LASER columns on Weymouth seafront are soon to be up for approval – I shall be objecting.

The fairy lights have gone although they were popular and a cheerful sight when driving through Weymouth on darker evenings.

The Victorian lampposts have gone. Each one displaying Weymouth’s coat of arms and standing close to the expensively resotred Victorian shelters along the now called Old Town Promenade.

The bright white light from the new Knitting Needle street lamps add little to the ambience.

Laser lights – in addition to, not instead of, the fairy lights would have been welcome – if positioned at each end of the promenade and not on artist columns at £65,0000 each. Seven in total, tall, and next to the Victorian shelters and the Jubilee Clock.

At the initial public consultation the phrase ‘lighting does not come under planning’ was overheard – so where is the ‘strong sense of place’ advice on retaining what the public like?

If we can go from one laser stripe and definitely no flashing lights to a laser beam that can be programmed for effects, then watch out for a light show when the Olympics are here.

The foundations and conduits for the columns were put in this spring.

One can only hope that the Civic Society test out their WW2 air raid sirens on the Nothe at the switch on ceremony.

DJ HIGGINS, Warmwell