Condor passengers are frustrated at disruption
Saturday 18th February 2012, 10:30AM GMT.
Condor passenger Alan Moses with his daughter Luanne, 8. The pair were not impressed to find that their journey had been delayed. (Picture by Adrian Miller, 1225320)
DISRUPTION to Condor’s route to Weymouth left some passengers frustrated yesterday.
With the fast ferry unable to dock at the port due to safety concerns about the berth, it instead had to make its way to Poole.
That extended journey times by more than an hour and meant many had to use the coach the company had provided to get back to Weymouth.
For Darren Carter, 45, and Amanda Liddington, 51, it was another annoyance which they said they could do with out.
- Condor Ferries is contacting passengers affected by the port change and, where necessary, helping them to change their travel plans, as well as making sure that up-to-date information is available on its website: www.condorferries.com.
Tomorrow and Monday the ferry will leave Poole half an hour earlier, at 9.30am, and return at 7.45pm.
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Hi.
Erm, get a life people!
If ya dont like it, get on a plane!
Dont be frustrated at Condor, not their fault!!!!
GD.
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Oh dear, How sad!. What exactly do they suggest as an alternative?
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Get a grip, these things happen.
A coach service was provided to make the missing destination and holiday insurance is there to cover any missed connections etc.
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I am sure they would be even more annoyed if someone they cared about had an accident on an unsafe dock!!!
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Its not like this problem is Condor’s fault – if there’s a problem with the berth, then there’s a problem with the berth. If they had continued to use the unsafe berth at Weymouth, instead the headline would be “Condor passengers angered at flagrant lack of safety concerns for passengers”. Condor can’t win!
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get a life it’s not Condors fault blame Weymouth council
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Yes, not Condor’s fault but Weymouth Port’s fault for not regularly inspecting their docks. Would anyone actually care if Weymouth was permanently knocked off of Condor’s timetable altogether? After all Weymouth has horrid, ancient facilities and the road network is absolute rubbish.
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I like Weymouth, and it’s surrounding area. BUT I agree 100% with you. There is no effort to improve their port facilities, the road network is absolutely rubbish with no quick connection to anywhere.
In my honest opinion, Condor only served Weymouth out of loyalty. There has been a ferry port there for years, and it would be massively damaging to the local economy if it was withdrawn. In that case, Why isn’t Weymouth making more of an effort?
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Exactly, I like Weymouth as a seaside town but Poole has better road connections (just) and make more of an effort with their facilities only to have companies pull out all the time. It happened when Condor took over BCIF and took all the ferries to Weymouth and it’s happened again with Brittany Ferries where they have recently withdrawn the big ferry to Cherbourg, just when the PHC have dredged their harbour entrance.
And unlike Weymouth they concrete protected the fast ferry berth years ago with purbeck stone.
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Not quite sure i agree regarding weymouth, i am a guernsey person living in the Uk and weymouth is the only port that has regular sailings to get myself, the car and dog back to see my family all year round. And the road system has been improved dramatically in the last 2 years to make way for this years olympics, i would say coming from southampton it is easily accessable and i would be gutted if they dropped it off their route as it would make christmas impossible as they stop the poole sailings then, and i cant come on the portsmouth ferry with the dog.
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It seems it is Condors fault the high pressure jet drives are pointed downwards when the boat stops and the high pressure water has washed all the foundations and pilings away it seems – Just get the same company that repaired the White Rock supports they should be able to use the berth in ten years or so
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+1 to all above posts
With his name why dont he just part the sea and walk?
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Stone De Croze – that was funny!
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this is to all who made comments thats right i carry a holy and religeous name and even if i could part the waters as you suggest i would walk but not when your journey at the end of the ferry,is a 4 hour drive after docking and especially when you have to get a coach back to weymouth where we departed from in the first place to pick up our car. most of you state stop moaning,its not condors fault etc , im just wondering what would your reaction be if it happened to you and you had young children with you as well as my proffession looking and taking care of the elderly and disabled, im limited in what time i get to spend with my family and when it comes to the time i cherish with my family who reside in guernsey it takes planning and time and then you leave the island at 5pm and eventually get home at 4am the following morning well thats something i wouldnt like to do very often would you, if you have not experienced this then best you keep your opinions and expressions to yourself instead of making remarks and comments under silly and snidish names….
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Keep on taking the tablets.
