COUNCILLORS voiced their frustrations as plans to bring in a new Esplanade lighting scheme for Weymouth remain some way off despite a welcomed cash boost.

As reported, Weymouth and Portland Borough Council secured £200,000 from Dorset County Council’s Coastal Connections project towards developing a new lighting scheme to replace the current lasers.

Cllr James Farquharson told a meeting of Weymouth and Portland Borough Council’s management committee that he was “embarrassed” by the council’s ongoing debates about seafront lighting since the removal of the fairy lights in 2011.

He said: “If there is one thing which makes me embarrassed to be associated with this council it is fairy lights. It is a terrific example of this council being unable to deliver things.

“I do not want to be here next Easter and there be no moving forward with the illuminations on the Esplanade.”

But Cllr Richard Kosior, spokesman for tourism and culture, assured councillors that the funding will be used to see what options are available with a subsequent report submitted to the committee by early autumn.

He said the money will not be spent on another report “stating the obvious”, but on finding an enhanced lighting scheme which “fits” with Weymouth.

He said: “We know it can go there and we know it will work, we just need to know what options are out there.

“There will be lots of schemes for the community to look at and make sure they are going to fit in with Weymouth and what our residents require.”

The grant of £200,000 will contribute to the design and installation of the new lighting scheme on the Esplanade with the subsequent report asking the committee to establish a budget for proposals.

Councillors disputed the value of developing artist-led proposals with Cllr Kate Wheller suggesting using electricians and technicians who would deliver “tried and tested results.”

Supporting using artists for the project, Cllr Gill Taylor said: “I want something that is pretty, I want something that is going to boost the economy of the town, something that says, “hey guys, have you been to Weymouth to look at their lights”.

A report put before the committee stated that the current Veils of Light lasers will cease operating within the next five years and would cost an estimated £85,540 to replace all seven green lights.

Cllr Ray Nowak urged the committee to think about long term sustainability when it comes to implementing the new scheme.

He said: "I suspect when the artist-led laser lights were supported, no one asked how long they would last and now we’re facing a hefty bill to replace them.

"Those are the sorts of questions we need to be asking. If we think ‘ok we like this scheme’, but how long will it last? Does it cost a lot in electricity? Will it cost a lot to replace bulbs? We need to think about longevity."