Concerned residents have been left wondering what authorities have in store for Weymouth seafront after a traditional fairy light scheme was ruled out.

Plans to create a new promenade lighting scheme have moved closer after a design brief inviting artists to express interest was approved yesterday.

It is a chance to do something new after the controversial removal of the traditional fairy lights and the installation of the unpopular lasers five years ago.

Many had hoped the coloured bulbs or fairy lights could be brought back – but it has been revealed that any new scheme will involve ‘lightweight technology’ as a catenary (cabling structure) lighting system of the type which carried the old fairy lights has been ruled out.

The Dorset Coast Forum which is leading the project backed by £200,000 worth of government funding, says it will be up to the winning artist to come up with a scheme “that meets the aspirations of the Weymouth community”.

It says the scheme will provide a welcoming atmosphere and improve views, but will need to be cost effective and could involve LED technology.

But some are sceptical about this approach, citing the artist-led project which resulted in the unpopular laser light installation.

Weymouth residents and visitors were invited to express their feeling through a questionnaire on the existing lighting scheme and how the look and feel of the lighting could be improved.

Many residents spoke of their love of the old fairy lights at consultation events which have been running over the last few months.

Campaigner Dave Burchill said: “We weren’t given a choice of fairy lights at the consultation, there were lighting options for plazas which were totally inappropriate.

“I feel we are being browbeaten into something we may not want. We will have to wait and see what they come up with. Given what has happened in the past with our seafront I am not confident.”

Mr Burchill added: “We are an old fashioned resort and The fairy lights are perfect for our Georgian seafront.”

His wife Genny raised concerns over whether residents were actually listened to in the consultation.

The forum says that 42 per cent of people who responded in the consultation said they liked fairy or traditional catenary lights because they are colourful, warm, and traditional.

But it says the county council-owned street lighting columns on the Esplanade are unable to take the weight of a catenary lighting system.

Also, the promenade’s status as a Conservation Area means that additional ‘clutter’ must be kept to a minimum.

The new lighting scheme must complement the existing promenade lighting – the future of the lasers, which will need to have expensive modules replaced in the next few years, is still unclear.

SPEAKING at a meeting of Weymouth & Portland Borough Council’s management committee which approved the design brief, Cllr James Farquharson said the consultation results indicated clear answers to what people would like but they had not been included in the design brief.

And Cllr Kate Wheller warned: “When the lasers were put in it was an artist led scheme. Whilst I understand this money is available for an artist led scheme, can we have artists talking with the engineers before we go ahead? Let’s not fall into that trap again.”

Cllr Jeff Cant said of the new scheme: “We are looking to enhance the image of the town. We are not looking at having dangling lights that look like Christmas lights. We are making Weymouth a town for the future.”

Meanwhile, Dorset Coastal Connections Project Officer Nikki Parker-Goadsby said the artist will come up with a scheme that reflects what the community wants and considering the technical constraints.

She added: “The community’s ideas, thoughts and preferences are now outlined in the design brief with the next exciting step being to commission an artist to create a new scheme that meets the aspirations of the Weymouth community.”

There will be more consultation on the final design. It is expected the lights will come on in spring 2019.

Nicky Whittenham, Founding Director of Bounce Back Arts which will be co-ordinating the commissioning of an artist said: “I think it’s a great, creative solution to use modern, lightweight technology in celebration of the promenade’s heritage, which evokes the atmosphere, views and image that people feel was lost when the old fairy lights went.

"I feel confident that the artist’s creative journey - taken in an ongoing partnership with the local community - will result in a beautiful and joyful scheme to be enjoyed by all, and which once more secures the prom’s position as the jewel in Weymouth’s crown.”

Cllr Richard Kosior, Weymouth & Portland Borough Council’s spokesman for Tourism, Culture and Harbour, said: “I’d like to thank all residents who took the time to attend one of the drop in sessions or had their say online. After the approval at the management committee we look forward to appointing a designer to work up exciting, detailed proposals for the new lighting scheme for Weymouth’s historic seafront. The chosen artist will be working closely with the relevant engineering departments who have the expertise, experience and local knowledge to ensure a correct and timely installation.”