Sail-World.com : 2012 Olympic sailing plans for venue blocked by local council
2012 Olympic sailing plans for venue blocked by local council
'Portland, Dorset, UK - London 2012 Sailing Venue, Weymouth & Portland'
Laura Baldwin
Plans to create a £1 million Olympic sailing park at Portland Port to help foreign sailors prepare for the 2012 Games have been blocked by the local Council.
The proposal to build training facilities for overseas teams, including American, French and Australian squads, who would be among Britain's main challengers for medals when Weymouth and Portland hosts the sailing events in 2012, would have meant demolishing dilapidated buildings on their land, some of which date from Victorian times.
Some of the structures, including a 150-year-old viaduct built to carry wagons from the Great Coaling Shed to the breakwater, are Grade II Listed due to their heritage value.
The Port does not need permission to build the park, but do from Weymouth and Portland Borough Council to get rid of listed buildings.
The Council’s Planning Committee refused those consents by a 5-3 vote at a meeting.
Councillors said the Port should have more regard for the old buildings which played an important role in the development of the area.
The proposal at the former Royal Naval base includes tearing down buildings around the Flag Officer Sea Training (FOST) building and the Camber basin.
The most controversial plan was to demolish the seven-arch viaduct to make way for a ramp. Part of the viaduct was covered with bricks by the Navy so it could be used as stores but the original features lie beneath.
Council planning officers believe there is a way the ramp can be built without the need to bulldoze the viaduct.
Portland Port development manager Peter Arey said: 'The application submitted was for the work we wanted to do, we were quite straight forward with the Council about that. We’re very disappointed.
'A lot of money and time has been spent on this. We will have to take stock.
'The matter will be discussed by senior management with a view to what the future move will be.'
Planning agent for Portland Port Colin Turner told the meeting that they were keen to provide a world-class training facility and a 2012 legacy.
Councillor Margaret Leicester said: 'None of us wants to stop Portland Port’s development. But there’s been no investigation into the alternatives for this scheme.'
by Inside the Games
12:25 AM Sun 28 Jun 2009 GMT
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