WEYMOUTH will lose more free parking in a scheme council chiefs say will bring ‘sweeping improvements’ to part of the seafront.

Work is to begin on changing the congested parking area outside the Pier Bandstand on Monday, November 10, it has been announced.

It follows a decision made at a Weymouth and Portland Borough Council planning meeting in September.

The council says it will improve safety for pedestrians and drivers while enhancing the street-scene and seafront.

Improvements include a single row of spaces, traffic island with planting plus clearer signage, marking and layout, together with a safety break between cars and the bus lane.

Year-round pay and display parking will be introduced to bring this end of the Esplanade in line with the rest of seafront, introduced in 2003.

It will also apply to spaces on the opposite side of the Esplanade between the Prince Regent Hotel and Lennox Street.

There will be free unlimited parking for blue badge holders.

The parking order does not include any changes to parking arrangements for Brunswick Terrace.

The work will be carried out by Dorset County Council on behalf of the borough council and weather and ground conditions permitting should be complete by November 28.

The county council has written to residents and businesses to give them notice about the upcoming works which have been timed to take place outside of busy holiday times.

Work will take place Monday – Friday from 7.45am to 4.30pm. The county council will try to keep disruption to a minimum but people will be unable to park outside the Pier Bandstand while work is carried out.

Pay and display parking is in operation along other parts of the seafront and outside the Pavilion.

Weymouth and Portland Borough Council Transport and Infrastructure spokesman Christine James said: “We are doing these works to improve the look of this area of the seafront and bring the parking arrangements in line with the rest of the Esplanade, which were introduced back in 2003.

“This work will improve safety and access massively for both drivers and pedestrians while promoting a greater turnover of people using the spaces.”

The borough council held meetings with hoteliers, residents, councillors and other stakeholders over a 12 month period before drafting the Traffic Regulation Order, which included a statutory consultation.

The council runs on-street car parking in the borough under contract from Dorset County Council and the £46,000 costs of this project will be split between the two councils.