Much has been written about the vibrant future for Weymouth envisaged in the Town Centre Masterplan. However, a worrying aspect of it is the considerable reduction in the amount of public car parking that appears to result from these proposals.

It seems that some of the main town centre car parks are to be built upon, with partial or total loss of the public parking spaces. Harbourside is to be redeveloped completely, for residential and other uses. It appears that Melcombe Regis car park (and perhaps also Park Street?) is to have some residences above, with their own parking, so how much would be left for the public? The main station car park is to disappear, redeveloped for business use, while station users must park at the Swannery. A fair amount of the parking now available on the Pavilion peninsula seems likely to disappear, with some residential development and other uses envisaged there. South of the harbour, the Council Offices car park is to go altogether, mainly for housing, while the planning applications at Brewers Quay involve a reduction from 120 public spaces in their two car parks to just 38.

Government policy stresses that “local authorities should seek to improve the quality of parking in town centres, so that it is convenient, safe and secure”.

These car parks may not be the most beautiful places to look at, but of course they could – and should – be made much more attractive with proper landscaping.

How many blocks of luxury waterfront residences and second homes do we want in the town centre? And how is it to become the vibrant, lively place that the Masterplan envisages if adequate convenient car parking no longer exists?

Stanley and Brenda Pickett

Weymouth

DT3 5JH.