The Dorset Abilities Group is a Weymouth-based day care facility for adults with additional needs, encompassing both physical and learning disabilities.

They are growing in popularity because of the activities they provide, the young people they accommodate have a real sense of belonging, benefiting from a wide range of learning opportunities during the week, namely cookery skills, travel training, business enterprise, money management, team building.

In addition to this they have a huge social network and all the staff and students are very supportive of each other.

They are currently housed in the old ferry terminal building behind Weymouth Pavilion, having moved there in 2016 after outgrowing their previous premises. The lease they have expires in December.

This building is extremely well suited to the needs of their current clientele; it is large and roomy, tastefully decorated, with excellent facilities for their ever-expanding numbers. Unfortunately with the proposed plans of the local council, the future of the building the group is housed in is uncertain.

If, as planned, the building is demolished and made into a car park whilst waiting for a developer to come forward and build on the site, then the DAG group will have no option but to source other premises and relocate. This will obviously be costly to them, and stressful to the vulnerable adults in their care. It may take several years for the site to be fully developed – my understanding is that no one has shown any interest to date. It would be a real shame for the building to be left empty while decisions are being made on the future of the whole site.

As far as car park spaces go, there is a huge car park at the end of the peninsula, which hasn’t been used for quite a few months. All that the group is asking is to be able to stay where they are until such time as they have time to plan any relocation move in a timely fashion, and also to be considered favourably if there was a chance of a dedicated area for them to relocate to within that area.

I would urge the council to be considerate of the request of the DAG when making the final decisions on the plans for the peninsula. It could be argued that some of the decisions the council have made over the last few years regarding the harbour etc. have been unwise.

It must be remembered that our councillors are there to represent the views of Weymouth and Portland people, including those adults who rely on others to speak up for them.

LIZ WILKINSON

Dorchester Road, Weymouth