Weymouth town centre being killed claims TV expert (From Dorset Echo)
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Weymouth town centre being killed claims TV expert
7:21am Tuesday 14th February 2012 in Local News
HEFTY parking prices and a rundown town centre are killing Weymouth, according to a TV business expert.
And traders have backed Geoff Burch, who said that the town must improve before the Olympics or it will never win back visitors..
Mr Burch, who visited Weymouth and Dorchester in 2010 returned to both towns recently. He, said that whilst the county town hadn't changed much, Weymouth had 'definitely deteriorated.'
Mr Burch, who presents 'All Over the Shop' on BBC2, said: “Weymouth is an attractive, quirky town and it should be a destination town.
“But the council seem to have taken its eye off the ball in the run up to the Olympics.
“It is near impossible to find somewhere to park and when you do it is extremely expensive.
“I looked at the towns just over a year ago and while Dorchester hasn't changed much, Weymouth has definitely deteriorated.
“There are empty shops, 99p shops and there is a pervading feeling of neglect. It is such a shame because the town has so much to offer.
“The council should have free parking to encourage people to come to the town and get it moving again.
“It was pointed out to me that there is a great new road coming into town but I should also point out that is also makes it easier for people to leave and spend their money elsewhere.”
Robin Clark, who owns Meridian Shoes in Weymouth and has another store in Dorchester said: “In Dorchester, there is a very proactive attitude with the Business Improvement District (BID) and the way that the council tries to help local businesses, free parking days being an example of that.
“Weymouth is dying. The parking charges in Weymouth are ridiculous. We have customers saying they will never come again.”
Mr Clark said he believes that the new £100m Brewery Square development, due to open in Dorchester in 2014, will be the final blow for Weymouth.
“People don't come in to Weymouth now, when 2014 comes around it will be a ghost town.
“The thing that's most depressing is that the town has been given this great opportunity of the Olympics and the council has done nothing about it.
“What's ludicrous is the amount of money that has been spent on the roads when they are all going to be shut during the Olympics. “ Shaun Hennessey, owner of Blondz Hairdressing in St Edmund Street, said: “The town is suffering but no worse than most towns.
“I still think the number of empty shops is not that bad when you consider the number of shops we have doing alright.
“Obviously there's a problem but there is also a lot of good going on in the town and we are really trying to put that across.”
Mr Hennessey added that the attitude of Weymouth and Portland Borough Council is an issue for Weymouth.
“The council's arrogance is just unimaginable, especially when it comes to parking. It's already three or four times more expensive than Dorchester.”
Councillor Ian Munro-Price, brief holder for economic development at Weymouth & Portland Borough Council, said: “The council recognises the current economic challenges facing shops and businesses in Weymouth and is committed to supporting the local economy.
“There has already been a lot of improvements across the town including the £120 million relief road and £20m that has gone towards improvement to the town's transport infrastructure.
“The first phase of the £14m Granby Industrial Estate extension is due to be completed later this year and there are plans for a brand new headquarters for New Look as well as a hotel, family restaurant, a large amount of new employment space and a new Sainsbury's store on the site.
“Businesses are already planning to develop a Weymouth Business Improvement District.”
A JEWELLERY shop owner who was shortlisted to make the Royal wedding rings said that Weymouth Borough Council were unsupportive of his bid to open a store in the town.
Neil Strudwick, of Goldcrest Jewellers in Dorchester, said that he was not allowed shutters on premises in Weymouth.
He said: “I found that the council in Weymouth were not supportive of businesses like they are in Dorchester.
“I was told that we couldn't have covers because the council didn't want the town centre looking like Beirut.
“Well I've been to both Dorchester and Weymouth in the evenings and Dorchester is much more inviting.
“With the new Brewery Square development, Dorchester is a much more exciting place to be.
“When I wanted to do something beneficial for Weymouth and open a store in the town, I received very little support from the council.”
Comments(56)
wessex-andy
says...
8:15am Tue 14 Feb 12
Nothing that has been done, or is planned to be done will do anything to help the shops in the town centre (which it would appear is now on Portland -- but that's another story altogether). It is the town centre that visitors want to see, not an industrial estate or an out of town supermarket.
