Dorset Council Harbours Strategy 2022 to 2032

Foreword

I am delighted to present the Dorset Harbours Strategy on behalf of the Harbours Committee.

Dorset Council, as a Unitary Local Authority, is the Statutory Harbour Authority for Bridport (West Bay), Lyme Regis and Weymouth harbours, necessitating the development of this strategy to provide aligned management and clear strategic direction for our harbours.

All three harbours are iconic and unique features on the Jurassic Coast, the only natural World Heritage site in the country. This strategy encompasses the natural capital of each harbour, enhancing the balance between commerce, recreation and the marine environment.

Each harbour is vital and integral to the local community; each one has a vibrant fishing and charter sector; leisure moorings are fully booked and a whole range of clubs and businesses operate safely within the harbours.

Each harbour has a consultative group who meet regularly; this ensures continuous improvement to the harbour facilities and operations within the goal of operational financial self-sufficiency.

All the harbours have an additional role in coastal defences; major infrastructure improvements are supported by external funding in recognition of this increasingly important contribution in adapting to climate change.

I would like to thank the working group of the committee, Dorset Coast Forum who have been excellent facilitators and especially all who have guided our strategy by responding to the consultation processes.

Working harbours are cherished by our residents and visitors and the Harbours Committee are determined to ensure that thriving harbours are at the heart of our communities.

Cllr Mark Roberts
Dorset Harbours Committee Chairman

Executive summary

The Dorset Harbours Strategy sets out the future direction of management for Weymouth, Lyme Regis and Bridport (West Bay) harbours and how each of these unique and valued harbours will develop over ten years from 2022 to 2032. It presents a set of strategic goals which will help achieve our vision to have “Thriving Dorset harbours at the heart of our communities”

This strategy ensures that all three harbours have a clear direction and are aligned under the management of Dorset Council whilst recognising their unique qualities and local communities.

There are many challenges which our harbours face, including a changing economy, increasing tourism and marine activities, climate change and the impacts of a changing coast on infrastructure, increased flood risk and increasing pressures on marine ecology.

The harbours each have a responsibility to carry out their activities in such a way that both protects and enhances the natural environment. This strategy will help to underpin decision making on how the harbours develop by providing an overarching vision and objectives but will allow for flexibility for these changing considerations.

The purpose of the Strategy is to:

Set out a vision, aims, objectives and strategic goals to guide the development of the harbours.
Provide a working framework to ensure harbour users, local communities and key stakeholders know what they can expect in Weymouth, Bridport and Lyme Regis harbours regarding development of the harbours over the next 10 years.
Aid regional and local planning bodies to understand the ambitions of the harbours under Dorset Council and help to ensure that future harbour development remains coherent with change delivered through the Council’s Economic Plan, Neighbourhood Plans, and other regional and local strategies.
Generate a partnership approach to the development of the three harbours.

Dorset Harbours Mission

“For Dorset to have local authority harbours that are safe, sustainable and economically viable”

Strategic goals and actions

The strategic goals set out the aims for the harbours and the action points for each goal outline how the goals will be achieved and a timeframe for when each action should be achieved.

The action points are not an exhaustive list as these will evolve and develop over time to best meet the strategic goals.

The strategic goals were developed by a Dorset Harbours Strategy working group with various stages of community consultation, involving the Dorset Harbours Consultative Groups, key stakeholders, harbour staff, harbour users, residents and the wider public through two separate surveys.

Feedback from the consultation of the draft strategy showed that 90% of the responses were generally in agreement with the six strategic goals.

The strategic goals

The strategic goals are:

to maintain safe working harbours and provide high quality infrastructure and facilities
to strengthen relationships with harbour users and stakeholders and work in partnership to achieve common goals
to be a premium destination by supporting existing and developing leisure, tourism, and commercial sectors, making a significant contribution to the local and blue economy
to have a balanced budget whilst building the ability for investment into the harbours
to celebrate each harbour’s natural and cultural heritage by integrating the harbours into the community and linking with the wider natural and cultural offer
to protect Dorset’s natural capital by operating best practice in environmental management of the harbours

Monitoring and review

This is a ten-year strategy, published in March 2022, due for renewal in March 2032. It will be reviewed on an annual basis by the Harbours Committee by monitoring the action points against the strategic goals, together with key performance indicators linked to harbour business plans.

