Community's Vision for Weymouth - VOTE TWO (Yes/No)

We are very fortunate to have a terrific local brass band called Weymouth Concert Brass. Why couldn't the council decide to build a Bandstand that would draw in locals and tourist and could potentially benefit the town in some ways. If the council decide to build attractions that will kill of local businesses. Lets keep Weymouth a traditional seaside town, its just very disheartening to see the plans consists of over modernisation crap

If the tramway is destroyed you will destroy a potential tourist attraction: heritage railways bring in lots of traffic and reviving the tramway as a heritage line will bring in lots of tourist. I think you should consider reviving the tramway.

This is an opportunity to keep Weymouth Tramway and revive it in to a tourist attraction, otherwise it will be lost for ever!

Make the quayside railway central to your plan. This plan is bereft if originality.

My family and I have visited Weymouth for about 30 rears for the past 12+ years we have very much enjoyed staying at the Weymouth Sands hotel with great vies of the sea and harbour however the very thought of looking at a coach roof from out front window (room 2 of the B and B) and the loss of the parking from the front of the hotel will be a big no no for us, we know only too well that once a council has made up their minds that there will be no turning back, RIP WEYMOUTH.

I see little value in more retail units or in more hotels. Boosting local business all year round and providing valuable parking and a general smartening up of the place is much needed.

The local voice must be heard!! It requires a Council member being given the job of liaison between Council and public, unless this person already exists? The many suggestions need to be sifted through and properly organised in order to prioritize the best-suited ideas. Just a few of my own ideas: I would like to see underground parking; a bandstand with open space; one or two SMALL cafes with some cover from inclement weather; a proper local museum and space or buildings for creative arts.

For the flagship to be a mid range hotel just shows how out of touch this council is, it really is quite sad. Just take a walk to the Pavilion and see how many hotels and large guest houses there are in that area of town. More than enough! There is no justification for another, you don't need to be a business person to see the folly of such an idea and the obvious detrimental impact upon nearby businesses this would have.

There's no need for more hotels or restaurants why not help the already struggling infrastructure instead of making it harder for them to make a living

Vote 2 is not particularly clear. 1) Do you agree with this vision? 2) The group feels that... NOT enable this vision.... Do you agree with us? Two questions only one answer allowed. Mine are No and Yes!

I just don't think there is a need for yet another hotel, there are more than enough places for vitiors to stay. This will only put more businesses on the rack.

Love the vision - year round destination, involving the local residents, yes please. However, I see no concrete proposals, no costings, no stakeholders. Just a desire to offer something different from the plan the council has put forward. I hold no brief for our current council: don't get me started! But they have a plan, and (presumably) costings exist and applications for grants and permissions have been made. I'm sorry to say your 'vision' reminds me of Heathrow's third runway.

If you just build restaurants hotel and housing you will damage Weymouth's already struggling economy by adding more of the same. We need to build something outstanding for the future that will attract more visitors to aid all businesses in the area and to create more. Consider a small space to encourage media students to set up their own businesses from college in technology. Low rent hubs roll in and out time limit creating small businesses that will stay in the town.

PLEASE PLEASE do not let the tramway disappear....it is a vitally important tourist attraction and is guaranteed to bring lots of tourists into the town every year, including special trains from mainline towns & cities all over the country....

My detailed thoughts as sent to WPBC - https://webapps.westdorset-weymouth.gov.uk/PlanningApps/Pages/Planning.aspx?App=WP%2f18%2f00403%2fOUT

More mid-range hotels - BORING and opposite to what leading council officers have been saying in hotels policy fod 14 years up till 2017. More restaurants - RISKY- there is an alarming "churn already. Cut parking - SUICIDAL. Why cant large pub/diner/hotel be one of the 3 restaurants on the back end? Why can't the "hitler's gas chambers" bus stop be on the straight bit of road, actually INSIDE the development area, instead of blocking the conservation area? How about VR theatre, dinosaur /pirate

I am longing to write something positive about an alternative to the council proposals for the peninsula which have nothing UNIQUE or NEW to draw visitors to our lovely town. Where is Weyforward's proposal please?

