vital to protect our historic harbour walls from collapse."

Cllr Bryan added: “In engineering terms, an entire length of the waling beam will be exposed this week. This is a key structural element of the existing wall. Its condition will be checked to make sure it can support the new stronger steel sheet pile wall. The piling will be closely monitored using live data from the noise, vibration and dust monitoring stations to do this."

Around £1.9 million has been allocated to maintain this section and another section of harbour wall near Nelson’s Wharf, also in need of urgent repair.

The work has been planned and paid for by Dorset Council, but is being carried out by contractor Knights Brown Construction.

Residents who require further information can email weymouthharbourwalls@dorsetcouncil.gov.uk