Introduction

Following the formation of Dorset Council through a Local Government Reorganisation in 2019, Dorset Council became the Statutory Harbour Authority for Weymouth, Lyme Regis, and Bridport harbours.

Dorset Council Harbours Committee is responsible for exercising functions as the duty holder.

The strategy is owned by Dorset Council and is implemented by Dorset Council Harbours Committee. The committee intends to provide strategic direction as to how these harbours will develop over the next ten years.

This strategy ensures that all three harbours have a clear direction and are aligned under the management of Dorset Council whilst recognising their unique qualities and local communities and continuing to operate as three separate and distinct harbours.

There are many challenges which our harbours face; a changing economy, managing an increase in marine activities taking place in a finite space, increasing tourism pressures and changing needs of the tourism economy, keeping up with rapidly emerging technological advances, alongside climate change and the impacts of a changing coast on infrastructure, increased flood risk and increasing pressures on marine ecology.

All these factors impact how the harbours will develop over the next ten years and while some are unpredictable, many can be planned for. A strategy will help to underpin decision making on how the harbours develop by providing an overarching vision and objectives but will allow for flexibility for these changing considerations.

Whilst Climate Change is a huge global challenge, there are many actions that can be implemented locally to both protect our communities but also to help reduce our contribution to it and mitigate the impacts.

Dorset Council has a Climate and Ecological Emergency Strategy (CEES) which sets
out the framework for action to become a carbon neutral Council and the direction of travel needed for a County-wide approach. The harbours also have a responsibility to carry out their business in such a way that protects and where possible enhances the natural environment.

The harbour limits of both Bridport and Lyme Regis are located within the Lyme Bay and Torbay Special Area of Conservation (SAC) and all harbours lie adjacent to Sites of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI) and important habitat, such as seagrass and rocky reefs, are just some of the features that may require protection through the control of harbour activities.

Harbours have an important role in helping to deliver some of the goals set out within the CEES through technology and development within each area. There are also Flood and Coastal Risk Management Plans which address how the areas will approach adaptation to climate change impacts like sea level rise and increased storminess and allow our harbours to be a place for safe activities.

Delivering sustainable economic growth is fundamental to the future prosperity of Dorset and the economy and the environment are closely linked.

The natural and historic environment make Dorset an attractive place to live, work and visit, and our marine environment and history are part of that.

The harbours need to develop in line with the Dorset Council Local Plan and also the Dorset Economic Growth Strategy; harbours are an important part of the aims to support the tourism and leisure sector but could also support maritime and marine engineering and manufacturing.

Dorset harbours contribute to a sense of place, they are steeped in history and are important to the communities that live in and around them. Having high quality destinations and facilities for local communities is vital as they are important places to celebrate local culture and heritage.

Purpose of the strategy

The purpose of the Strategy is to:

set out a vision, aims, objectives and strategic goals to guide the development of the harbours
provide a working framework to ensure harbour users, local communities and key stakeholders know what they can expect in Weymouth, Bridport (West Bay) and Lyme Regis harbours regarding development of the harbours over the next 10 years
aid regional and local planning bodies to understand the ambitions of the harbours under Dorset Council and help to ensure that future harbour development remains coherent with change delivered through the Council’s Economic Plan, Neighbourhood Plans, and other regional and local strategies
generate a partnership approach to the development of the three harbours

This strategy is a high-level document which provides the framework for the development of Dorset Council owned harbours.

It is an ongoing and active document which will need to respond to economic, social, and environmental changes as well as new policies. Working in partnership with other statutory and non-statutory organisations and the local community/stakeholders is essential to achieving the vision.