Weymouth has much to offer visitors, but what we have is not enough any more.
We don't even have that wonderful view of the town that greeted people as they drove over the top of Ridgeway before they descended into the town.
The new road has helped reduce the horrendous traffic jams that greeted visitors in the past, but what they get when they eventually find a car parking space and pay for an overpriced ticket to stick in their windscreen is being more and more eroded as time passes.
I may be critical of the way that us residents are treated by those in authority, but I love Weymouth. But I don't do much in the way of shopping here. We go to Dorchester for our groceries and just about any other town for other shopping.
Let us all hope that the Olympics bring some life back into the town. I have no interest in them myself, but I really hope that those who do get a better impression of the town than we locals seem to have.
Mr Peter Melon
says...
8:34am Tue 14 Feb 12
Caption Sensible
says...
8:39am Tue 14 Feb 12
When I went into town the other day it was truly depressing.
Shop after shop was either closed or boarded up.
There is no doubt in my mind that fresh blood is needed to take this borough forward.
The list of neglect and lost opportunities is appalling: The Methodist church still remains burnt out (10 years after it happened), the Ferry Terminal/Pavilion site is losing money hand over fist (and even a New York developer for the site has been dismissively rebuffed), Brewers Quay is decaying before our very eyes.
Why aren’t there smart waterside developments along the inner harbour? Why are vast areas of land within central Weymouth handed over primarily for parking? I.e. Commercial Road, Park Street, the Swannery. Why not include parking within developments on these sites?
Where is the vision, drive, ambition within this borough?
And in the meantime Dorchester goes from strength to strength.
We are the only borough in the county, according to the latest ONS data, that will have a stagnant economy in the future, with no growth prospects. And this for an Olympic borough? Only Weymouth could do this!
If those in authority cannot make purposeful, useful, dynamic decisions for the good of the borough then just get the hell out of it and hand over to those who can.
Sidney Hall
says...
9:17am Tue 14 Feb 12
MASK & SNORKEL
says...
9:50am Tue 14 Feb 12
maximan
says...
10:22am Tue 14 Feb 12
rjimmer
says...
11:05am Tue 14 Feb 12
A new hotel at Mount Pleasant, for people to ride into Weymouth on the Park-and-ride bus? I don't think so!
There should be a new railway halt at Mount Pleasant so that all the new employees and customers at the new development don't need to travel by car from where they live.
Don't blame councilors. They are just pawns in the hands of their officers. Are local government officers' salaries based on the rateable value of area, by any chance?
markw5
says...
11:52am Tue 14 Feb 12
The counsellors live in their own little bubble with the only focus being the Olympics.
The town is slowly dying. More shops to go soon - Millets for one.
The towns once unique character is being destroyed. Visitors once enjoyed coming to an 'Edwardian' seaside town. Now it is becoming an example of 'me too' planning.
Lizzy Bennett
says...
12:34pm Tue 14 Feb 12
where's my beer gone?
says...
12:34pm Tue 14 Feb 12
The investment in 'out of town' areas shows there are opportunities out there.
I agree with other posts that there is also a lot of potential around the harbour and town centre areas as well.
However, what is lacking at present is a clear sense of what we want the town to be in the future, how parts of the town could/should be re-organised and how we are going to get there.
The WPBC councillors need to grasp this and show much stronger leadership to help unlock this potential, and we as the community that has elected them to look after our community for the benefit of the rest of us need to make our voices heard.
poppy33
says...
12:48pm Tue 14 Feb 12
The only reason I visit the town centre is to visit the beach, prom or for a walk around the harbour with the children although with Brewers Quay gone and chairs along the pavements outside pubs & restaurants taking up pavement space its less appealing. Its great having the tables & chairs outside if the area was pedestrianised and you weren't forced to walk on the road.
There are very few decent clothes shops in Weymouth so most of my purchases are now via the internet. I would much prefer to visit a shop to see what I am buying rather than pay postage cost and not having the hassle of returning whats not wanted.
Out of town supermarkets aren't to blame for the clothes shops closing down, not everyone wants to buy their clothes from a supermarket or from lower end fashion shops.