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Thats incredibly rude, and dis-respectful, but is consistent with a thankfully small percentage of narrow minded, spiteful, and downright rude people that contribute to this board, amongst those that have a valid and thoughtful contribution to make.
Alan is completely right, I have family in Guernsey, but live in the Midlands. I leave Guernsey at 5.45, arrive in Weymouth (well, book to arrive in Weymouth) at 8.45. The have a five hour journey, if I dont stop to arrive home in the early hours shattered. This could be avoided by using a port with better road connections, rather than persisting with Weymouth.
Alan is unhappy with the extra time he has had to spend at a late time of day travelling, when he really could do with just ‘hitting the road’. I for one, agree with him, and a number of people in his situation would agree, and be FRUSTRATED as that is what the story about, ‘frustration’.
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There must be some misunderstanding. I’m talking about sea-sick tablets. Mrs Hobbesvlocke always ensures that we have a plentiful supply for long, uncomfortable voyages.
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Terrific responses, Condor again at fault NO WAY – Weymouth Council are more concerned about the cosmetics and the MONEY they will make during the OLYMPICS, all of a sudden health & safety appear and guess who suffers, YES, Condor. In response to Ectopudding, you have no idea what you are talking about, many people use Weymouth, if you are a local, it is part of your bread & butter in the Summer, by the way do you work??? Allanmoses, get a life, you could have made other arrangements, you were warned in plenty of time, another compensation claim perhaps, you were lucky to have a coach etc., made available, this does not happen with the Airlines from Guernsey. I have a situ where my Husband requires major assistance, I manage and so does he, so where is the problem. I am more than sure, Condor will pay, if necessary a reputable Engineering Company to sort this problem out, albeit, it is a Harbour problem. It is after all, in their favour to keep a good and regular service running to the Islands. There are many People showing true colours against Condor, unfortunately, you must be in the minority or their Contract would be Void. They have offered alternative arrangements on very short notice, therefore I personally feel they should be, for once, commended on that.
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Ah, another short minded idiot. Hello.
Ectopudding.
Absolutely no relevance whatsover if he/she works. Absolutely no relevance whatsoever if he/she is local. ABsolutely not his/her problem if it is the locals bread and butter. You have missed his/her point completely.
Allan Moses,
Could have made other arrangements? How do you know? Are you very well informed on Allans life, and therefore in a position to understand.
Warned in plenty of time? Not really, around a week is not really ‘plenty’ is it.
Condor
Many people do NOT voice their opinions. You are taking a snapshot view, and placing Allan, Ectopudding in a minority.
Nobody is saying they hate Condor here. They are saying they are disgruntled about the Port of Weymouth, it’s connections etc, and the fact they have been let down by a port with already poor connections, and as such have suffered real inconvenience. Condor has laid on coaches, and done their best, and for this they should be applauded. The GP should in my view be contacting the port directly, asking them what is broken, when they’re going to fix it, and providing answers to the public.
Absolutely no point comparing to local airlines. They are regulated differently. I congratulate you and your husband on managing. Seriously, well done. You are a local hero.
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In response to the quite rude and nosey response from Caroline, yes I do know what I’m talking about. I use the Condor connection regularly to visit family in the UK and have had to use Weymouth when I’ve had no other choice. Poole just simply easier to get to and from. Although I’m haven’t used the new Weymouth relief road yet
Any yes I do work, on split shift patterns, hence the various posting times.
And am sorry if it may be your core business in the summer and wouldn’t want any locals to lose their livelihoods but it doesn’t excuse the fact that Weymouth harbour authority have skimped on keeping the dock safe and secure and letting the facilities go to pot. Whereas Poole continually invest in their infrastructure which has included strengthening their fast ferry berth years ago.
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i would say my self you would have known about this before your trip as it has been going on for a while ,and i think an extra hour or so would be safer than having an accident on a faulty ramp .DONT BLAME CONDOR FOR THIS ,
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Some complaints are “a 4 hour drive or 3 hr drive just to get to boat” thats an 8 or 6hr turn round plus parking, petrol, etc and did not even bring car over?? surely must be cheaper to fly, there are airports closer that come here rather than all that driving??
As with all forms of transport there can and will be some disruption from time to time and you just have to accept it, that is the only way to get on and off the Rock, unless you are Roger Allsop and swim for it!!
You pay your money you take the choice.
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Yes all this is fine and it is not Condors fault that the quay at Weymouth harbour is unsafe, but the Condor from Poole today is not on full power, it is travelling on 3 engines, so here we go again just in time for the new season, a 4 and a half hour trip, we were quicker on the Sarnia and Caesarea.
