Weymouth Esplanade may shut in summertime car-free plan for seafront (From Dorset Echo)

Joe_Bloggs wrote:
This is going to lose the Condor business from returning as a majority of their customers take cars and they wont be able to get to the ferry port ???

Also what a waste of money all the new bus shelters etc would be surely the seafront should be still availabe to buses and a pass system should be used to allow ferry users along.

What about the pavillion car park is that going to be used by some white elephant that will go bust in a week again.

ksmain wrote:
This is another poor move that will drive occasional trade from the town centre and just cause more conjestion.

There are already very wide pavements and a promenade and large section of the town which is already traffic free. So pedestrians are already perfectly well catered for.

From my own perspective I go into town by car to get the occasional item and I use the promenade to gain access by car for what I do. Guess I wont be doing that in the summer in future - and I wonder how many others will do likewise. So much for an Olympic Legacy - it hasnt done anything for the town yet has it?

And what about access to the ferry or are we keen to drive them from Weymouth as well?

ksmain wrote:
This is another poor move that will drive occasional trade from the town centre and just cause more conjestion.

There are already very wide pavements and a promenade and large section of the town which is already traffic free. So pedestrians are already perfectly well catered for.

From my own perspective I go into town by car to get the occasional item and I use the promenade to gain access by car for what I do. Guess I wont be doing that in the summer in future - and I wonder how many others will do likewise. So much for an Olympic Legacy - it hasnt done anything for the town yet has it?

And what about access to the ferry or are we keen to drive them from Weymouth as well?

fixbike wrote:
i spoke lots of locals who got on there bikes over the Olympic's who had never cycled into town before and they loved it and most said they would like this to happen again. i know that there is business against it but you could look at this working for you as well.

fixbike wrote:
the buses where still running ,there is now a park and ride which goes to the pavilion which is mainly used by day trippers this is more about making the seafront a nicer place.if done right this could work well. reducing cars on the rd should be what we are looking for not a total stop i will be happy with that

melcombe boy wrote:

ksmain wrote:
This is another poor move that will drive occasional trade from the town centre and just cause more conjestion.

There are already very wide pavements and a promenade and large section of the town which is already traffic free. So pedestrians are already perfectly well catered for.

From my own perspective I go into town by car to get the occasional item and I use the promenade to gain access by car for what I do. Guess I wont be doing that in the summer in future - and I wonder how many others will do likewise. So much for an Olympic Legacy - it hasnt done anything for the town yet has it?

And what about access to the ferry or are we keen to drive them from Weymouth as well?

" From my own perspective I go into town by car to get the occasional item and I use the promenade to gain access by car for what I do"
Umm. Sorry I don't believe you. I live on the Seafront and in the Summer it is nearly impossible to find a space to park along the seafront during the day even with my paid for parking permit.
The parking arrangements for us seafront residents during the Olympics were brilliant.

cecilbdoomil wrote:
Move Condor to the nicer and newer Portland Harbour?

Portland would welcome the business after all the robbing Weymouth has done from it in the past and seeing as they seem to want to turn Weymouth into a dead zone for business full of Public art?

cecilbdoomil wrote:
Move Condor to the nicer and newer Portland Harbour?

Portland would welcome the business after all the robbing Weymouth has done from it in the past and seeing as they seem to want to turn Weymouth into a dead zone for business full of Public art?

melcombe boy wrote:

Joe_Bloggs wrote:
This is going to lose the Condor business from returning as a majority of their customers take cars and they wont be able to get to the ferry port ???

Also what a waste of money all the new bus shelters etc would be surely the seafront should be still availabe to buses and a pass system should be used to allow ferry users along.

What about the pavillion car park is that going to be used by some white elephant that will go bust in a week again.

Condor will still be able to operate.
During the Olympic closure of the seafront buses used the kings statue bus stops as normal.
Your final observation about the pavilion just proves you have a blinkered and negative stance. Think things through a bit!

melcombe boy wrote:

Joe_Bloggs wrote:
This is going to lose the Condor business from returning as a majority of their customers take cars and they wont be able to get to the ferry port ???

Also what a waste of money all the new bus shelters etc would be surely the seafront should be still availabe to buses and a pass system should be used to allow ferry users along.

