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To
approve the wording of the Harbour Revision Order (HRO) appended to this Notice
based on the legal advice received and to approve submission of the HRO
application to the Marine Management Organisation to amend the Open Port Duty
at Weymouth Harbour, restricting access to vessels under 24 meters, enabling
redevelopment aligned with the Harbour Business Plan and Government-funded regeneration
initiatives.

 

The
delegation for this decision was granted by Cabinet on the 19th of November
2024.

 

Reasons for the decision

Strategic
Alignment: The
modification of the Open Port Duty supports the Council’s regeneration
objectives for the Peninsula site, freeing space for leisure, residential, and
commercial developments as outlined in the Weymouth Harbour Business Plan and
Government funding commitments.

 

Operational
and Financial Sustainability: Maintaining infrastructure for large vessels is no longer
commercially viable or necessary, given the cessation of ferry services in
2015. The Harbour Revision Order enables cost savings by removing outdated
infrastructure and focusing operations on smaller commercial and leisure
vessels.

 

Economic
Development:
The changes will unlock significant economic opportunities by attracting
investment in small-scale marine businesses, tourism, and public access
improvements.

 

Legal
and Safety Compliance: Revising the Open Port Duty ensures that the Harbour’s operations
align with statutory obligations while mitigating legal risks from
underutilised infrastructure

 

Alternative options considered

Maintaining
the Current Open Port Duty: Rejected due to high maintenance costs for infrastructure
designed for large vessels, which no longer serve a viable commercial purpose.

 

Pursuing
Large-Scale Ferry Operations: Rejected due to the lack of demand, physical limitations of
the harbour, and the absence of viable proposals since 2015.