The vessel was towed out of Portland Port in Dorset by tugboats on Thursday afternoon.
As news emerged on Thursday that tugboats were taking the Bibby Stockholm out of UK waters, the tagline "Bye bye Bibby" started popping up on social media - but how do people in the Dorset town where it was moored feel about its departure?Dorset Council leader Nick Ireland, who described the barge as being "imposed" on the area, told the BBC he had not been informed it left when it did.The Bibby Stockholm first arrived in Dorset in July 2023.
He said: "We had a great response from the people of Portland and the surrounding areas, a load of community groups set up to provide activities, resources and support the residents on the barge. Mr Ireland admitted the Bibby Stockholm exposed "divisions" among locals, but also "attracted some undesirables to the local area".
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