The Hamilton Ferry Terminal has been without an awning for more than a month, forcing commuters to protect themselves against the elements as they wait for transportation from the city.A regular user contacted The Royal Gazette during yesterday’s heavy rains, annoyed that the dockside tarpaulin hadn’t been replaced since it was taken down in advance of Tropical Storm Leslie at the beginning of September.A Government spokesman yesterday confirmed that the awning had been removed due to safety concerns linked to the approaching storm.“The awning at the Hamilton Ferry Terminal was taken down for Hurricane Leslie, where it certainly would have been destroyed if we had been directly hit by the storm, and we have since been waiting to ensure that another tropical storm wasn’t coming along given that we’re still in hurricane season,” he said.“Also, parts of the vinyl fabric cover that were completely replaced after Hurricane Fabian [in 2003], were discovered to be in need of repair and we are waiting for that work to be completed by a local repair shop. Once complete everything will be replaced.”Tropical Storm Leslie delivered lashing rains and gusts, with its closest point about 145 miles East of the Island.The South Shore was pounded by high surf in the lead-up to the storm, although no injuries or major damage were reported.Hurricane season for the region runs from June 1 through November 30, with 16 hurricanes and tropical storms recorded to date in the Atlantic Ocean.