Residents and visitors have voiced their opinions on the future of Weymouth’s seafront lighting scheme with many wanting to see the return of the fairy lights. 

During a public drop-in session, a team from Dorset Coastal Connections asked members of the public what they would like to see brought to the seafront after announcing a grant of £200,000 towards the scheme.

The new lighting design is set to be based around the ideas of the public, aimed at creating a “welcoming” atmosphere for evening visitors and promoting a positive image of Weymouth.

At the session held on the Esplanade yesterday, the team put up an ‘inspiration board’ of lighting schemes from towns and cities around the world, and asked residents to vote for their favourite alongside answering a questionnaire. 

Dorset Coastal Connections project officer Nikki Parker-Goadsby, said: “People are really positive, they’re happy to have us here to listen to them. 

“We’re starting from the very bottom here. It’s about what residents and visitors would like to see. There is a lot of history, but we want to see what people want going forward.”

Trevor Vacher-Dean, of Love Lane, Weymouth, said: “I think it was an appalling decision to take the fairy lights away in the first place. My hope is that they will be reinstated.

“We have a vibrant night-time economy here, anybody spending money in the town deserves to see fairy lights.”

Susan-Jane Smith, who owns a cottage on Weymouth Harbour, agreed. She said: “I started the campaign for this two years ago and was in talks with councillors. I suggested a sponsored lighting scheme which people were willing to support.

“I know there’s people that like the lasers but fairy lights are for people of all age groups. We are a traditional resort. We do rely on tourism for the guest houses, businesses and the beach, and we need something to promote us.”

However Eileen Roper, of Rodwell Avenue, Weymouth, said: “The fairy lights are nice but we need something different. We need lighting on the actual promenade, I don’t think fairy lights have enough in them.”
Annette Dean, from Wolverhampton, is visiting Weymouth with daughter Chloe. 

She said: “Weymouth should have something similar to Blackpool’s lights, where there is a theme and places along the seafront join in with it. It goes for miles, people visit just to see it. 

“There’s always room for improvement. The lasers are a nice touch but it’s like saying ‘come to a disco’, walking into a room and seeing three lights on. It needs something more.”

Ray Banham said: “We’ve got to have some fairy lights back. 

“It’s a good start. Now we have a new town centre manager, hopefully he will have some good ideas. A number of residents have so many different opinions, it would be nice to visualise them into what they want.”

Residents and visitors who missed out on yesterday’s session can still have their say at two more drop-in sessions during September, with details to be announced at a later date.