I ACCEPT that it takes time to settle into a new job, new parameters of work, rules and regulations to understand and abide by but with the new amalgamated council it seems to be taking forever with little to back up common sense, no forward planning for what effects Covid-19 will have on Dorset’s holiday industry, etc.

Yes some hardy souls have bitten the bullet and continued to go abroad to Spain and Greece and are now lcounting the cost of the effects of lockdown when they arrive back from their hols, but for most it’s a staycation mostly with days out or two weeks away at the seaside especially if you have young children. But even though hot summers appear the norm now and since some of the lifting of lockdown Dorset beaches have been inundated by visitors, the council and others appear not to be able to anticipate what numbers to expect and facilities that need to be provided.

A new state of the art public toilet will be open soon in Weymouth; not sure what the public will have done in the meantime! Insufficient car parking with the threat that illegally cars will be towed away. Until recently many car parks have been closed both by the coast and inland. We have had forest fires from BBQs which is still likely but no designated safe areas for picnics and BBQs.

July and August are known as the holiday season, schools are out, parents take holidays and with many people either furloughed, unemployed, etc - this is the time, especially with the good weather, when we need to enjoy the benefits of the sunshine. But other than either whinge or self congratulate the council seems to be unable to provide facilities so that the tourist industry can take advantage of this bonus. This pandemic will not last forever, probably many people will return to holidays abroad but shouldn’t we take this opportunity and showcase what British holidays are about and not shut or provide the very basic which is what is happening now.

Come on council, Dorset relies on its tourist industry, it has little in the way of other industry so let’s see what can be done. We have had a reorganisation to cut cost of wasted facilities. Let’s have value for the high council tax we are paying.

Heather Robinson

Bridport Road

Dorchester