Dorchester does well as there is more money there and in the surrounding villages.
Granby is extending but what about the units already empty as long as extra employment is brought to the area then its great but this developemnt and the New Look development has nothing to do with the town centre although more people in employment the better to keep the local economy going. I suspect they will take their money to a town centre where you can buy what they are looking for!
Weymouth is a beautiful town with one of the best beaches, great for tourists and the summer but us residents need more.
birken
says...
1:27pm Tue 14 Feb 12
Austria to find out how or why they have successfully mastered the economic crisis instead of wasting money on strange objects on poles or Laser lights to replace traditional Fairy lights which Foreign tourist’s expect to find after reading novels written by authors like Minette Walters or Movies featuring our famous Seaside Resorts.
212 dorset
says...
1:39pm Tue 14 Feb 12
If people are worried about the town as it is now god only knows what they will think when the olympics have come and gone.We are heading for disaster and with no leadership or transparency it can only end in tears.
firlanthir
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1:42pm Tue 14 Feb 12
Woodgate
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1:51pm Tue 14 Feb 12
ex sapper
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1:53pm Tue 14 Feb 12
poppy33
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1:54pm Tue 14 Feb 12
birken
says...
2:06pm Tue 14 Feb 12
firlanthir
says...
2:22pm Tue 14 Feb 12
maximan
says...
4:24pm Tue 14 Feb 12
portland rebel
says...
5:44pm Tue 14 Feb 12
Laadeeda
says...
7:47pm Tue 14 Feb 12
It is obvious to those who simply open their eyes and look around. Even with all the pre Olympic work the area has been in decline for years.
Bazzer55
says...
7:52pm Tue 14 Feb 12
Silly me , I thought the Olympics sailing event was on Portland !
Strange how Weymouth is having all these laser lights, rocks on sticks and things......But what is Portland getting (the place where its being held) .....Oh Yea....Mickey Mouse houses built on Officers Field, and a nightmare getting on and off the island.....not much else
The obscure
says...
7:57pm Tue 14 Feb 12
The writing is on the wall for Weymouth and the future is Dorchester
Sad as Weymouth could beat it hands down with a bit of vision and dynamism within the borough's officers and members.
Desk24
says...
9:08pm Tue 14 Feb 12
Micke12
says...
10:00pm Tue 14 Feb 12
If I was this council, I would sack all the current officers, bring in new blood, direct from Weymouth and Portland only, and get them to brainstorm the best way to get this town out of the crap it is heading into.
Too much time and money has been spent over the last 2 or 3 years solely in relation to the Olympic Games, which, yes, I know, will be a once in a lifetime event for most of us, an event which I am going to be a part of as a Weymouth Ambassador, but the Olympic Games is simply 20 days of what we hope will be great trading for our local businesses, but if people come to Weymouth and see that the place is dying, they will never come back, and will also tell their friends never to come here either. We really need to make sure that whatever we do now, for the Olympic Games, will not just be for that period of time, but for the long term future of this great seaside town, and that includes that little island where you have to use the word 'bunnies'.
Sack all the West Dorset Officers right now, and bring in purely local blood that will have the interests of the Weymouth area on their minds, not the current officers that sort of bend to the might of Councillor Gould and Co. to push their interests into Dorchester.
We have to spend money in this town on all fronts. Tourism, facilities and maintining our shops at their full potential. If we fail, or the council fail to do this, then by the year 2015, Weymouth will become an 'also-ran' town where no one ever comes. If that happens, then our economy will die for sure, no matter what the council or others do. It has to start now, before the games to give this great own of ours a chance to survive in the long term. We have done all we can really do in respect of the Olympics, which, whilst it is not London, I hope will bring lots of people here, first for the games and then over the coming years as a holiday resort of choice, otherwise, 50% of the hotels and shops will close by the end of 2020, especially if the rates and rents keep going up.