What about the pavillion car park is that going to be used by some white elephant that will go bust in a week again.

Condor will still be able to operate.
During the Olympic closure of the seafront buses used the kings statue bus stops as normal.
Your final observation about the pavilion just proves you have a blinkered and negative stance. Think things through a bit!

wykeregislad wrote:
This is a good move forward in the right direction, as a ambassador working every day during the Olympics on the seafront the longer it went on the better the feedback became, the busses still ran, condor would still operate in the summer, majority of there sailings are early am, and late returns, so disruption would be minimal, I couldn't see them moving to Portland because of the fees occurred.
The trade for seafront business would only benefit if people could sit out on the front, the reason it was slow during the first week was bad PR, and over priced accommodation.
All people I spoke to as a ambassador whilst on the seafront loved it,
This is definitely the way forward

I'mavoter wrote:

wykeregislad wrote:
This is a good move forward in the right direction, as a ambassador working every day during the Olympics on the seafront the longer it went on the better the feedback became, the busses still ran, condor would still operate in the summer, majority of there sailings are early am, and late returns, so disruption would be minimal, I couldn't see them moving to Portland because of the fees occurred.
The trade for seafront business would only benefit if people could sit out on the front, the reason it was slow during the first week was bad PR, and over priced accommodation.
All people I spoke to as a ambassador whilst on the seafront loved it,
This is definitely the way forward

No it isn't ! And if you check the Condor timetable you will see that many sailings go between 9 - 10am, and several return between 4pm - 6pm. People already sit outside the various bars & cafes along the seafront ! So the locals who pay their council tax don't count then ?

bollywood wrote:
Just ring fence Weymouth and stop all traffic coming in which is the way things are going. People from outside of the area are not coming in and those that live here are definately shopping outside of the area. Weymouth is becoming a town full of charity, mobile phone and betting shops that does nothing to encourage people in, closing the esplande to traffic is a stupid idea.

paulst wrote:
I think this is a great idea. When they did this last summer, it felt much more pleasant, even dare I say it, cosmopolitan.
Surely closing a 400m stretch of road past the Kings Statue for a few months every summer is going to cause only minor disruption.
You would hope the council is going factor in access to Condor in their thinking.

ksmain wrote:

cecilbdoomil wrote:
Move Condor to the nicer and newer Portland Harbour?

Portland would welcome the business after all the robbing Weymouth has done from it in the past and seeing as they seem to want to turn Weymouth into a dead zone for business full of Public art?

I sure people will be really pleased with the extra 10 - 12 mile round trip, one they have negotiated their way up Rodwell first.

boobooweymouth wrote:

paulst wrote: I think this is a great idea. When they did this last summer, it felt much more pleasant, even dare I say it, cosmopolitan. Surely closing a 400m stretch of road past the Kings Statue for a few months every summer is going to cause only minor disruption. You would hope the council is going factor in access to Condor in their thinking.

Totally agree - gets my support. So nice to be able to sit out and have some food & drinks without the noise and fumes. Also, much more family friendly not to have to worry about small people getting squashed.

scubadude wrote:

ksmain wrote:

cecilbdoomil wrote:
Move Condor to the nicer and newer Portland Harbour?

Portland would welcome the business after all the robbing Weymouth has done from it in the past and seeing as they seem to want to turn Weymouth into a dead zone for business full of Public art?

I sure people will be really pleased with the extra 10 - 12 mile round trip, one they have negotiated their way up Rodwell first.

What moron would go over Rodwell to get to Portland? Vast majority of Condors users aren't from Weymouth and would come in on new road, over Granby bypass, across 5-ways, up lanehouse and through Wyke- you'd need to be farm animal stupid to drive into the town!

melcombe boy wrote:

Joe_Bloggs wrote:
This is going to lose the Condor business from returning as a majority of their customers take cars and they wont be able to get to the ferry port ???

Also what a waste of money all the new bus shelters etc would be surely the seafront should be still availabe to buses and a pass system should be used to allow ferry users along.

What about the pavillion car park is that going to be used by some white elephant that will go bust in a week again.

