A PLAN is being produced to guide the development of West Bay and Lyme Regis harbours.

Dorset Council is in the process of developing a Dorset Harbours Strategy for the harbours over the next ten years following a public consultation which was carried out at the end of last year.

The consultation found that the five main aspects that were most important to residents were culture and heritage, recreation and tourism, marine safety and enforcement, conservation and ecology and business growth and regeneration.

Ideas for development for West Bay Harbour included increasing the offer for leisure activities, having a wider joined-up approach to tourism around the harbour including possible pedestrianisation and an increase in the celebration of the heritage and culture of the harbour.

Staffing changes were also suggested to incorporate a full-time harbour master but there was a proportion of respondents who didn’t feel any change was necessary.

Ideas from Lyme Regis residents included improving the ageing infrastructure to make it more resilient to climate change, improving facilities, moorings and pontoons and centring the community in any future developments.

The Dorset Coast Forum (DCF) has been working with the Dorset Council Harbours Committee to help develop this new strategy for the harbours which will unify them under the Dorset Council management while recognising the unique qualities of each harbour.

As part of this work, DCF carried out the public consultation which took place through online workshops and surveys to seek views on what people think works well and what doesn’t. It also gathered ideas for how the harbours should develop over the next 10 years.

The Dorset Coast Forum and the Dorset Council Harbours Committee have used this feedback, and other supporting information and documents, to form the basis of the strategy.

The two organisations are currently working with key stakeholders to ensure the direction of the strategy is supported and will be going back out to consultation with the wider public on this draft strategy in summer 2021.

Cllr Mark Roberts, Chairman of the Dorset Council Harbours Committee said; “Thank you to all those who contributed to the first stage of consultation – we received 530 responses. It’s important we consult with harbour users and then the wider community to develop the Dorset Harbours Strategy to ensure that everyone gets the opportunity to air their views.

"We are working hard to ensure this strategy reflects the needs and aspirations of our community and will set out our vision for the future that is strongly supported.”

Cllr Ray Bryan, Dorset Council’s Portfolio Holder for Highways, Travel and Environment, said

“Dorset Council continue to be committed to working with our communities to ensure they have a say on how our harbours are managed and are a place that they are proud to use for work or leisure. This new strategy will set out how our harbours can thrive, now, and in the future.”

For further information on the Dorset Harbours Strategy visit www.dorsetcoasthaveyoursay.co.uk/dorset-harbours-strategy