Weymouth seafront to get its own ferris wheel
The observation wheel's been approved by Dorset Council
Plans for a ferris wheel on Weymouth beach have been approved – to be set up alongside the existing sand modeller dome.
It comes despite opposition, including a claim that it would move the resort away from being a family beach, into a funfair.
Dorset councillors were told that the proposed wheel, which could be up to 33 metres, would include one gondola suitable for people with disabilities.
The structure is expected to sit on an 18 by 18 metre flat sand base with no need for a concrete hardstanding.
Dorset Council’s area planning committee was told that the Weymouth Town Council application was based on a wheel similar to one in use at Skegness, although was only likely to go to 25 metres.
A planning officer told the meeting that there were no obvious impacts from the wheel which was likely to attract extra visitors to the town.
Resident Jarrad Tiller told councillors he objected to the location of the wheel and doubted claims about only needing a matting surface to sit on. He said that each support for the wheel was likely to need a hard base, given evidence he had researched.
He was also against plans to combine three beach areas into one, larger, unit which he said might result in the ‘super snails’ attraction being unable to stay on the beach.
Another Weymouth resident Mr Palucsis, said he believed the wheel would not look good and would have a negative impact on the beach. He said he also doubted that the footprint for the structure would be adequate or suitable and a much larger area was needed to allow for safety fencing and a kiosk.
Objections also came from a resident who said the wheel would turn the family beach into more of a fairground and was likely to be expensive for many families:
“We are turning it into a funfair… this is not what come to Weymouth for,” he said, “We will drive people away.”
The objector said he was also disappointed that the town council seemed to be trying to favour big rides at the expense of smaller one, by merging areas it licences together.
“It’s ill-considered and not thought through – there will be other applications, or even amendments to this one,” he said.
Weymouth town council assistant town clerk Charmaine Denny said the changes proposed to the beach areas open to licence sought to reduce clutter across the beach, combining three areas into one larger one measuring 65 by 20 metres.
She said this would “prioritise quality attractions” and denied that the snail ride licensee would be excluded from re-bidding for a seafront site.
Weymouth councillor David Northam said he thought the area chosen for the observation wheel was appropriate, given the fairground-style rides almost opposite in the Alexandra Gardens, and said a new attraction would be welcomed.
Cllr Kate Wheller spoke in favour consolidating some of the sites which she said would be to the advantage of beach users, giving them some extra space.
Portland councillor Paul Kimber proposed accepting the wheel, describing it as “a fantastic result” for the resort which he said would be widely welcomed.