The Park and Ride is extremly good value as the ticket covers up to 6 people for the whole day, but as the comment said earlier, sometimes these buses are not big enough to take all the buggies and pushchairs that may use them. So many times, though, I have been on the seafront walking down to the ferry terminal or just strolling along the prom, and most times I see the Park And Ride come past with no passengers on it, probably 13 trips a day that bus is empty. It costs the company money, and the council, but if the service is not being used, other than maybe first thing in the morning and last thing at night, then the service is running at a loss, a loss, that as we all know, will not be sustainable in the long term. I suspect that after the Olympics have been and gone, the service will be withdrawn or substantially reduced in order to reduce losses.
There are no clothes shops left in town, other than Bon Marche' that deal with clothing for the woman of the fuller figure. Look around Weymouth and see how many women are more and more big built and big chested. If these people cannot get what they want here in Weymouth, they will go to Poole or Bournemouth or Yeovil. £7.00 or so to get to Poole, Bournemouth, Yeovil or Exeter is very good value, and you only have to look at the amount of people on that 10.10 X53 bus to Poole to see how popular that area is for shopping. I have been on that bus with people going to Poole and Exeter, with nothing in their hands except their handbags and the gentlemen with their wallets, and when they come back at 4.30 from Poole they are carrying so many bags, they look like pack-horses. That is what we want our town to be like, people coming here, spending there money here, and enjoying themselves, not looking at empty shops and £6.00 parking fees.
That is my moan over for the day, but most of what I have said will come to pass unless we, as a town and as a community, don't get our act together and sort out this town. It is our lives, our futures and it is in our hands and if the council fail in their responsibilty to guide this town through to better times, then they, and their officers, should all be shown the door, never to return to local government. Good night all.
585
says...
10:09pm Tue 14 Feb 12
Meechs Menswear? Their clothes are less expensive than the chain store opposite them and they have more choice of sizes as well.
biggestoaf
says...
11:02pm Tue 14 Feb 12
Micke12
says...
6:45am Wed 15 Feb 12
585 wrote:585, read the comment properly please. I state that there is only one clothes shop left that caters for the woman with the fuller figure. If you are going to quote me, then please quote me properly. I am always open to constructive criticism and will take any comments on board. So be fair please. Thanks.
Micke12 says 'There are no clothes shops left in town'
Meechs Menswear? Their clothes are less expensive than the chain store opposite them and they have more choice of sizes as well.
585
says...
9:01am Wed 15 Feb 12
Sorry, I didn't realise that you were of the female persuasion yourself, you suggested that we 'Look around Weymouth and see how many women are more and more big built and big chested'. Not a good idea if you are a male (:o)). As I have no experience of shopping for ladies, I can't comment on the situation is regarding their choices of clothing shops.
Otherwise I agree with your comments.
brutus
says...
12:29pm Wed 15 Feb 12
Mr Peter Melon wrote:With a Council leader that openly states that tourism is not important in Weymouth, what hope have we got!!
This story say's it all. So much so it''s difficult to find anything further to add. However, the Council should be sacked. They are a disgrace. The Council should only ever have one remit...to keep Weymouth as a holiday destination. Everything else should then fall into place.
brutus
says...
12:53pm Wed 15 Feb 12
Caption Sensible
says...
12:56pm Wed 15 Feb 12
brutus wrote:Weymouth needs a balanced economy. It is not all about the low-end, bucket and spade market. That is one of the reasons why we are, where we are.
Mr Peter Melon wrote: This story say's it all. So much so it''s difficult to find anything further to add. However, the Council should be sacked. They are a disgrace. The Council should only ever have one remit...to keep Weymouth as a holiday destination. Everything else should then fall into place.With a Council leader that openly states that tourism is not important in Weymouth, what hope have we got!!
When we had a mixture of light engineering, manufacturing, a working harbour, brewing, underwater research establishments, defence related industries, the navy etc., the area could support itself and had a healthy town centre - all year round.
Now look at it - pitiful!
I am not normally negative about Weymouth but Dorchester is seriously kicking our ****!
ex sapper
says...
2:27pm Wed 15 Feb 12
Woodgate
says...