Look at the Falmouth Maritime Museum (does Weymouth have maritime heritage - yes it does) Look at the Margate Turner Art Centre (does Weymouth/Dorset have a thriving arts community - yes it does) Look at Exeters Quayside, Cardiffs Bay area, Portsmouth Gunwharf Keys, Padstows harbourfront (does weymouth also have a magnetic and appealing waterfront loaction - yes it does) Weymouth and its people are no less deserving, and yes we are big enough

Ideas:- helicopter trips, personal drone flights, mini theme parks, submarine diner with periscope + torpedo launch for kids, kites, waterski, ski kites, virtual reality theatre - dinosaurs, pirates, civil war, WW2, safaris, space, blue planet, life on earth, go-karts, etc., bizarre food restaurant eg chocolate ants, beetle pie, ugli fruit, insect farms, butterfly park, tropical flower gardens, jungle rope walkways, zip slides, water park - just look at what other places do!!!!!!!!!

Don’t let the tramway disappear for ever - heritage Railways all over the country have succeeded in boosting the local economy. This unique line would again bring people to Weymouth and use all the local pubs, shops and tourist attractions. Make this an integral part of your plans Weymouth has something very unique and has fascinated generations. It can again don’t regret it in years to come.

Weymouth needs a water park (like Tower Park in Poole) entertainment facilities and a revamped Pavilion at the site, not more hotels etc... This is clearly a money orientated decision! Weymouth has already lost Brewers Quay, time walk and countless other facilities.... Sell off the old swimming pool and the land that goes with it to redevelop and fund the Peninsula or Weymouth will die as a tourist resort due to lack of all season facilities. Please don't destroy this opportunity.

Unfortunately due to the recent track record regarding Brewers Quay and the Council Offices. I put forward a vote of no confidence to the current system. I would suggest that WPBC/Unitary/ Town Council, begin to engage with the public rather than u-turning at a cost and waste of thousands when they realise they have made a mistake. Experienced people are already giving their own free time up to make sure the whole master plan not just the peninsula becomes a development that will be sustainable.

The current WPBC proposals are uninspiring and backward looking including design constraints based on the Georgian sea front. Weymouth should look forward and move ahead of other resorts with a single iconic multi- functional new building with a strong maritime concept, incorporating an indoor publc meeting space, food court, small shops, bars, leisure units and hi-etc start up space. Outside should be underground carparking and green open and boulevards.

We need sustainable (environmentally and economically) spaces, buildings and leisure areas for Weymouth. I have been at the consultation the council have held before and nothing has been taken on board.

Any scheme for this historic and unique area must retain and maximise the appeal of this wonderful hertigate port and tramway. That it has survived intact into the 21st century is almost beyond belief so lets preserve it in a living way for the benefit of generations to come. I made my first visit in 1967 and continue to return to experience yet again the wonderful appeal and character of real Weymouth.

We don't need a 3rd Premier Inn. Small B&B's will be killed off and then there will be no choice for visitors. This will decrease visitors not increase. There is already a surplus of beds except in the short summer holidays (6weeks)

Hotels are not needed and neither housing which will not be affordable and only available as 2nd homes. I realise that this may not be financially viable, but we seem to have b&bs up for sale, so obviously they are struggling not point in having more.

We have an amazing opportunity to transform the town and become a truly modern seaside town that embraces the future as well as respecting the past. Creative solutions do not come from hiring retail consultants (what is happening to retail in the world today?) and architects that don't even have a website. Together we can make the council listen to us and implement our collective will to create the town we want. Please read the document at the end of the link and endorse our vision.

We need an all round resort The Pavillion is great but needs investment to make it more like the BIC which would attract many more events, conferences etc to our beautiful town and coastline

It will be fantastic for the local business community and the local community to become involved by working together. I completely agree with The Community's Vision For Weymouth. It is like a breath of fresh air and I just hope that the Council will vote according to the wishes of the above two communities.

