Weymouth and Portland Borough Council want to privatise part of Greenhill Gardens by selling Greenhill Gardens chalets, Esplanade chalets, Greenhill Play Gardens and chalets as well as Pebbles café, the tennis courts, putting green and public toilets to a developer.

Greenhill Gardens have a simple, unspoilt, beauty and peacefulness that is away from any commercial pressures that come from the tourism industry.

Weymouth and Portland Borough Council should keep Greenhill Gardens, our jewels in the crown, under public stewardship ensuring they remain for the public benefit for perpetuity.

By transferring these facilities into the stewardship of the local community we can: n Ensure the gardens remain accessible to everyone in the local community and to those visiting the area.

  • Ensure the gardens remain free from the pressures of tourism related commerce.
  • Ensure the gardens remain free from the pressures of residential redevelopment.
  • Ensure that the facilities remain financially attainable for the local community.
  • Create a wealth of volunteering opportunities, giving the community a sense of ownership of these important and sensitive areas.
  • Create an increase in community usage through better use of the space and the creation of community initiatives.
  • Attract external funding to create employment, educational and recreational opportunities.

A consultation process has started where people can submit comments about the proposed privatisation. This ends at noon on May 9.

If you are unhappy about parts of Greenhill Gardens being sold to a developer then please send your comments to Greg Northcote the Estate Manager via an online petition which can be found at chn.ge/1jENHn1 or by contacting Mr Northcote. His contact details are: South Walks House, South Walks Road, Dorchester.

Geraldine Owen, Ullswater Crescent, Weymouth