Weymouth is keen to restart ferry link with Channel Islands
Weymouth council will speak to the States in the next few weeks about the possibility of re-establishing a ferry link with the Channel Islands.
Weymouth town councillor Jan Bergman won the unanimous support of his peers to look seriously at the option of delivering a ferry service between the ports.
A joint Dorset/Weymouth task group was set up last week with interested parties on the UK side of the Channel.
Councillor Bergman said: ‘We have now agreed to start liaising with relevant parties more formally, and with the States of Guernsey over the next few weeks.’
He anticipated there would be more-definite information next month.
Possible operators include Condor, which stopped its Weymouth service five years ago, Brittany Ferries and Red Funnel Isle of White Ferries.
The option of including Alderney in any route has also been discussed.
Councillor Bergman has said any service would not be subsidised by Weymouth.
Chief executive of Red Funnel Fran Collins told the Isle of White County Press that the company was happy to have a high-level discussion to understand more about the council’s aspirations for Weymouth port.
‘We do now understand a little more about these aspirations, but would like to reassure residents on the Isle of Wight that our priority remains serving them, as it has for nearly 160 years.’
Condor used to run two fast ferries from Weymouth, but switched the services to Poole in 2015.
This was due to structural problems with the port which saw parts of the berth collapsing. It was reportedly going to cost about £10m. in repairs and Weymouth and Dorset councils were not able to secure the necessary funding.
