LANDING stages at Bournemouth Pier are operational, despite low demand from boats to dock at the site, councillors have been told.

Responding to a question from Cllr Phil Stanley-Watts at Tuesday’s meeting of the borough council, the cabinet member for economic growth, Cllr Philip Broadhead said they were “open to the possibility” of hosting watercraft on the pier but that rising costs had put off pleasure cruisers.

A freedom of information request to the council earlier this year revealed that landing stages had been closed following damage in winter storms.

Docking points on the eastern side of the pier are now able to be used, however Cllr Broadhead said described the western side as “mostly unusable”.

“The pier landing stages remain in use, albeit in a limited capacity, primarily due to the lack of demand for watercraft usage,” he said.

“Public use of the ferry cruises that operated from the pier reduced significantly from the turn of the century and together with rising costs such as fuel and insurance it seems there is little interest in running a commercial venture from this site.

“However, we always remain open to that possibility in the future.

“Subsequently, the formal landing stages on the western side of the pier are now mostly unusable but the east side remains fully operational and if in the future we have further interest we would be more than delighted to look at it.”

Cllr Stanley-Watts also raised the issue at the end of 2015 after no boats made use of its landing stages throughout the year.

Modifications were made to the docks that year to accommodate the Waverley Paddle Steamer and the council was in talks with all operators from Poole Harbour but only Brownsea Island Ferries expressed an interest in using the site but were put off from submitting a tender due to concerns about swell and tides.