VIEWS are being sought over controversial moves to change the deckchair policy in Weymouth and Portland.

As reported in the Echo, the borough council is conducting a review of the deckchair pricing policy which provides free deckchairs and half-price windbreaks to locals over 60.

Residents over 60 in Weymouth and Portland have enjoyed the benefit of a free seaside seat for last 30 years but that could be at risk as councillors say that circumstances and the ‘financial position’ of the council has changed.

If approved, those over 60 will have to pay the going rate of £2 a day to hire a chair.

The council agreed to conduct a public consultation to gather views.

After some months, that consultation has now gone live.

Asked why there had been a delay, a council spokesman said: “Councillors requested we carry out a consultation before making any policy changes. This gave us time to plan the consultation as a decision couldn’t be made by April 1 when permits for the next year are issued.

"We have also been in a period of political restriction while local elections took place, which means we couldn’t run a local consultation.

"This now gives us a chance to run a full consultation, analyse the results and report back to the committee for a decision to be made for summer 2018.”

The consultation gives residents an opportunity to comment on the future of free deckchairs on Weymouth seafront.

Weymouth and Portland Borough Council is looking for views on the current deckchair policy to be submitted by Sunday, June 18.

The council says about 30 per cent of council-owned deckchairs are given out as free, even at peak times.

This policy has been in operation for a number of years without having been reviewed.

Key issues include administration costs and the lack of deckchairs to hire out to visitors. This has an impact on costs to the council and reduces potential revenue.

An Equality Impact Assessment noted that there are now a number of places for people to sit out on the Esplanade for free since the introduction of the scheme.

Officers have previously recommended that any increase in income from ending the policy could support swimming at Weymouth Swimming Pool and Fitness Centre for disabled Weymouth and Portland residents.

Following the completion of the consultation period, the findings will be presented to councillors before any changes are considered.

Councillor Kate Wheller said: “I have no strong feelings about it but I would be very interested to know what local residents think about it, whether they make use of this scheme.”

The consultation is only accepting comments online and Cllr Wheller said people who are not computer savvy would be disadvantaged by this.

“In the interests of inclusiveness, paper copies should be made available,” she said.

The council said paper copies would not be made available but people can visit libraries or the council offices to access the internet for free and complete the consultation.

For more information and to have your say, visit: dorsetforyou.gov.uk/freedeckchairs