NEW rides and attractions for Weymouth Beach have been announced and are due to open in time for the Spring bank holiday weekend and half term.

Weymouth Town Council has confirmed that licences have been arranged for four new attraction sites, and said that a mixture of exciting new and traditional attractions have been licensed to operate on the seafront for the summer. 

The sites include family favourites, such as Helter Skelter, Hook-a-Duck, Trampolines and Bungee Trampolines.

Dorset Echo: All pictures: Scott RunyeardAll pictures: Scott Runyeard

Meanwhile, several new additions have been announced - these include a Gyroscope ride and a Balloon ride. The mix of attractions also includes rides aimed at younger children, so the beach will cater for all ages.

The town council said there will be a return of attractions which have proved popular in previous years, including Water Zorbs and the Snail Ride, which has been a firm favourite on the seafront for over 10 years.

All licences have been issued on a short-term basis, pending the development of a seafront strategy.

Councillor Colin Huckle, Mayor of Weymouth, said:“We are delighted to confirm these contracts for the four seasonal attraction sites on Weymouth Beach. The operators will offer a varied selection of attractions for residents and visitors.

"As restrictions ease, we can expect a bumper summer season. We hope the attractions will provide great fun for our local families in addition to adding extra appeal for holidaymakers coming to Weymouth.”

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As previously reported, earlier in the year the town council invited attraction holders and any interested parties to bid for long term concession contracts for four seasonal attraction sites at the beach.

However, the council later made an announcement that only one bid met the specified criteria, which meant that the contract bidding process could not continue as planned.

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A town council spokesman said: "As a result, the council has taken the decision to consider alternative short-term contracts for the attraction sites for 2021 and 2022.

"The decision enables the council to develop a long-term strategy for the whole seafront, for which finding high quality attractions for families will be a priority."