Governance

Harbour Authorities are responsible for managing and running safe and efficient harbours and have responsibilities in relation to the safety of vessels and people within the harbour, efficient navigation, and the protection of the port environments.

Dorset Council is the Statutory Harbour Authority for Weymouth, Bridport, and Lyme Regis harbours.

The powers and duties in relation to the harbours are set out in:

Dorset Council is in the process of applying for a joint Harbour Revision Order for Bridport and Lyme Regis to consolidate and modernise local legislation.

The Port Marine Safety Code sets out a national standard for every aspect of port marine safety.

The Dorset Council Harbours Committee is responsible for exercising the functions of the Council as a harbour authority as set out in the Harbours Act 1964. The committee is responsible for any other functions arising under any Local Act and/or byelaws in respect of the operational issues in relation to the harbour land of any harbours within the council area.

The Harbour Authority is responsible for improvements to the harbour facilities to accommodate changes for the needs of harbour users, customers, stakeholders, and legislation.

There are, at times, conflicts of interest between the differing aspirations across stakeholder groups.

It is the duty of the Harbour Committee at all times, to strike a balance that fully respects the interests of all stakeholders, not just one group, in the light of objectives of all three harbours, including commercial and leisure considerations, and what constitutes the 'common good’ for all stakeholders and the surrounding environment.

Key strategic documents that link with this strategy:

Overview of harbours

Dorset’s coast and its inshore waters are two of the county’s most important assets where business, recreation and vibrant coastal communities coexist.

The three harbours under Dorset Council jurisdiction are situated in the west of the county and sit within the Jurassic Coast UNESCO World Heritage Site, with Bridport and Lyme Regis also in the Dorset Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty.

The coast is a high-quality environment which supports a great diversity of wildlife and is a highly designated area. The West of Dorset has four harbours: Weymouth, Bridport, Lyme Regis, and Portland Port. This strategy is for Weymouth, Bridport (West Bay) and Lyme Regis harbours.

All differ in size, scale and the range of activities taking place.

Weymouth Harbour

Weymouth has one of the sunniest climates in the UK and the harbour provides shelter against the prevailing south-westerly winds. The Victorian and Georgian architecture surrounding the beach highlight the towns rich heritage and plays a role in cementing the town as a popular resort.

Weymouth harbour is located in the heart of Weymouth and is a busy and diverse area full of tourists in the summer season and home to a commercial fishing fleet, one of the biggest charter boat fleets in the country, scuba diving, and sea angling businesses, and a thriving leisure boat sector supported by numerous clubs and associations.

The harbour has a lifting bridge that allows boats in and out of the inner harbour. The harbour extends from Westham Bridge to Town Bridge (known as the inner harbour), Town Bridge to the eastern extremity of the Stone (or South) Pier (known as the Outer harbour) and from a point 1.7 miles east of the eastern end of the Nothe to the Borough boundary at Redcliff Point. Weymouth Marina occupies much of the inner harbour and is leased to a private operator by the Harbour Authority.

The harbour has over 800 permanent moorings, most owned and operated by the Council. The harbour also includes the bathing waters in Weymouth Bay, which has a gradually sloping, sheltered sandy beach leading into adjoining shingle beaches, making it a popular seaside resort.

The River Wey runs from Upwey, down through to Radipole Lake, which is a nature reserve with SSSI designation, and into the harbour. The harbour mouth is flanked by Nothe Fort on the south side and the peninsula on the north side which hosts the Pavilion and a significant area of undeveloped harbour land.

A margin on the south of the peninsula is being developed to create a fish landing quay, commercial fishing storage, ice, and fuel facilities along with public realm and other improvements to the commercial area. Weymouth pleasure pier is located on the eastern tip of the peninsula.

Weymouth harbour doesn’t fall within any Marine Protected Areas, but the Purbeck Coast Marine Conservation Zone starts close by at Ringstead Bay and a section of the Studland to Portland SAC starts close to Durdle Pier on Portland.

