Weymouth's £6.6 million seafront scheme scrapped

With the redevelopment of the Pavilion in jeopardy this news may signal the end of plans by Weymouth and Portland Borough Council to revamp the seafront and harbour gateway in time for the 2012 Olympics.

Seafront businesses described the South West Regional Development Agency’s (SWRDA) decision to drop the redevelopment project as a ‘kick in the teeth’ and a ‘big blow to the town’.

Last year the agency approved the grant for the scheme but council chiefs have now been rocked by the decision to pull the plug on what was the basis of their plan to regenerate the town.

The project included a pedestrianised square at the King’s Statue, a square at the Pier Bandstand, a new beach rescue centre and tourist information buildings and the refurbishment of Victorian shelters.

Dave Price, chairman of the Hotel and Guesthouse leaseholders association, said: “It’s just a kick in the teeth isn’t it? When someone says we’ve got the funding then surely you’ve either got it or you haven’t?

“If it’s government money it’s not like private money for the Pavilion with Howard Holdings. It just all seems a bit of a mess at the moment.”

The scheme was intended create a “street café culture” along the Esplanade by widening pavements to allow for alfresco dining.

Sue Malik, owner of the Statue House Tapas bar, had been hoping to add seats outside her restaurant in the new pedestrianised St George III Square.

She said: “I thought this was going to be really good and there would be things going on at this end of town. This is the centre but nothing ever seems to happen. Walking along the Esplanade now I think it’s really drab and outdated. It needs money spent.”

Carllotta McCrystal, deputy manager of Moby Dick’s on the Esplanade, said: “This is a big blow for Weymouth as this area needs to be made as attractive as possible.

“When people come for the sailing during the Olympics they could see it as a really nice place but if they see it as it is now then it will unfortunately put people off.

“It makes me angry as they promise so many things and they never deliver.”

The project also earmarked new stone paving, plants, public art and fountains at the Jubilee Clock.

Enzo Piscopo, owner of Enzo, close to the Jubilee clock on the Esplanade, described the decision as sad and said this would be the right time to update the area.

He said: “I just want something to help the businesses down the Esplanade.

“There’s not many towns in England that have got a lovely spot like this.”

The proposals also included designs to redevelop the Pier bandstand by reusing the original steps at the back of the building to provide access to a new deck area towards the sea.

Keiran Wilkinson, owner of the Pier Bandstand café, which would have been changed, said: “I can’t say I’m surprised to hear that it has gone that way because of everything that has been going on with the financial situation and the Pavilion plan falling down. And they have left it so late in the day to do it.”

The agency warned the borough council this year that the £6.6 million grant was expected to be reduced by £1.4 million as its own funding had been reduced by £56 million.

But yesterday they released a statement confirming the cut of all of the promised money.

Council tourism spokesman Brendan Webster lamented the decision.

He said: “It’s just gut wrenching. That’s the phrase I would use. Obviously this is unexpected and we will have to consider what we do now. I know of no plan B as we weren’t expecting it.

“We knew we were being trimmed and expected negotiation but not to have it all cut.”

Before the funding cut the scheme was expected to cost £8.5 million.

Councillor Mike Goodman, chairman of the council’s management committee, said discussions will continue with Dorset County Council and the other public agencies who were planning to provide the extra £1.9 million to see which parts of the scheme can go ahead.

THE announcement that regional development chiefs are withdrawing the lion’s share of funding for Weymouth’s seafront regeneration project comes two years after details of the scheme were announced.

In the summer of 2007 Weymouth and Portland Borough Council told of a vision to transform the seafront in time for the Olympics in 2012.

The eyes of the world would be on the area and it’s important the borough looked its best for 2012, council chiefs declared at the time.

The project would have seen the building of new beach rescue and tourist information centres, a new sand sculpture structure plus a number of ‘focal points’ designed to link the seafront and town centre for pedestrians.

There were also plans to bring Victorian lights back into use, refurbish the listed shelters, purchase new street furniture and introduce hard landscaping. Mention was also made in the design document of a facelift for the Pier Bandstand.

Following negotiations with the South West Regional Development Agency (SWRDA), a bid for funding to assist with the scheme was submitted in December 2007.

The grant was approved by SWRDA last September, leading the agency’s Dorset director Tony Bray to state the seafront project would ‘boost the local economy and unlock its business potential by positioning Weymouth and Portland as a 21st century destination’.

After public consultation the council announced in March this year plans to create a new pedestrianised George III Square centred around the King’s Statue.

It was to be the first phase of the overall vision to regenerate the seafront.

It was explained how the road layout, parking spaces and bus stops would have to be reorganised and motorists steered away from the area. The road that runs between the statue and the top of St Thomas Street would have been blocked to traffic and a new roundabout and traffic island built.

The plans would have created a new central civic space with the restored King’s Statue at its heart.

The withdrawal of funding for the seafront regeneration does not affect plans to rejuvenate Weymouth’s Greenhill Gardens.

The proposals for that area include renovation of the two-tier Esplanade chalets and improvements to the gardens – including a gallery, café and outdoor exhibition space.

An exhibition was held at the beginning of the year so people could have their say. Original proposals included plans for 49 brand new beach huts along the Esplanade.

But a decision by English Heritage last year to designate the chalets as Grade II listed buildings forced Weymouth and Portland Borough Council to revise its plans. It is now proposing the two-tier chalets be retained and enhanced.

The plans also involve an enclosed courtyard and gallery on the upper level of the gardens to host art exhibitions. The gardens will be remodelled and extended but this will be at the expense of the existing tennis courts. The planned improvements also include a new RNLI lookout building.