New calls are being made to bring a ferry back to Weymouth and re-establish a link to the Channel Islands.

Five years after Condor Ferries left, a new campaign is being launched to stir interest and examine whether Weymouth could host cross-Channel passenger sailings once more.

It would be a major economy boost for Weymouth which was a ferry port for decades and has suffered without passengers coming and going on the ships.

Weymouth’s easy access to the open sea (compared to Poole) and its shorter crossing time to the Channel Islands places it at an advantage, although access to the port by car has previously been highlighted as an issue.

Initial investigations by town councillor Jan Bergman has sparked initial interest from ferry companies which have indicated they want to engage into discussions about a future service. He will reveal more about his investigations at a meeting of Weymouth Town Council next week.

If the idea is supported, it would need agreement from Dorset Council however which runs the harbour before anything is progressed.

Condor Ferries, which previously provided a link to the Channel Islands and France, switched its services to Poole in 2015 after Weymouth port was deemed unsuitable for its larger ferry, and required £10 million worth of investment to make it viable.

The former borough council had spent £4 million refurbishing a berth, but Condor required a larger berth which needed a major upgrade.

With Condor’s departure the council lost £750,000 a year in harbour income and the local economy suffered a major blow as passengers headed to Poole.

Last year any hopes of a ferry returning were dashed by Dorset Council which said the priority was to work on making the quay a leisure destination rather than a ferry port.

Buildings associated with the former terminal have been demolished.

Cllr Bergman made a similar call for the return of a ferry service last year, and said he couldn’t see why it could still operate alongside the peninsula redevelopment scheme.

Cllr Bergman said: “I have been asked to share my investigations, though preliminary at this stage, with Weymouth residents and have tabled a report for discussion.

“It is important to note that a passenger ferry service should not require any subsidy from the council and should not adversely affect cycling and pedestrian improvements on the harbourside.

“(The report) proposes formalising and taking discussions forward with ferry companies and the States of Guernsey in order to establish options. Again this will be on the basis that a service will not be subsidised by Weymouth. I hope it will be supported by my councillor colleagues so we can provide the people of Weymouth with the benefits.”

Cllr Bergman said the benefits of re-establishing a ferry service would include:

* Increased employment opportunities

* Providing potential engineering apprenticeships for younger people

* Increased trade for Weymouth’s shops, hotels, etc

* Leisure and travel opportunities for local residents

* The creation of investment potential in Weymouth