Weymouth is an extremely attractive destination for leisure craft and for visitors and residents with many different restaurants and cafes offering a wide range of harbourside eateries.

Although the national fishing industry has declined in recent years, Weymouth’s fishing fleet still provides high quality fish to local, national, and international markets and the fishing boats are a constant source of attraction to locals and visitors.

Weymouth and Portland harbours continue to be the venues for both national and international sailing and fishing events and were the focus of the 2012 Olympics and Paralympics Sailing Regatta. The operation of some of the harbour is in a state of flux.

There are pending plans for re-development of the Peninsula, while North Quay and Commercial Road alongside the harbour have also been identified as key sites for commercial and residential development.

These plans may come to fruition during the life of this strategy.

Bridport Harbour

Bridport is a market town about 1.5 miles (2.4 km) inland from West Bay with the River Brit and its tributaries the Asker and Simene flowing into Bridport harbour. Bridport harbour is relatively small and is located at West Bay, south of the Town.

The harbour limits run from a small section of the river, north of the sluice gate in the inner harbour, which holds back the River Brit, out to a 1000 ft semi-circle radius from the end of the Jurassic Pier.

There are two large stretches of shingle beach either side – East Beach and West Beach, signifying the end of the 18-mile Chesil Bank. The area is in the designated Dorset Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty (AONB) and situated within the Jurassic Coast World Heritage Site. The harbour lies within the Lyme Bay Fisheries and Conservation Reserve and the Lyme Bay and Torbay Special Area of Conservation.

The harbour is not natural and has had significant works to improve it over the years including the Jurassic Pier and outer harbour works (2005) which addressed the silting issues and enabled it to continue as a working harbour and provide infrastructure improvements to ensure there was shelter from the prevailing winds and storm events. The harbour still requires periodic dredging.

There is an active boating community based at Bridport, with private moorings for commercial fishing boats, yachts, and small day fishing boats.

As well as the harbourside attractions of West Bay, the visitor experience is closely linked to the independent and vibrant nature of Bridport and West Bay with its strong sense of community and heritage.

The area has a long history of rope and net making, fishing and ship building.

Lyme Regis Harbour

Lyme Regis harbour lies about halfway along the Lyme Bay coast.

It is an ancient harbour with recorded activity dating back to the twelfth century and was once one of the primary ports in England. The harbour forms a basin which is made up of a substantial western breakwater known as The Cobb (a Grade 1 listed structure) that has the Victoria Pier branching from it to the east and the detached North Wall.

The harbour lies within the Dorset AONB, the Jurassic Coast World Heritage Site and is within the Lyme Bay and Torbay SAC and Lyme Bay Fisheries and Conservation Reserve. The harbour dries at low water except for a pool of deeper water in the mouth which allows shallow draft craft to remain afloat at the passenger steps. It accommodates small fishing boats and yachts and other leisure craft.

The landward side has been filled in by a substantial sand bank which now links the North Wall with the harbour and the shore with the beach, now very popular with recreational users.

Strengths, weaknesses, opportunities, and threats (SWOT) analysis

Strengths:

unique identity - character and history
strong ties to culture and heritage of the area and communities
diverse mix of activities
large fleet of under 10m fishing vessels
consultative group mechanism in place
popular tourist destinations
a range of marine and maritime facilities nearby
all harbours under one governance management structure
good water quality for recreational and bathing and for the marine environment
situated in highly designated areas (six Marine Protected Areas, AONB, UNESCO Jurassic Coast World Heritage Site)
oceanic climate lends itself to longer seasons of marine user activity
provides diverse range of employment
locations strategically placed for visiting vessels travelling along the south west coast and across the English Channel

