COUNCILLORS have given the green light for a heritage centre in Castletown put forward as part of plans to bring the area ‘up off its knees’.

In November last year the Echo revealed how Nemesis Properties were given approval to build workshops, storage units and holiday flats on premises on Castletown Pier.

Further project plans were revealed to the Echo in July, which included a scuba diving tourist facility or ‘underwater curiosity park’, an American themed D-Day attraction, and a heritage centre.

The plans have also been welcomed by South Dorset MP Richard Drax.

Nemesis Properties is owned by Derek Luckhurst, owner of care provider AginCare. The provider recently spent nearly £2m to turn the Admiralty Buildings in Castletown into its new headquarters.

Mr Luckhurst said the aim of the project was to bring Castletown ‘off its knees’ and the heritage centre would be based inside the Admiralty Buildings.

A change of use application for the heritage centre, brought before the committee following requests from councillors, went before Weymouth and Portland Borough Council yesterday.

Discussing the application agent Richard Burgess, representing the applicant, said the idea for the heritage centre stemmed from people approaching Mr Luckhurst with memorabilia and artefacts from the borough.

He said: “Castletown has a worthwhile story to tell; think how good it would be if we got some of the existing cruise ship passengers to visit the attraction.

“This would extend the range of heritage centres in the borough and the centre and would be in a sustainable location.”

Cllr Margaret Leicester questioned the disabled access to the centre, but was reassured that entry doors to the centre building were already situated on ground floor level.

She added that the heritage centre applicants recently met with both Weymouth Museum and Portland Museum, and that Portland Museum had agreed to help with the running of the proposed centre.

A report put before councillors said the proposal ‘represents a contribution towards the regeneration of Castletown’ and would further contribute to the ‘creation of a livelier, more attractive part of the island’.

Mr Luckhurst, as the applicant, has asked for a five-year temporary approval on the change of use application so that the building can revert to business use ‘should the museum not attract public and community support.’

Mr Luckhurst now hopes to ask trustees of the Weymouth and Portland museums whether they could loan any artefacts to go on display at the centre.

CONTACT ME:

t: 01305 830986

e: tara.cox@dorsetecho.co.uk

twitter: @DorsetEchoTara