WEYMOUTH fairy lights campaigner Dave Burchill is encouraging people to come out and demonstrate tonight as he asks councillors to rethink the issue.

Mr Burchill has collected almost 1,700 names on a petition calling on Weymouth and Portland Borough Council to bring back the strings of coloured bulbs or ‘fairy lights’ to the seafront.

The amount of names on the petition is more than required to prompt councillors to debate the issue.

The lights were taken down last year as the council embarked on a seafront regeneration project. The council argued the bulbs for the lights were becoming hard to obtain and the system was inefficient.

A new seafront lighting scheme has been introduced including the Veils of Light laser scheme, which has received mixed reviews, largely negative.

Mr Burchill will say a few words and present his petition to the full council meeting at The Guildhall tonight – and he wants people to attend to show the strength of feeling.

He will wave a placard outside before officially handing over his petition, which states that the lights had been a source of joy to residents and visitors since the mid-1950s and the ‘jewel in Weymouth’s crown’.

Mr Burchill said the lights were removed with limited consultation and that the Esplanade is ‘dark and unwelcoming’ without them.

Park District resident and retired postmaster Mr Burchill said: “I am presenting my petition to the council and I would appreciate any support.

“I will be outside the Guildhall beforehand with my banner and people are welcome to join me to show their support. Turn up if you care about this issue and show our councillors we care about the lights.”

He added: “I was overwhelmed by the response to the petition and the council now has no choice but to debate the issue.

“I can’t see any reason why a modern, eco-friendly low-cost lighting system cannot be brought back.

“It would complement the lasers and make our lovely seafront sparkle again.”

The full council meeting is at 7pm at the Guildhall, St Edmund Street.