Weaknesses:

perceived poor transport connections across the County and to the rest of UK
access issues- narrow roads etc
demand for parking can exceed the available spaces
facilities are adequate but need improving
customer service and communication approach inconsistent
Weymouth open to effects from easterly/north easterly winds
Bridport and Lyme Regis open to effects of strong winds from southerly directions
susceptible to climate change impacts like sea level rise and increased storminess
some businesses are reliant on seasonal tourism
staffing level and skills disparity between seasons
historical environmental and spatial parameters can hinder development and expansion
aging infrastructure that needs improvement
wider service issues impacting upon access and use of the area
lack of market research to support development options
financial status: Bridport and Lyme Regis are currently running at a loss

Opportunities:

identified infrastructure development opportunities
potential opportunities to diversify activities e.g. Aquaculture, opportunities that may come with Brexit, open to new marine activities Implement economies of scale and shared learning across the harbours
improvements to facilities through Asset Management Plan
implement a communications and marketing strategy
continued partnership and integration with wider Dorset Council services
the staycation market may grow
responsive customer facing management
training & development across harbour stakeholders
improvements to areas adjacent to the harbours could enhance the leisure & hospitality offer
improved technology for the harbour authorities, employees and visiting vessels
generation of income through festivals & events
collaborative development
future development and expansion offer opportunities for Net Gain in the terrestrial and marine environments, and for education and awareness-raising, for regular harbour users and visitors, on the habitats and species on the harbours’ doorsteps

Threats:

economic recession
coronavirus measures affecting operational ability
climate change
lack of funding to implement infrastructure and facility improvements
competition from other harbours and marinas across the South West for tourist trade and visiting vessels
harbours are not financially self-sufficient
Brexit and changes in legislation could cause negative impacts
insufficient staffing levels to step up to new challenges
risk of piecemeal development as opposed to long term vision
conflicts of interest from all the activities affecting commercial, leisure and residential if not managed properly
busy harbours being a potential threat in terms of pollution incidents and ongoing contaminants (hydrocarbons, diesel, oil, antifoulants etc) being released into marine environment

Consultation and strategy development

The consultation

As part of the development of this strategy the Dorset Coast Forum (DCF), a strategic Coastal Partnership, was contracted to carry out a range of consultation and engagement activities including a desk-based research exercise, interviews with harbour staff, workshops for key stakeholders and the public and a public survey.

These events took place from September to October 2020 with further consultation with key stakeholders on the Vison, Aims and Strategic Goals in March 2021.

Public consultation on the draft strategy was carried out during October to December 2021.

Feedback from this consultation showed that 90% of the responses generally agreed with the six strategic goals and provided constructive comments, which were, when possible, integrated into the final strategy. Initial consultation was based on key areas of investigation for each of the three harbours:

what is working well at each harbour
what is not working very well at each harbour
potential ideas for development or opportunities

A Dorset Council Harbours Committee working group oversaw the consultation and has helped guide Dorset Coast Forum in the development of the strategy.

This strategy has been produced following the consultation events providing a positive vision for the future for all three Dorset Council harbours and their development and management for the next ten years.

It sets out the strategic goals, guiding policies and development objectives for the short, medium, and long-term.

A summary of the consultation feedback is found in the Dorset Harbours Strategy Consultation Report.

Vision, mission, values, goals and actions

Dorset Harbours Vision

“Thriving Dorset harbours at the heart of our communities”

Mission

“For Dorset to have local authority harbours that are safe, sustainable and economically viable”

Values:

we are an advocate for Dorset on a local, national, and global stage
we work together with our communities and our partners to make things happen
we put people first and design services around their needs now and in future
we are open, accessible, and accountable
we use time and money wisely
we value people and build on their strengths

Goals and actions:

to maintain safe working harbours and provide high quality infrastructure and facilities
to strengthen relationships with harbour users and stakeholders and work in partnership to achieve common goals
to be a premium destination by supporting existing and developing leisure, tourism, and commercial sectors, making a significant contribution to the local and blue economy
to have a balanced budget whilst building the ability for investment into the harbours
to celebrate each harbour’s natural and cultural heritage by integrating the harbours into the community and linking with the wider natural and cultural offer
to protect Dorset’s natural capital by operating best practice in environmental management of the harbours

Strategic Goal 1 - To maintain safe working harbours and provide high quality infrastructure and facilities

It is vital that the harbours are safe places for people to live, work and visit and there are a number of ways to maintain and improve safety including following the Port Marine Safety Code which sets out the national standard for Port Marine Safety.

