WORK on the £1million revamp of Weymouth rail station will begin in November, it has been announced - forcing the move of the town's Covid testing site to allow it to proceed.
The project will include improvements to the station forecourt and the creation of a walkway and cycle path linking the Jubilee Business Park and King Street, called pocket park.
READ MORE: The Swannery Car Park Covid-19 testing site to be replaced with mobile unit
The first phase of the work will take place on the station car park in King Street, and is expected to last four weeks, with workers due to move in next month.
The rail station development was given the go ahead earlier this month, despite the proposals being criticised by some Weymouth councillors.
There are concerns the site will fail to meet the needs for an integrated transport exchange, with only one bus stop dedicated to the Wessex bus company.
Wyke Regis councillor Kate Wheller believes the changes will worsen traffic flows on King Street because of the new access due to be created at the edge of the site close to the petrol station and said the scheme was 'half baked', while claiming South Western Railway has 'let locals down'.
READ MORE: Weymouth train station revamp is approved
Steven Booth, Dorset Coast Forum project officer, said: "The work on Weymouth Train Station forecourt has not yet started and is expected to commence in November.
"We still need to fix an actual date due to Network Rail permissions.
"When we know this we will communicate via the media to advise on construction phase plan and implications for station users including diversions and temporary car parking.
"The station car park on King Street is scheduled to last an estimated four weeks and is likely to be in the first phase of construction on site."
Dorset Council said the main infrastructure work and surfacing should be completed by the end of February next year and updates will be available as the work progresses. Landscaping and planting will commence after this period to be completed along with signage and maps by March 2022.
Mr Booth added: "There will be additional work on King Street and Queen Street and updates and further details will be communicated by Dorset Council Highways at the appropriate times."
Since June 26, the station's overflow car park has been used as a Covid testing site for local residents. But, with the revamp work imminent, the Covid testing site for Weymouth has now been moved back to the Swannery Car Park, where it was based previously.
A spokeswoman from Public Health Dorset, said: "The testing site in Weymouth is returning to its previous location at the Swannery car park, as the current site at Weymouth Train Station overflow car park is unavailable at present due to upgrade work.
"The move was made on September 30 and work has been continuing from the Swannery car park since the beginning of October."
For more on the development, visit: www.dorsetcoasthaveyoursay.co.uk/weymouth-gateway
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