HARBOUR users in Weymouth are calling for a new vote over plans to replace parking and loading bays with a bus lane on North Quay.

The proposal, which is part of the Weymouth Transport Package for the 2012 Olympic Games, was put forward by Dorset County Council.

It was supported by Weymouth and Portland Borough Council’s planning and traffic committee by seven votes to five.

Councillor Peter Farrell, who chaired the meeting, said afterwards that they agreed to support the plans despite 83 objections from the public because the county council had resolved many of the issues that were raised.

According to Coun Farrell the objections were mainly from taxi drivers who were concerned they would have been unable to use the bus lane and harbour users concerned about the loss of loading bays.

The county council later agreed to allow taxi drivers and private hire vehicles to use the bus lane and agreed to implement a new loading bay that could hold three spaces.

Coun Farrell said after the meeting: “The county council came back to us and resolved some of the issues and in the light of that, the reaction was to support the application.

“We are still concerned about the loss of parking and we have expressed this to the county council and there will be talks to try to resolve this.”

Weymouth Angling Centre owner Andrew Selby began a petition to encourage the public to vote against the plans before the meeting and he is one of several harbour users who are calling for a new vote.

Mr Selby, 48, said parking was already limited on the harbour for both commercial and recreational sailors.

He said after the meeting: “The members of the public who attended just could not believe what was going on.

“We were completely aghast.

“It seemed like the councillors were railroaded into letting the plans go through.

“There wasn’t even a clear vote.

“You’d have thought those councillors in agreement would have raised their hand, but instead there was just a nod and a wink and it was over.”

Coun Margaret Leicester voted against the proposal and said she was also concerned about the plans to remove the 22 parking bays.

“The proposal does not satisfy the needs of the public who want to go into town but who don’t want to park right in the town centre.

“They insist the plan will keep the traffic moving even faster but the priority is buses, taxis and motorcyclists.

“I’d like to see where the motorists come.”

Dorset County Council head of highways Andy Ackerman said: “The transport package is primarily a public transport scheme and aims to improve the reliability of journey times for buses in the town.

“The county council has reinstated the loading bay adjacent to the marina gangway following concerns raised by boat users over its removal.”

Construction will begin in spring 2010 lasting until summer 2011 if the scheme achieves funding approval from the Department for Transport.