Cllrs Jeff Cant and Colin Huckle unveiled new bollards to make Weymouth town centre safer

It is the first stage in a move by council chiefs to reduce the amount of traffic coming into the town centre.

Traffic bollards which used to be at the top end of St Mary Street near the King's Statue are back in position, along with bollards at the Bond Street junction.

Partnering up with Dorset County Council and Weymouth BID, Weymouth and Portland Borough Council will also operate a gate in St Thomas Street at the junction with School Street.

This is to stop unauthorised traffic using the streets during the daytime.
Cllr Jeff Cant, Leader of Weymouth and Portland Borough Council, said:

“We want to improve the environment for people commuting on foot, and make it safer, especially for those with small children.”

Cllr Cant, who lives on Maiden Street, said he had seen first-hand the issues pedestrians and businesses faced and wanted to end streets being used as rat runs. 

Cllr Colin Huckle, spokesman for transport and infrastructure at Weymouth and Portland Borough Council, said that current restrictions had not been enough to stop unauthorised vehicles. 

SAFETY: Antonio's Cafe owner, Cllr Francis Drake said is was amazing no-one has been killed by cars on the high-street

SAFETY: Antonio's Cafe owner, Cllr Francis Drake said is was amazing no-one has been killed by cars on the high-street

“It’s been clear for a long time that people are ignoring the traffic restrictions,” 

“It was always meant to be a pedestrian zone. The new restrictions will make it a much more pleasant environment not only for local people but for tourists to enjoy,” he said. 

When the scheme comes into effect on July 31, the bollards will be put up to restrict access to all vehicles between 10.30am and 5.30pm daily. 
Residents, taxis and commercial vehicles will be able to use the roads outside these times.

Cllr Huckle said that businesses will have been informed of the new restrictions by the time it comes into effect. 

Owner of Antonio’s Café in St Mary Street and borough council spokesman for community safety, Cllr Francis Drake said: “It’s a wonder we haven’t killed anyone yet. These posts need to be up as no one takes any notice of the signs.”

He said it would help his customers eating outside, as often they have had to move when cars drive through. 

Several businesses including Antonio’s will hold keys to the bollards as well as the emergency services in case emergency access is needed. 

Weymouth resident, Anna Soloman who runs a temporary tattoo stall on St Mary Street said: “They should have done it a long time ago. It will be a lot easier for people to walk around and it will be a lot less noisy.”

Cllr Cant said improving the town centre was his personal mission and that the bollards were the first step in a three phase improvement plan.

He said he hoped the centre would become a Brighton-style shopping area with boutique and niche businesses that would appeal to tourists.