I HAVE just been reading about 'Dorset Council – Working for Weymouth' and how it is proceeding with several exciting projects.

Well excuse me, I thought we were still in consultation. One of the reasons people get frustrated and ultimately lose interest is because they feel ignored.

In my experience council projects seem to run independently of each other without the realisation of the effect each has on the other.

A case in point is the North Quay and Bowling Alley project and the Custom House Quay project. If the majority of people feel the need for pedestrianisation then let it be along North Quay.

A road could run behind any new build and the ground floor could be cafés and restaurants with a seating area, overlooking the inner harbour. I have considered the roads and access, details of which I have sent to the council. T

he low cost and social housing must be part of the overall project as it is one of the more important needs of the town. This could be helped by granting change of use to many, sadly, of the empty shops, which would also bring more life into the town centre.

With regard to Custom House Quay, one phrase keeps recurring; this is a working harbour. Not only should the concerns of those who use the harbour on a commercial basis be paramount, I don't mean pubs and restaurants, the question of parking along the quay is important to the shops in the town itself.

Many use it for a quick visit to the shops and unless the council have a notion to allow 1 hour free parking in the car parks, I didn't think so.

There is in fact enough room to allow a slightly wider pavement, for alfresco dining, still keeping the parking. We do not want the area to become a pub garden (to be polite).

During last summer's experiment even some of the publicans stated a lot of people brought their own drink, so they gained nothing from it.

I'm not sure the council have realised yet that locals and holidaymakers enjoy walking through a working harbour, it's a pleasure to see the fisherman bring in their catch and in the future if the EU doesn't want some of our fish, it could be sold along the quayside, as they do in some French ports.

John Liles

Preston

Weymouth