No more housing here - much of which will inevitably be for second homes

We should consider adopting Bimby principles (Beauty in my Backyard), where local people are actively involved in new development ideas right from the start. The 'consultation' methodology is broken. https://www.bimby.org.uk/. The WeyForward approach is much more aligned to the Bimby model and deserves serious consideration.

We’ve no shortage of development site opportunities for small business start ups in town. This is a site for high end recreation facilities, possibly including luxury residential, and new year round venues. Recently we’ve seen the growth of weekend festivals, but all are weather dependent. With better indoor space, there could be music, film, literature, comedy festivals etc, as well as a small scale conference facilities. This could create jobs and boost existing leisure infrastructure.

Repeating the same never ending cycle of developing an area, selling or leasing prime locations to corporate businesses with no interest in the local community and then leaving us with a run down town when they decide to leave after impacting locally owned business such as cafe's hotels etc - you can only expect one result. The council offices fiasco and previous attempts by the Council to allegedly "innovate" leaves me with no confidence in them. Get the locals involved!

We desperately require attractions catering for inclement weather. It is time the council encouraged tourism, not working against it. Like it or not, it provides employment for the town. Another hotel and a few apartments will not help on their own, tourists need things to do when the beach is not an option. We need a new vision, not more of the same old, same old.

I'm not sure that given the past history regarding many other developments like brewers Quay and council offices that they are in any fit state to develop that area. It at least needs more minds on it!

Innovation is required to tackle various problems regarding the peninsula development. Some key points taken from council documents and Weyforward meetings were . . . Creating a landmark for Weymouth, open public realm and sustainability in design and use. The current plan for the area does not envision these points and seems rushed without any consideration to current issues within Weymouth.

I may not be resident of Weymouth but love the town, I holidayed there with my late parents, my father told me many a story about the Railway which I would love to be restored

Everything

Be the trailblazers!

A decent hotel, maybe but another chain, all they do is offer some NMW jobs and suck all the money out of the town. I the council really want a hotel etc on the site, set it back with space in front, raise it up and put the much wanted railway station underneath. Parking can be under, or on 1st floor. smoke can be funnelled out in ducts and the enclosed space could contain a nice dry railway museum. Heritage sells, look at film "Dunkerque"-old quays, boats and the railway. And what of the ferry?

Great to see the tramway working again

Couple more ideas - circus, acting, tv, music, performing arts centre of excellence, marine biology centre, virtual adventure park, a bus stop where it is actually meant to be, uber taxi app terminus, just a green park space, bandstand, live music, 1000 ideas the council would never think of.......

This should be a development for the people of Weymouth who live here the whole year long.

Yes keep these ideas coming and let's get people power winning the day. Its a huge part of our town's future prosperity. Then please look at Nigel Sims-Duff idea for King Street and Radipole Lake it's brilliant!

Its time the council took a bottom up approach to fixing this town and surrounding area, let the people decide what we need, and not what necessarily best lines the councils coffers. People in this town have great ideas of what it needs and what will continue to benefit everyone for years to come. The last thing locals need is another premier inn!

Nothing

My pleasure to endorse the community vision. It’s the right choice.

Cost it!

Weymouth does not want the councils”vision”

An innovative and ambitious protect would attract a variety of visitors year round and offer something for locals also. People would visit our town to experience the Peninsula, not just the beach. And we already have two Premier Inns and lots of B&Bs. Let's be bold and do something amazing!

This is surely a very rare opportunity to create something genuinely unique - not very often does such a fantastic location become available for development. This has the potential to really put Weymouth on the map and enhance its worth for everyone. Imagine a cutting edge sustainable building with a rooftop performance venue, business and arts spaces, alongside an outdoor multi-functional green space and a sports tourism/adventure sports facility. A lack of ambition here would be a crying shame

The Weymouth Tramway operated by a Parry People Mover could bring visitors from the station. This unique railway would be a big asset to the town if reopened.

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Nobody wants to see those: they want to see diff related to railways!

We need something better than clone town corporate non creativity.

With the council moving to repossess more seafront hotels despite interested local buyers, I can't understand why they'd want to bring in chain hotels and make this town even more devoid of original character. You can't source it all from London!

