Landing stage opening is delayed

The landing stage was due to open for boats to use in June

A landing stage built to attract more cruise boat passengers to Plymouth has had its opening delayed by months because of concerns over its design.

The £1m Barbican Landing Stage was due to open in June but remains closed to the public after it failed to meet the council's "performance" criteria.

It was meant to form part of the regeneration of Plymouth's Barbican waterfront area.

The city council said it should be ready to open at the end of October.

It's not fit for purpose, so we've all been stopped from using it until somebody sorts it out Adrian Bailey, skipper

A spokeswoman for Plymouth City Council said: "The opening of the landing stage has been delayed because we were not satisfied that it met our performance specification.

"We have asked the contractors to correct some problems which have been identified."

She said the bad summer weather had also hindered progress.

The new landing stage consists of a 60m (197ft) ramped pedestrian walkway, linked to a wide pontoon for boats to berth alongside.

Adrian Bailey, a skipper with Tamar Crusies, said: "It's not fit for purpose so we've all been stopped from using it for the time being, until somebody sorts it out."

The landing stage has been designed with disabled access, unlike the existing ramps it will eventually replace.

It was funded by Plymouth City Council, English Partnerships, the Single Regeneration Budget and the South West Regional Development Agency.