ANGLERS and chalet owners in Weymouth have been left reeling by council decisions over their futures.

It was standing room only at a meeting of Weymouth and Portland Borough Council’s management committee yesterday which discussed the controversial sale of chalets and other leisure facilities at Greenhill, and to decide on lease arrangements for Weymouth Angling Club.

They agreed to put the chalets up for sale despite passionate pleas to resist ‘selling the family silver’, and also decided to give the angling club a short-term lease of three years instead of the 10-year deal they had anticipated.

 

CHALET owners say they are ‘gutted’ and ‘disappointed’ at plans to sell off Greenhill chalets.
The committee agreed to put the site on the open market on a single lease of 125 years.

This includes the Greenhill Garden chalets, Esplanade chalets, Greenhill Play Gardens and chalets, public toilets, Pebbles Café, the putting green, tennis courts and sandpit and paddling pool area.

Councillors agreed that if no-one came forward then short term chalet licenses would be offered for the summer of 2014, whilst the property is remarketed.

There are 100 chalets at Greenhill and there are fears a new owner will hike-up rents and displace long-standing chalet families.

The council says the lease will ‘secure and enhance’ the supply of beach chalets in Weymouth, bring back to use closed up chalets, permit development of additional chalets and ‘ensure an improved infrastructure’ around the chalets including the ‘retention of refreshment and recreational facilities’ and ‘retain access to the viewing terrace.’

Obligations will be placed on the new owner to ensure improvements are made, including bringing the top-tier of the Greenhill Promenade chalets back into use within three years of the lease starting.

A report said the income generated by the chalets and cafe was ‘insufficient to offset the current maintenance costs.’ This includes a hefty bill for repairing the two-tier chalets along the seafront.

Speaking at the meeting Councillor Peter Chapman sought  to reassure people that the gardens would not be affected.

He said: “This is in no way any threat to the Friends of Greenhill Gardens. Their excellent work and community support is very much valued.”

He said unfortunately it came down to money, adding: “We can’t do it. We need someone to come in and take them on for us.” He said it would  secure the long-term future of the facilities.
But chalet owner and former councillor Andy Hutchings said: “If this sale does go ahead there will not be much left at Greenhill. It should be renamed Concrete Hill Gardens.

“This sale is selling the family silver. Once it’s gone residents will have lost a jewel in the crown.”
Speaking after the meeting, Liz Bird, spokesman for the chalet owners, said they were not surprised by the decision. She said they would have liked the councillors to defer the decision for a year and undertake a consultation with all interested parties.

Chairman of the Greenhill Chalet Users Community Group Sue Bray said: “We are gutted, absolutely gutted.

“I’m so angry, because again they are not listening. There are other ways to get money for the two-tier building. ”

She said she was angry that there had been no consultation.

She added that the group were fighting for Weymouth residents to preserve the town’s heritage.

 

Disappointment over three-year lease ruling

ANGLERS have been left disappointed by a council decision to only renew their lease for three years.

The management committee agreed to offer a three-year lease to Weymouth Angling Society for its clubhouse on Commercial Road.

This would be at market rental value, but councillors said it could apply to get a grant to assist with the rent.

The original proposal put before the council’s harbour management board last month was for the club to be refused a new lease when the current deal expires in March 2014 and the clubhouse to be demolished to make way for a car park.

Following protests, the harbour management board recommended giving the club a 10-year lease, but this was rejected by the committee yesterday.

A further amendment was suggested by Coun Ian Roebuck to offer a lease of 10 years with a ‘redevelopment break clause’ after three years, but it was rejected.

The inner harbour, where the Angling Society is sited, has been earmarked as a potential redevelopment site by the borough council.

The club currently leases the premises for a subsidised rent of £4,500 a year.

It had applied for a new lease with a rent of £5,500 per annum, less than the market rent, to reflect its social benefits.

Councillors heard that the club was used by various different organisations.
At the meeting, the council discussed relocating the club or making it part of a future redevelopment.

Coun Peter Chapman, spokesman for finance and assets, apologised to the anglers for a ‘lack of communication’ on the matter. He said that no one wanted to see the club cease.

Coun Geoff Petherick said the council was having to make big savings.

Coun Andy Blackwood said he supported the idea of a 10-year lease with a break clause and although he thought the rent should be increased he didn’t like the idea of it being at market rental value.

Coun Mike Goodman said he supported the idea of a three-year lease at market rental rate with a rebate to recognise the social value of the club.

He said: “If after two to three years there’s no proposal of redevelopment coming forward we can extend the lease.”

Afterwards, chairman of Weymouth Angling Society Billy Short said it would be difficult for the club to operate on a short term lease.

He said they would not be able to tender for any big events long term, as events like the World Championships had to be tendered for up to eight years in advance.

Mr Short said he was concerned for the club and the groups that used it. He said they would be taking further steps to fight the decision.