Weymouth Civic Society
WEYMOUTH CIVIC SOCIETY;
PLANS SUB-COMMITTEE NEWS February 2012
CARVED STONE WELCOME PINEAPPLES
Following the saga of the Pineapples, as reported in the December and January 'News', the Society contacted all Borough Councillors, the local County Councillors, our MP and the Rotary Club. We have received several letters of strong support from Councillors for the relocation of the Pineapples in some suitable site on the new Relief Road - our suggestion being the top of Ridgeway just before the bridge over the road. In such a location they would once again be welcoming everyone to all of Weymouth and Portland, rather than welcoming just a few to the Park and Ride car park!
PROPOSED SAND SCULPTURE
We see that the structure to house the Sand Sculpture on the Beach has been approved by the Council, though requiring a more muted colour rather than white. While welcoming an improved facility, we had expressed concern at the large, and in our view unnecessary, size proposed.
THE OLD FIRE STATION - McCARTHY & STONE RETIREMENT APARTMENTS.
We are very pleased that the proposal to demolish the old Fire Station and build 52 retirement apartments on this limited site has been rejected by the Planning Inspector. It is now to be hoped that a more appropriate proposal for this important site will come forward.
GYPSY AND TRAVELLER SITES
In response to a public consultation on proposed gypsy and traveller sites for Weymouth, the Society had registered a strong objection to both sites proposed - Mount Pleasant Park-and-Ride, and Lodmoor. Now the County Council (who are not the decision-taking authority for this) have objected to both locations, but instead have suggested that a site within West Dorset District Council adjacent to the new Relief Road should be considered. This is in the Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty and, in their own words, will be in a prominent location and will require justification that there is a lack of alternative sites as well as substantial screening in mitigation.
CYCLE WEST PLANS
We have commented to the County Council on a proposal to create part of a long-distance international cycle way, starting with the Ferry Terminal to Westham Bridge section. While accepting the infilling of the rather dangerous tramway lines, we have expressed reservations about routing the cycle way along the harbour side walkway by the Marina in the Inner Harbour, and also voiced concerns about the loss of parking spaces along Custom House Quay, when parking is such a problem in Weymouth town centre. This is part of a wider issue of the decline of the town centre - a problem which we hope will be more seriously addressed.
59 ST MARY STREET ('SENSE' RESTAURANT)
The Society had objected to a retrospective application for a boxy-shaped fascia that had been installed on this listed Georgian bow-windowed building. The Council has now refused consent for it, considering it an unduly prominent feature on the building and in the street scene, harmful to the visual amenities of the area and detrimental to the character and appearance of the building.
LAND ADJACENT TO CHICKERELL LINK
The new business park adjacent to the Chickerell Link Road gained outline planning permission last year. At outline stage we had objected to the positioning of the buildings close to the edge of the site, asking that they should be well set back from the boundary to allow for a good depth of screen planting. Now details for two of the industrial buildings nearest to the road have been submitted. We have expressed our disappointment that these plans do not address our concerns - indeed, these revised proposals show the long two-storey facades parallel to the road rather than 'end-on' as previously, - and in our view they are positioned too close to the road, allowing too little space for adequate screen planting.
Planning notes C
Prepared by the Civic Society planning committee
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