We need to save the Tramway and have more imaginative ideas to attract people. Everyone loves steam trains. Look at what it has done for Bristol Harbour. A heritage centre that combines the old tramway and some maritime history would provide a new attraction and a steam engine giving rides along the quay would be a big pull for tourists.

Sounds like a great idea

We don’t need any more hotels. We need something that as a community we can enjoy and have something that our children will enjoy. Somewhere that our young people can feel inspired.

We don't need more hotels as this will kill off smaller B&Bs we need an as year round attraction that families can attend when weather is not suitable for outside attractions. Also we need something that's not going to spoil the view we don't need more concrete buildings. We need green spaces where families and friends can enjoy the view along with an all year round attraction we could have sea filled pools for swimming etc

Weymouth you need something different. Make the peninsula into a thriving hub of activity that becomes the beating heart of the seafront. At the same time put some investment into the town’s railway heritage, get a turntable, steam loco servicing and carriage stabling facility put in north of the station and enable rail tour promoters to make the town a steam train destination of choice. Reopen the tramway as a quirky novelty attraction in its own right; capitalise on what you already have 😊

You need something that creates a reason to come not accommodation and facilities for visitors who won’t come because there is nothing to visit.

Local community is key - shops are closing at a rate of knots - people want experience based activities. The peninsula could hold a beautiful outdoor/partial covered venue for theatre, music gigs, comedy, carnival events, festivals etc. This would benefit locals out of season and tourists in season. Small Work hubs for local business, galleries (like Tate Liverpool/St Ives), a sea pool, small boat trip hubs (to Portland/Lyme etc). So much more potential than a bog standard b&b and shops

If there's one thing Weymouth has enough of it is hotel accommodation. This is an opportunity to develop this piece of land to become something attractive and unique. Weymouth needs to look at other seaside resorts to gain inspiration, these places offer more in the way of arts (Tate Weymouth??) and also think about providing more for visitors to do while they're here, eg an indoor leisure centre with an indoor pool would attract so many people and supply something for bad weather.

I recon we should have an outdoor recreational festival area Weymouth holds plenty of music events but they are just dotted around Weymouth in the nearest field so we really need somewhere fore recreational festivals to call home.

Cant wait!! Something for my little girl when shes older there is little to no commjnity in weymouth this might changd that

It just makes more sense than WPBC's ideas..... Hope they listen.

Who doesn’t love railways? Besides, if you erase heritage, you erase history.

This is a once in a generation chance to give the town a unique feature that will both attract visitors and give the residents something to be proud of. Let’s not waste the chance on yet another mediocre hotel and chain restaurant. Indoor facilities both sporting and cultural would be a good starting point.

We need an all weather attraction on the peninsula. Take a look at most Devon towns, they are streets ahead of Weymouth.

Yes - we need an attractive year round space that enhances the beautiful waterfront.

Weymouth is a tradition seaside resort and as much heritage as possible should be preserved for it future. The Weymouth dockside railway is a most important feature which with progressive thinking could transform the area with working trams, or heritage engines bringing a whole new attraction to the quayside

We don't need more restaurants, hotels or parking (- hear me out.. if vehicle use is discouraged in the town and our public transport improved, eliminating the need for more car parks and improving congestion on the roads). Personally i'd like to see more greenery, can make a space infinatelly more appealing. Also multi-use spaces/buildings with a focus on community and local buisnesses (rather than chains). Design is also imperative - for the love of god can we please employ a decent architect!

As has already been stated in previous comments, there are so many great examples of how waterside areas can be developed to the benefit of the entire community. Year round attractions which are all weather and if possible a covered piazza for functions. Provision for car parking is vital, underground, high rise, who cares, just provide it in the plans in a way that works. The councils plans seem rushed and they appear deaf to what their electorate want. They should represent, not resist!!

This section of land holds so much potential and the council's plan takes the easy route. I would love the peninsula to include a heritage for it's railways and harbourside history, an all-weather building holding many attractions, an esplanade around the harbour walls, and the pleasure pier to be resurrected. Similar places to look at are: Bristol Harbour and Folkstone Harbour Station.