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Instead of complaining about something that IS NOT CONDOR`S FAULT don`t bother booking with them again, go to the Isle of White.
We, and Condor, can survive without whingers.
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The bear looks happy enough :-)
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5 hrs Weymouth to the midlands??? Wtf which way do you go? Via London???!! Lol. The relief road only marginally improves time. You still get the usual A37 bottle necks caused by people driving cars with weird black & silver number plates. I can do Weymouth-Bristol in just over an hr.
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Stone De Croze.
I will be travelling to Guernsey next month on Condor without a car. Cheaper to book on the plane? Oh, okay. So, I have checked, and it works out at £135 return from Manchester plus £35 diesel, plus £20 parking. So, thats £190. East Midlands? Okay, £110 air fare, plus £15 petrol, plus £20 parking. £145. Condor? Fare £50, Diesel £40, Parking £10 Total £110.
Nathan
Weymouth to Bristol timed at speed limit is 1hr 49mins. Congratulations, you could speed of course and get there in ‘little over an hour’ but then you would use more fuel, which pushes the cost up.
Weymouth to Chesterfield is 4hours 30 minutes.
Via London?? 6 hours.
Speed is not everything, driving economically is. Especially with Diesel @ £1.44 a litre at the PFS next to where I live. Oh, and please don’t try and be clever by using abbreviated swear words, on a public discussion board.
For the record, I am local, and it disgusts me to see the attitude of a number of posters on here. Certainly is not attractive.
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Mark
If you are local why the return trip?
Plus like I said you pay your money you take your choice
Just another point your vehicle uses almost as much diesel to get from Chesterfield to Manchester as to Weymouth and is only 1/3 distance Mmmm???
I like driving so that would not be a problem for me, but if it was, then the extra on airfare would in my opinion be worth it.
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Stone.
Stone me. You do realise some locals don’t live on the rock right?? Just because we have decided for whatever reason to not live on Guernsey, does not relinquish our right to be local.
Chesterfield to Manchester involves a lot of gear changes, on slower roads, and less motorway. Hence more diesel used.
Chesterfield to Weymouth is mainly all motorway.
Don’t Mmmm me either.
You are also missing the point completely.
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Condor have definately got their faults but I don’t think they can be blamed for the Weymouth closure, from the islands its the overnight slow boat for me everytime – a nice early morning start from a port that has good road connections, daytime slow boat to the islands can be a bit of a drag though!
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Yes that is fine Kevin travelling to the mainland a great trip, but returning to Guernsey from Portsmouth in March particularly, you have to go to Jersey first, it is a heck of a long day and not possible in my situation.
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Mark
Have a word with yourself
Chesterfield to Manchester involves a lot of gear changes, on slower roads, and less motorway. Hence more diesel used.
Mmmm!If my car in Guernsey(with more gear changes than a fashion show)used that much diesel in 50 odd miles I would put it in the garage, for them to find the leak…
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Well,
I must agree with all of those stating NOT CONDOR FERRIES FAULT. I split my working time between the Midlands (Northants) and Portland, frequently travelling to the CI via Condor from Weymouth.
Weymouth Council have/are only interested in the money they can generate from the Olympics, rather than the regular inspection and maintenance of the ferry berth for the company that provides significant income to Weymouth Council.
I also agree, the road network in and around Weymouth is pathetic for the volumes of traffic inbound and outbound, and getting worse with every so called road improvement!
Travelling wise, Nathan is right, 5 hrs to the Midlands – never, unless by Robin Reliant. Useing, as I do, the A354, A303 & A34 is only a 3 hr run.
Main point here is, for whatever faults Condor may have, the berth issue at Weymouth is clearly no responsibility of there’s, but simply Weymouth Council. And lets hope they do a better job of the repairs than what they do of the road network or the ferry will be running in and out of Poole until next Feb.
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Thank you Mark, I think, due to the fog I expect there has been a lot of disruption within the airlines, there was no warning, Condor at least gave 1 week through no fault of their own, they had a few hours warning from the info I have recd, considering this they have done their best. I miss Weymouth considerably, but have had to make alternative arangements due to business committments, not ideal but will have to cope. I should imagine Condor have offered to pay towards structural repairs but hands are tied as usual thanks to Councils. Hopefully the situation will be resolved in the not too distant future
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