It is essential to help maintain and improve safety by ensuring the infrastructure is safe, through the maintenance and delivery of Dorset Council Asset Management Plans and working in partnership to ensure infrastructure is resilient to the impacts of climate change and the marine environment.

Having appropriately trained harbour staff with clear roles and responsibilities is essential for the safety and the provision of good infrastructure and facilities throughout the seasons. It is important that the harbours are safe and accessible to all.

Action point 1

Implement the Asset management plan, maintenance, review, inspection.

Brief description

Infrastructure Maintenance: Maintain and enhance existing assets by reference to infrastructure condition surveys and maintenance reports. This includes assessing ways to make the harbours accessible.

Harbour

All

To be completed by

2022

Action point 2

Improve facilities on offer

Brief description

This includes water, electricity, toilets, accessibility around the harbours. Better CCTV options to help monitor, manage, and implement safety and security for all harbour users and investigate and implement technological advances.

Weymouth – redevelopment of peninsula to include improved fish landing, equipment storage and bunkering facilities.

Lyme Regis - This includes storage areas, chandlery shop, harbour websites for public access, Wi-Fi, the ownership of pontoon system.

Strategic goal 5 - To celebrate each harbour’s natural and cultural heritage by integrating the harbours into the community and linking with the wider natural and cultural offer

Each harbour has a unique history, character and community and we want the harbours to be a place where their natural and cultural heritage is celebrated and inclusive.

Any developments should align or work with local and regional cultural initiatives and activities where possible.

They will also align with relevant plans and policies throughout the towns and across Dorset.

The Defra 25-year plan looks at 10 targets, all of which can be related to aspects of harbour management.

Specific targets which may impact harbour development and operations include, using resources sustainably, enhancing beauty of heritage and the natural environment, managing exposure to chemicals, mitigating, and adapting to climate change, minimizing waste, and enhancing biosecurity.

Harbour

All

To be completed by

Reviewed with developments

Action point 2

Assess environmental impacts of the harbours and implement mitigation measures

Brief description

It will be reviewed on a regular basis by the Harbours Committee taking into consideration operational, technological and policy changes to ensure continued relevance.

Detailed individual business plans as set out in Strategic Goal 4 will present a performance framework and Key Performance Indictors (KPIs) for each harbour. Management and development can be assessed against the framework, providing opportunities to adapt to changing circumstances and trends to ensure continued improvements and development of the strategic goals.

The Harbour Masters will update the Committee quarterly on operational matters all of which will relate in one way or another to the strategy objectives. However, it is proposed that there will be a specific annual review of the Strategy and how it is being delivered to both the Harbour Committee and the Harbour Consultative Groups.

Part of this review will also include regular consultation and engagement with harbour users through the Harbour Consultative Groups, other relevant groups and recreational clubs and committees by continuing to invite views on future improvements to deliver the strategic goals.

Communications and engagement with the various levels of harbour management will be outlined in a Communications Plan for each harbour and will set out ways that harbour users and interested parties can share their views with the Dorset Harbours Committee, Consultative Groups, the Harbour masters and the wider Harbour teams.

Dorset Council Harbours Committee are supported by Harbour Consultative Groups who provide representation for the various harbour user groups. Members of these groups can be contacted through the Harbour Masters.

Contact information

For further information or enquiries about the Dorset Harbours Strategy please contact the Harbour Master or Chair of the Harbour Committee.

Further information is available on the Harbour websites or the Dorset Council Harbours Committee webpage

Equalities Impact Assessment (EQIA)

View the EQIA

Review

This strategy was last reviewed in 2022.

The next review date will be 2031.