Heritage over future

There was a brass band playing on the harbour near the pavilion yesterday evening. Wouldn’t it be lovely to have space for different music evens. Weymouth is full of talented artist and musicians we should have open spaces to celebrate them

More hotels, restaurants? This is not what Weymouth needs to re-establish itself as a go-to home destination. It needs life, attractions of quality and variation. Use the space imaginatively, other resorts are grasping the nettle of change and are beginning to attract people back. The marine/port heritage is vital as is the undoubted talent of local musicians, artists and artisans. Your current Hotels and B&B's are under occupied for the majority of the year. Be excited and Exciting

dont spoil the heritage of weymouth

an all weather sports/entertainment centre is needed together with preserving free parking areas to encourage visitors to come to the town

no benefits to local residents and business

Weymouth has many hotels, whatbit really needs is a new and exciting tourist attraction to build up numbers of visiting people. Weymouth has a wealth of maritime history to offer, and the tramway is a unquie attraction that no where else can offer. Both od these could be offered to the public to bring in visitors from far and wide.

A long term solution is needed. Well thought through with inspirational, future-thinking people involved to light the fire for future development of the rest of the town. What an opportunity! It's a chance to set a precedent for preserving Weymouth's heritage and making something cool and exciting and maybe wedge-shaped (A-frames have been cool since the dawn of mankind).

The reintroduction of the tramway and the possible use of the harbour for mixed commercial and recreational use with the vision to keep the option for commercial shipping open for the future would be a bigger asset to Weymouth than just houses, restaurants and hotels. Don't close the door. The tramway would be a huge asset to Weymouth's economy.

So agree with points made below. We, as in "the people" of Weymouth, need to be involved. I feel its make or break for Weymouth. Lets make the most of our heritage and "Jurassic Coast" theme. Support local hoteliers and business. No to destroying the pier with yet another big hotel or property for the rich.

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No more hotels. Build something worth while

You must keep and develop the Harbour line just look at other seaside towns like Swanage, Whitby and Minehead and what the railways have brought to the town. While on the subject why can Weymouth not find a site for a Railway Turntable this would also encourage Steam Operators to send more trains full with 400 passengers at a time to Weymouth..

With the way most towns are going , Weymouth will need every tourist to spend money in the town to survive. Also , Don t let the heritage disappear!

This council, in spite of report after report has done NOTHING to reduce the shocking conflict between pedestrians and vehicles. Visitors to Weymouth beach have to tolerate two way traffic with a thirty MPH speed limit running from the Kings statue travelling to Alexander Gardens with absolutely no pedestrian crossing. The noise, the pollution, the threat of injury and utterly ridiculous volume of traffic shows our valuable visitors that Weymouth just does not “get it”.. Cheap hotels and bland

We don't need more hotels and restaurants which will contribute to killing off those we already have and will stand empty during the winter months. A community area would be ideal so that everybody can use it all year round. The council need to think more out of the box or just look on here for some of the great ideas that locals have and which would not involve borrowing millions from central government (has anybody seen the costings for the councils proposals??) .

The idea's put forward are the same old type thinking and makes it another boring place to visit that looks the same as other places. plans ,grants and permissions can be altered and put to a much better use for visitors to enjoy without having hotels for people to use to visit a resort that is the same as other resorts.

There are people out there who have some incredible and fantastic ideas. I don’t see why Council cannot be inspired and excited to take some of these ideas on. Making it happen for the people who live here as much as those who visit.

A 'Premier Inn' style hotel on the peninsular will be an eyesore, especially in the position proposed ie stuck at the end of the attractive Georgian facade and blocking the view to and from the Nothe. We beg the council to not make this mistake in a hurry and to give more thought to something that will become a permanent structure.

Weymouth tramway should be made into Heritage railway. Now that would create a lot more money and a lot more attraction. We don’t need great big tower blocks etc. It’ll spoil the sea view! We need steam trains, bringing families to the seaside! Just like it used to be! Would attract a lot more people too!