Condor will still be able to operate.
During the Olympic closure of the seafront buses used the kings statue bus stops as normal.
Your final observation about the pavilion just proves you have a blinkered and negative stance. Think things through a bit!

wykeregislad wrote:

I'mavoter wrote:

wykeregislad wrote:
This is a good move forward in the right direction, as a ambassador working every day during the Olympics on the seafront the longer it went on the better the feedback became, the busses still ran, condor would still operate in the summer, majority of there sailings are early am, and late returns, so disruption would be minimal, I couldn't see them moving to Portland because of the fees occurred.
The trade for seafront business would only benefit if people could sit out on the front, the reason it was slow during the first week was bad PR, and over priced accommodation.
All people I spoke to as a ambassador whilst on the seafront loved it,
This is definitely the way forward

No it isn't ! And if you check the Condor timetable you will see that many sailings go between 9 - 10am, and several return between 4pm - 6pm. People already sit outside the various bars & cafes along the seafront ! So the locals who pay their council tax don't count then ?

I'm a local council tax payer thank you and sail on condor to see my sister who lives in jersey 8-10 times a year check your facts a majority of sailings to the CI leave Weymouth before 8 in the morning because of the vast tide difference in the islands , it's very rare they return in the afternoon during the high season, it's 9 pm onwards , also there was access for trade during the closure in the Olympics, and ask many of the bars on the seafront they had a better response from there clientele during the closure , did you actually go down or are you a armchair critic

ksmain wrote:

melcombe boy wrote:

ksmain wrote:
This is another poor move that will drive occasional trade from the town centre and just cause more conjestion.

There are already very wide pavements and a promenade and large section of the town which is already traffic free. So pedestrians are already perfectly well catered for.

From my own perspective I go into town by car to get the occasional item and I use the promenade to gain access by car for what I do. Guess I wont be doing that in the summer in future - and I wonder how many others will do likewise. So much for an Olympic Legacy - it hasnt done anything for the town yet has it?

And what about access to the ferry or are we keen to drive them from Weymouth as well?

" From my own perspective I go into town by car to get the occasional item and I use the promenade to gain access by car for what I do"
Umm. Sorry I don't believe you. I live on the Seafront and in the Summer it is nearly impossible to find a space to park along the seafront during the day even with my paid for parking permit.
The parking arrangements for us seafront residents during the Olympics were brilliant.

Well I do. And I always find a spot, and if I am not able to go and do this then another town (either Dorchester or Yeovil as both me and my wife work there) will get my business.

We are talking of shutting this area to traffic for 7 - 8 weeks not just 2, and from what i saw of the Olympics it just didn't merit it. I can't see what the fuss is about as pedestrians are already perfectly catered for.

If it was such a good idea, why haven't other resorts adopted it, eg like Brighton, where the conjestion is much more serious than Weymouth?

paulst wrote:
I think this is a great idea. When they did this last summer, it felt much more pleasant, even dare I say it, cosmopolitan.
Surely closing a 400m stretch of road past the Kings Statue for a few months every summer is going to cause only minor disruption.
You would hope the council is going factor in access to Condor in their thinking.

boobooweymouth wrote:

paulst wrote:
I think this is a great idea. When they did this last summer, it felt much more pleasant, even dare I say it, cosmopolitan.
Surely closing a 400m stretch of road past the Kings Statue for a few months every summer is going to cause only minor disruption.
You would hope the council is going factor in access to Condor in their thinking.

Totally agree - gets my support. So nice to be able to sit out and have some food & drinks without the noise and fumes.

Also, much more family friendly not to have to worry about small people getting squashed.

tarka wrote:
What a load of rubbish.
From the clock onwards Weymouth is a peninsular with only two roads that can provide access to the town. Take the esplanade out and you only have commercial road for vehicular access. One problem on commercial road and the town is gridlocked. Let’s drive the remaining retail outlets out of business and have a pedestrian ghost town. Life in Weymouth should not exclusively revolve around the holiday trade at the expense of local tax paying residents that bring income into the town 52 weeks a year.

cecilbdoomil wrote:
Move Condor to the nicer and newer Portland Harbour?

Portland would welcome the business after all the robbing Weymouth has done from it in the past and seeing as they seem to want to turn Weymouth into a dead zone for business full of Public art?

Foursite wrote:
Great Idea, do we have anyone savvy enough to propose a sustainable transport system like a tram. doubt it ?