My response to Dorset Council on requests for observations on the railings at Weymouth Harbour.

Although you are now consulting the people of Weymouth after I thought you had already made up your mind to retain the unsuitable and unnecessary railings along Custom House Quay, have you considered the removal of this eyesore?

Recently I was at Custom House Quay and observed three men having considerable difficulty in loading large jerry cans of, I assume, fuel onto their fishing boat.

READ MORE: Custom House Quay railings labelled 'dangerous' amid bid to keep them as permanent feature

This was because of the railings, the chained sections not being close to their mooring.

I assume similar difficulty arises in offloading catches. I have also been told that children are using the railings as a climbing frame.

This is a working harbour fighting to retain work with Portland becoming an attractive alternative.

Do you wish the harbour to continue to be a working harbour which is its attraction, or be a Disney theme park? If it is to be a theme park the railings, which are of a completely unsuitable design for a conservation area, are on the wrong side of the wall. If it is to remain a working harbour, with public access, notices reading CAUTION DEEP WATER are all that are needed. 

Please get somebody on your decision making arrangements who understands the ‘south of the Ridgeway’ community.

Gerald Mabb - Ambleside, Weymouth

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