Weymouth should take control of the seafront lights scheme – according to town councillor Christine James.

She says the computer controlled lights on street light columns should be ‘called in’ with local experts being asked to come up with a better plan.

The suggestion, at Tuesday’s council meeting, won public applause but unless Dorset Council changes its mind the project remains under its control.

Now the Dorset Coast Forum, which is leading the project, has jumped to the lights' defence.

Cllr James said: “I would like it called in. It’s not very popular with the community...we should step in and stop a disaster happening on the seafront. We need to go back to the community and find other ways and means of having a decent lighting scheme. If they (Dorset Council) go ahead with this it will show the contempt they hold for this town.”

Funding for the project, from the Coastal Communities Fund, has to be spent by December.

The scheme has been hit by delays – the lights were due to be up and running by this spring.

The last public announcement on the project was that officers were having difficulty in finding a contractor who would carry out the work and it was likely the scheme would not be in place for the start of the main season.

Cllr Kate Wheller who also sits on the Dorset Council said she would make inquiries about the progress of the lights scheme and report back.

The lights were approved by the former borough council in August 2018, and are the brainchild of designers Tonkin Liu, which say they are “inspired by nature – creating scenes that mimic the rising and setting sun, as well as rain and a bird in flight”.

They feature colour-changing LED lighting columns that will shine out across the promenade.

The lighting scheme is one of the Dorset Coastal Connections projects, led by the Dorset Coast Forum which consulted with the community of ideas. Many people said they wanted to see a return of the ‘fairy lights’ which used to dangle over the promenade.

In response to concerns by Cllr James, Natalie Poulter, Dorset Coast Forum Co-ordinator, said: “The scheme’s design is the result of extensive engagement with Weymouth residents and visitors.

"It has been backed by many local groups and organisations, including the former borough council.

"Once completed, the lights will complement the ambitious regeneration plans for Weymouth and link well with the lighting effects on the Pavilion building – which look fantastic.”