7:56pm Wed 15 Feb 12
ex sapper wrote:I suggested the Council should sell long leases - not freeholds. That would bring in ground rent income and allow control of use. That 'once only' event should be seen as an opportunity to free up capital for committing to business generation initatives and appreciating assets - not hanging on to inherent and escalating risks. Maybe councillors and officers prefer to keep an interest but as a local council tax payer I would prefer to see WPBC move on - not look back. The regeneration of the town centre and inner harbour, to make it somewhere where people want to go and the creation of sustainable jobs has to be priority
Reading all the lamentations about Weymouth's shortcomings they seem to miss a crucial point.Money.The Council has no money to be able to invest in property or business.Development is dependent on investors finding a project to invest in which will bring a return.The Weymouth Tower for instance then people will complain about it.Most of the funding for the improve ments along the Esplanade has come from Government funds to improve run down coastal resorts.Blackpool got sufficient money to buy the tower and then lease it an operator,but there is no space in the town to be able to do that. The suggestion that the Council sell the freehold of the esplanade hotels would be a once only event whilst retaining ownership brings in continuous incomeOf course the Council could put a levy on all householders to get some money but I am sure there would be objections
brutus
says...
7:26am Thu 16 Feb 12
Caption Sensible wrote:you are absolutely right
brutus wrote:Weymouth needs a balanced economy. It is not all about the low-end, bucket and spade market. That is one of the reasons why we are, where we are. When we had a mixture of light engineering, manufacturing, a working harbour, brewing, underwater research establishments, defence related industries, the navy etc., the area could support itself and had a healthy town centre - all year round. Now look at it - pitiful! I am not normally negative about Weymouth but Dorchester is seriously kicking our ****!Mr Peter Melon wrote: This story say's it all. So much so it''s difficult to find anything further to add. However, the Council should be sacked. They are a disgrace. The Council should only ever have one remit...to keep Weymouth as a holiday destination. Everything else should then fall into place.With a Council leader that openly states that tourism is not important in Weymouth, what hope have we got!!
Woodgate
says...
9:29am Thu 16 Feb 12
WestDorsetFoodie
says...
11:20am Thu 16 Feb 12
markw5
says...
12:04pm Thu 16 Feb 12
More to fall by the wayside no doubt.
markw5
says...
12:07pm Thu 16 Feb 12
All outside the town centre. That's where the problem is. These new developments will do nothing to solve the problem, indeed another out of town shop will exacerbate the problem.
Atilla
says...
2:09pm Thu 16 Feb 12
All these much vaunted "improvements" have achieved is to kill off the town centre. Having arrived via the hugely expensive relief road or park and ride, the visitor is greeted by a plethora of closed down shops and a town centre full of drunks and beggars
I use personally the relief road to get to Dorchester to enjoy cheaper parking and a range of interesting, independant shops!
portland rebel
says...
2:46pm Thu 16 Feb 12
Under35andout
says...
9:51pm Thu 16 Feb 12
Caption Sensible
says...
7:54am Fri 17 Feb 12
Under35andout wrote:It's been like it for years.
im living weymouth its is a dead town with no work , 1000 rush to a job to clean toilets even when they over qualified , the roads are stupid the council are the same havnt a clue at all, ill be glad when im out and on the road again. Just going to pack a car and drive who's with me ;)
A succession of idiots and self-interested buffoons running the show.
All the inept and incompetent decisions from the past 30 years are coming home to roost.
But maybe the moment has finally arrived to clear the decks and start afresh?
brutus
says...
8:39am Fri 17 Feb 12
Caption Sensible wrote:Well the elections are coming in May for town centre Councillors, so here's the chance to have change from the self-interested ones who look after their friends, I suggest Caption Sensible,Woodgate and Exsapper stand they sum up a lot of the problems with good ideas.
Under35andout wrote: im living weymouth its is a dead town with no work , 1000 rush to a job to clean toilets even when they over qualified , the roads are stupid the council are the same havnt a clue at all, ill be glad when im out and on the road again. Just going to pack a car and drive who's with me ;)It's been like it for years. A succession of idiots and self-interested buffoons running the show. All the inept and incompetent decisions from the past 30 years are coming home to roost. But maybe the moment has finally arrived to clear the decks and start afresh?
