New home planned for Weymouth sand sculptures (From Dorset Echo)

New home planned for Weymouth sand sculptures

2:30pm Wednesday 15th February 2012 in News

PLANS to build a new home for Weymouth’s sand sculptures on the seafront have been given the green light by councillors.

The application was submitted to Weymouth and Portland Borough Council to replace the existing structure on Weymouth beach, which is said to be ‘in poor repair’.

Councillors heard that the existing structure is made of timber side panels and a basic tarpaulin cover, but the proposal suggested ‘a variation on the shell form’ be created, with a bowed and ribbed timber clad outer layer.

At the meeting, councillors requested that the shell be of a similar colour to the kiosks already along the beach so the new structure is in keeping with the seafront’s appearance.

Sand sculpting on Weymouth beach has a long tradition, dating back to the 1920s, and the sculptures of today can stand up to four metres high.

To accommodate this, the new structure will stand three metres above the Esplanade.

It will also be situated six metres south from its current location, and the mini golf will be moved 20 metres to the north to enable this. The application was approved by the council’s Planning and Traffic Committee.