13. Weymouth Community – Aspirations

LANDSCAPES AND GREENSPACE

Creating Green Space

• To collaborate with Dorset Council and other third parties to replace ‘grey hard finish’ surfaces with areas of green space in the Town Centre, for example around the Peninsula/Pavilion, north side of Westham Bridge and adjacent to the Noahs Ark play area.
• Prompt communities to explore opportunities for turning derelict spaces or underused public land into new green spaces, such as new allotment space or a community garden.
• To enhance existing and newly created ‘green areas’ near to residences including those designated as Local Green Space with appropriate seating, litter bins, planters and additional trees and shrubs through a process of community involvement.
• To work with landowners, community groups and residents to identify sites for and create ‘pocket parks’ and walking/cycling trails, for example taking in the seafront/ harbour area, the Nothe and Newtons Cove.
• Review the current WTC Tree Management Plan 2021-2025 and seek funding for tree planting projects including street trees, small formal woodland areas and community orchards in order to help achieve the target of 15% tree canopy cover across the Weymouth Town Council area within the lifetime of the plan.
• Adopt and promote a “right tree right place” approach to tree planting and replacement.
• Work with local communities to use Tree Preservation Orders (TPO’s) to help protect green space and improve tree canopy cover.
• Provide support and advice for the planting of community traditional orchards and the on-going management of grass verges and trees.
• Provide advice to encourage residents to create wildlife areas in gardens and to plant pollinator species (native species wherever possible).

Recreation Areas

• Develop a program in consultation with local communities to enhance sports and recreational facilities to meet the needs of all age groups in public parks, gardens and play areas. Some examples for consideration are roller skating paths, climbing walls, outdoor exercise equipment, wooden jungle gym/Go Ape, basketball court (Louviers Road, Littlemoor), sensory flower gardens, seating, recycling bins, public toilets/changing facilities, refreshment concessions.
• Work with Dorset Council and other partners to identify funding to enable improvements to the sports pitches at Redlands and The Marsh and investigate additional provision such as a running track.
• Work with funding partners and the local community to seek to restore Chapelhay Gardens as a valuable amenity space.
• Adopt a general policy of hard barrier segregation of play/recreation areas from dog exercise space.
• Revitalise the WTC project to seek funding for a Weymouth Wildlife Park linking the green spaces north of the Town Centre and extending the QR App driven walking trails.

Biodiversity

• Seek to establish nature trails next to green spaces and parks such as linking the meadows west of the kennels at Redlands with local footpaths to create a Nottington-Wey Valley nature trail.
• Site bird boxes in suitable locations on WTC owned publicly accessible land.
• Work with Dorset Council and third parties to create a wildlife hub at Mount Pleasant including an information centre, bird hides, etc.
• Provide a bird hide overlooking Lodmoor salt marsh.
• Seek formal designation of Lodmoor Nature Reserve.
• Develop a program of planting wild flower meadows on council controlled land as part of the WTC Biodiversity Plan 2021-2025.
• Work with the statutory agencies to make better use of natural flood protection, such as water meadows and water meadow floodplains whilst creating new wildlife habitat.
• Encourage schools and other organisations that have open space to make best use of their land for biodiversity and other local sustainability projects (using school research collected from the Neighbourhood Plan engagement).
• Establish an annual prize for community biodiversity projects.
• Promote the WTC Biodiversity plan within the wider community with a view to providing information to help residents protect and enhance biodiversity.
• Explore pilot sites for green roofs on bus shelters and public buildings.
• Co-operate with communities on managing public open spaces for biodiversity gain, such as mowing frequencies, leaving deadwood, halting leaf blowing.

Footpaths

• Create all weather natural paths for easy access to green spaces which consider wheelchair, buggy and pushchair use.
• Create new footpath access routes such as a circular route around the golf course in the Links Road and Westham Estate area, safe access for children to open spaces at the top of Hereford Road, an access path to Lorton Meadows, a footway along Nottington Lane to link to the new 323 home development, path from Bincleaves Green to Castle Cove, short local walks in Southill and Goldcroft Road / Pottery Lane area.
• Work with Dorset Council to improve the footpath from Radipole School to Corfe Estate through surface improvements and motion triggered lighting.
• Consult local communities and identify additional sites for footpaths.
• Improve signage on dual use paths and provide more directional signs for example on land at the rear of the Corfe Estate.

HOMES

Future Housing Design

• Work with Dorset Council and other third parties to monitor standards of energy efficiency and promote sustainable construction so as to ensure lower running costs in new dwellings.
• Research new low carbon technologies and materials for building design and construction and promote the use of these on all new build.
• Promote the addition of solar panels to all new and existing homes which are suitably located and seek to establish a Weymouth bulk buy scheme to facilitate this.
• Support the inclusion of shops and services into new development during planning considerations.
• Liaise with Aster Homes and other Housing Associations on maintenance issues of rented properties in order to improve the quality of the local housing stock.
• Establish a review process with Dorset Council to identify lessons learned from new major housing developments (including large scale retrofit).

Maintenance

• Retain and maintain pedestrian cut-through access within residential areas.

Housing Priorities

• Work with social housing providers to seek new ways of maximising the availability of new homes for rent.
• Research and publicise innovative solutions employed elsewhere to meet the need for affordable homes.
• Engage with Dorset Council to promote the use of brownfield sites to meet the demand for homes and jobs.
• Encourage and support all social housing providers, including community land trusts, to facilitate the provision of social rent and affordable open market homes for local people as a top priority.
• Engage with Dorset Council on initiatives such as Project Weymouth 2021 to address the underlying causes of the lack of social mobility in Westham, Melcombe Regis, Rodwell, Chapelhay, and Littlemoor.
• Research successful projects on the effective incorporation of HMO’s in residential areas.

