COUNCILLORS threw their support behind plans for Weymouth Pavilion’s peninsula site which could ‘change the image of the town’.

Weymouth and Portland Borough Council’s Management Committee, heard the case to build a leisure park with all-weather visitors attractions as part of plans to regenerate the borough.

They voted to back the “leisure destination” scheme for the site instead of a development that would be mainly housing.

It would look to include leisure units, restaurants, a hotel and car parking.

Leisure facilities might include an indoor surfing centre, climbing centre and indoor skydiving.

At the meeting, councillors voiced their support for the scheme and also voted to move plans along.

Leader of the Council, Cllr Jeff Cant, said: “It really will be I think an event changing development, it will change the image of the town. I’m very excited about this.”

Cllr Andy Blackwood also welcomed the plans and said it was a “very good thing” to be able to provide the leisure facility.

As well as receiving the back from councillors, Phil Say, who operates Weymouth Pavillion lent his support to the plans.

Mr Say said that while there would be a need for more parking because of the plans he felt it was a “very wise idea” to have another attraction that would bring people in to the town.

The plans assume that the Pavilion will remain. However, there are no plans for a ferry operator.

It is likely the scheme would be ‘council led’ using low cost borrowing available to local councils. This means the council would own the finished scheme and make money from it.

Cllr Christine James believed the plans will give the council a chance to show the town what it can do.

She said: “This is an opportunity for us to show that we want to lead on something, we want to make something important for this town.”

Cllr Ray Nowak also put his support behind the plans. He said: “I think it is the most positive thing I’ve heard come here since I’ve been on the council. I think it is commendable.

He added that he thinks it will make Weymouth a “destination” and more than just a beautiful beach.

Councillors voted to instruct officers to progress a leisure-led development and to agree a budget allocation of £200,000 from the Borough Development Reserve for more detailed reports and information needed.

They also voted for a report back to Management Committee in December with the findings obtained and to progress a “meanwhile uses” strategy for the existing peninsula buildings to bring them back in to use pending developments.