MR Roger Balfour This is an Historic and unique site, it contains several interesting and unique buildings which should not be lost and the only mainline railway street tramway in Britain. Do not loose the opportunity of visiting preserved ships which could be a unique tourist attraction connecting with the tramway and bringing in tourists. There are many parts of the site which could be redeveloped to fit in with the Heritage solution and enhance it without sweeping all the unique and historica

Chain businesses have no character and are usually filled with staff as hollow as the services they provide. Innovation is needed in modern developments with a consideration for the local communities, not something where money disappears outside of the region instantly.

We need something all year not just for visitors but for the locals, in particular the youngsters. Somewhere for them to go and keep out of trouble. I bad weather there is little to do. If we want all year attraction it mast cater for all.

The arts could be expanded upon thereby giving the Pavilion area central position in an imaginative art gallery/installation/history project, the kind of thing people travel to other places to see, weather friendly, all year round attractions. Great for local community and special interest groups, small businesses. We have enough hotels and affordable housing should be at the heart of all council proposals. Current council plan is just dull and non community based.

Doesn't Weymouth have enough hotels, bars and restaurants already? The council's proposals are dull and unimaginative. Use this prominent space and the tramway to attract more visitors to the town. An art gallery and a maritime museum would be a start.

We need something that can be used all year round, a proper pleasure pier with activities to do, and things to see. Something that puts us back into the 21st century. Don't get me wrong, it's nice to have a traditional sea side resort on our doorstep, but times are changing, and this town needs to change with it. No hotels, and no over priced "affordable" housing that we don't need.

I feel the council are just not listening again.No point in consultations if they then ignore it all.I would like to see a fantastic indoor activity that isnt anywhere else within a 20 or 30 mile radius. That way we will encourage people from further afield to visit for that activity. My suggestions are ice rink - could be an indoor water centre in summer, RockOn an indoor climbing centre for all ages (as at Whitely Centre in Hants. Also space for farmers /christmas market & performance space.

Any development should make use of the railway, a unique part of Weymouth’s heritage!

We need jobs that pay proper wages and housing that people can afford, not white-elephant vanity projects for the well-off.

We need new idea's for Weymouth with something that would interest visitors, why destroy something that could up visitor usage and get them to see interesting part of Weymouth's past.

In the long run it will be better for everyone to keep Weymouth unique, not more of the same as the council are proposing.

I am for the community version, I don’t live in Weymouth ,I currently have no reason to visit Weymouth but if the tramway was kept and utilised I would visit and I’m sure that would also be the case for many more. I’ve seen other towns and city’s destroy all of there history just to replace it with hotels and housing it doesn’t attract visitors to the area not enough to keep the area going anyway. I urge the council to listen to the public and to the community for the best future for Weymouth

You need something that will be both a community space and that will bring more visitors to the town. If you want to see a good example of what can be done and is proving very popular, take a look at the Folkestone Arm which has many similarities. http://folkestoneharbourarm.co.uk/about/

An amazing hub which caters for our inclement weather. No more hotels please, develop outside of weather and enforce the park and ride scheme, improve bus routes. Something big and exciting so if it rains, Weymouth will still be a safe bet for a holiday! A spa with roof top dining and pool, Jacuzzis would be fab at the old harbourside council office, let's get Weymouth on the map as a luxe resort..

The people of Weymouth have so many fantastic ideas and the council need to hear these before ploughing ahead with what they believe should happen.

The Council's plans for the peninsula - chain hotels and a car park - are more suited to a motorway service area than a key location in the heart of Weymouth. New ideas, and better ideas, are needed. Let the people of Weymouth put forward their own ideas, and come up with something unique that respects the setting and acknowledges the heritage of the town.

There are some exceptionally passionate people out there with talent and vision... let's give them the keys to this great town and see what potential can be unlocked... it'll better than the current crop of decision makers.

We need somthing amazing like a water park or a comunity park/gardens somthing for people of all ages!!! Get the tramway back in working order! We are a seaaide town and so somthing us as locals can use aswell as the torists would be better no more premier inns when we have hotels already strugglong to stay open!