Why some of these same Councillors,with questionable self agendas just get voted in time and again is beyond me go out and vote in new people who care about the town
Micke12
says...
10:11am Fri 17 Feb 12
Micke12 wrote:585, thanks for your response. I am in fact a male, but my girlfriend is a lady of the more fuller figure, and the only clothes shop in weymouth that caters for her is Bon Marche. I am pleased that you seem to agree with my other comments, and perhaps I should have explained better about the women of the fuller figure. Please accept my apologies if I seemed to bite back, it was not my intention to do so.
585 wrote:585, read the comment properly please. I state that there is only one clothes shop left that caters for the woman with the fuller figure. If you are going to quote me, then please quote me properly. I am always open to constructive criticism and will take any comments on board. So be fair please. Thanks.
Micke12 says 'There are no clothes shops left in town'
Meechs Menswear? Their clothes are less expensive than the chain store opposite them and they have more choice of sizes as well.
I enjoy reading your comments along with all the other commentators on here, so lets all keep up the good work on our opinions of Weymouth and our council and it's lack of leadership.
Someone above, says that this council is broke, and one must ask therefore, why are they broke. Could it be that too many councillors are dipping their fingers in the honeypot and the the pot has been emptied by their greed and stupidity. I know that not all councillors are greedy and corrupt, but there are quite a few in this town that are. I personally have witnessed the passing of brown envelopes to a certain councillor, but due to lack of substantiating evidence, I am unable to proceed any further, but all councillors should be aware, I am out and about with my camera, just waiting to catch one of you taking a bung.
Wrinklyrod
says...
11:58am Fri 17 Feb 12
Weymouth,Portland and Dorchester combined does not have a large enough population to support a West Quay (Southampton) complex but it might support something akin to the Dolphin Centre in Poole.
We can only hope that the few big stores remain in the town, and this is where W&PBC CAN help. The Park & Ride is a great start but it does not suit all. Parking needs to be cheaper & more user friendly. High parking charges are dettering people from shopping in town. We need more pay on exit car parks that do away with jobs worth parking attendants.
We were promised a statement on the future development of Brewers Quay but it hasn't materialised. W&PBC must surely press the developer to make a start on the regeneration of this complex or sell it it on to someone who will. Brewers Quay was a big draw so why on earth is it being allowed to rot? Answers please W&PBC.
If the current incumbents of North Quay are not up to the task of securing the future of our town they should make way for those who can.
Woodgate
says...
12:27pm Fri 17 Feb 12
hootboot
says...
8:03am Sat 18 Feb 12
firlanthir wrote:Just wait till the Olympics you'll be paying £10 for the park and ride.
Has anybody actually tried the new Park & Ride? It only costs £1.50 per car (covering up to 6 people) and runs on a regular basis into Weymouth. No looking for a space, no paying huge town centre car park prices... Rather than just sit and complain about parking prices, perhaps make use of this new service and save a bit of money???
hootboot
says...
8:05am Sat 18 Feb 12
brutus
says...
8:56am Sat 18 Feb 12
hootboot wrote:Having seen the BBC programme it was the first I had heard we had a "Regeneration Officer" never seen him or heard him before, what does he exactly do???
Sounds to me the 'Regeneration Officer has gone AWOL again.
portland rebel
says...
2:54pm Sat 18 Feb 12
brutus wrote:not much............
hootboot wrote:Having seen the BBC programme it was the first I had heard we had a "Regeneration Officer" never seen him or heard him before, what does he exactly do???
Sounds to me the 'Regeneration Officer has gone AWOL again.
Hedgehogspring
says...
3:56pm Mon 20 Feb 12
Thats what we're told by the council and the Olympic people anyway. Then again, that could be bullsh*t too....
Desk24
says...
4:41pm Mon 20 Feb 12
brutus
says...
8:38am Tue 21 Feb 12
Desk24 wrote:It might help if we have any Condor travellers, If Condor comes back???
It might help to cater for Condor travellers who view Weymouth as a possible destination. Modern budget hotel space will always sell if the price and advertising is good. The pier tower will put the town on the map more visibly.
albondigo says...
7:47am Tue 14 Feb 12