Environment

• Support the establishment of community groups to landscape, plant up and maintain green space around existing and new housing developments.
• Adopt a policy of supporting larger gardens in new homes when providing advice on planning consent.

JOBS

Training and Development

• Work with Weymouth College and other further and higher education training providers to create a greater range of locally accessible training programs in order to build the local skill base and attract high tech job providers.
• Seek University status for Weymouth College and develop a range of degree level courses.
• Seek to work with education providers to establish apprenticeships and higher skill jobs, particularly in the marine and renewable technology sectors.
• Support mature adult education provision.

Utilisation of Redundant Buildings

• In the absence of development seek opportunities to better utilise the non/under-used floor space at Westway House.

New Employment Opportunities

• Set up a forum to explore and generate support for employment opportunities that utilise renewable energy technologies and those that are marine and coastal related.
• Investigate options to create jobs in untapped areas of the renewable sector such as wave and tidal energy generation.
• Prioritise increased jobs and skill development opportunities within the Low Carbon Renewable Energy Economy (LCREE).
• Commit to moving the focus from over-reliance on tourism to prioritise attracting a diverse range of all year round higher paid jobs with the Town Centre and industrial estates as the focus for new employment development.
• Develop the Park and Ride facilities to create new jobs.
• Recognise and promote Heritage and Culture as important year-round economic opportunities.
• Support facilities on employment sites for collaborative working.

Job Retention

• Give priority support to food and convenience goods provision in and on the edge of the Town Centre (secondary retail outlets).
• Protect local retail centres such as those at Wyke Regis, Littlemoor, Abbotsbury Road, Westham, Lodmoor Hill, Southill, Preston.
• Work with existing businesses, particularly in the Town Centre, to promote more diverse job opportunities.

Local Jobs

• Seek to work with local employers to create work opportunities that avoid the need to commute.

SUSTAINABLE ENVIRONMENTS

Renewable Energy Generation and Energy Conservation

• Identify further current methods for monitoring the annual % of energy generated/used by area/ward.
• Take a quantifiable approach to setting targets for energy generation and conservation, reduction in carbon emissions, sustainable travel, local food production, waste minimisation and use the Supporting Environmental Targets in the Neighbourhood Plan as a benchmark for progress.
• Seek opportunities to benefit from the latest developments in wind & wave power generation technologies.
• Promote the incorporation of solar panels on residential, commercial and public buildings.
• Facilitate a community bulk buying solar Photovoltaic panel scheme.
• Support community mini-hydro generation projects along the River Wey.
• Seek a more appropriate use for Westham Bridge – consider feasibility of mini-hydro electricity generation and water-based leisure use.
• Develop a centre of excellence for sustainability and renewable energy at Tumbledown Farm.
• Assess the feasibility of small scale solar farms on council owned land and support community schemes.
• Investigate provision of motion triggered lighting on cut throughs.

Retrofitting Existing Buildings

• Establish a strong working relationship with Social Housing landlords for retrofitting and identify funding sources.
• Research successful schemes and engage with business groups to promote sustainability and retrofitting.
• Work with Dorset-wide retrofit groups to promote and advise on projects.
• Engage with businesses to raise the profile of retrofit and its benefits.

Improved Public and Sustainable Transport Provision

• Promote retention and use of Park and Ride services and car sharing.
• Promote use of electric vehicle public transport.
• Work with Dorset Council and transport providers to enhance integration of bus and rail services.
• Develop a bus travel plan focused on improved services and connectivity.
• Encourage enhanced bus services during major events.
• Provide better route information and multi-use transport options.
• Support community bus schemes.
• Support reduced bus fare initiatives.
• Improve communication of transport service changes.
• Establish electric cycle hire schemes.
• Develop cycleways on school routes.
• Expand walking and cycling routes linked to Weymouth Trails.
• Improve cycle network and safe crossings.
• Increase safe cycle parking facilities.
• Identify locations for electric bike hire stations.
• Promote park and walk schemes for schools.
• Identify sites for EV charging points and set priorities.
• Promote awareness of car sharing schemes.

Waste Management

• Engage with community groups to encourage waste reduction.
• Promote waste segregation bins in schools and public areas.
• Encourage community litter picks.
• Promote water saving schemes.
• Promote recycling and deposit return schemes.
• Ban single use plastics by WTC and concessions.
• Strive for zero-waste and circular economy practices.
• Support “climate smart” initiatives.
• Establish repair cafes.
• Expand water refill stations.

Air Quality

• Work with Dorset Council to mitigate traffic congestion and pollution.

Road Safety

• Consider traffic speed restrictions on the waterfront.
• Address parking issues in key areas.
• Promote 20mph zones through community engagement.

Flooding

• Assess effectiveness of drainage systems and water collection ponds.
• Use natural features like water meadows to mitigate flooding.
• Promote apps identifying flood/heat risk areas.
• Encourage sustainable land management to reduce flooding risk.
• Develop community flood plans.

Education, Support and Advice on Sustainable Living

• Support education initiatives on energy conservation.
• Develop Tumbledown Farm as a sustainability hub.
• Promote sustainable building practices.
• Engage youth and schools in sustainability projects.
• Support community funding applications.
• Promote climate initiatives and partnerships.
• Produce a sustainability guide for residents.
• Encourage sustainable living practices in public spaces.
• Promote local procurement policies.
• Create a public forum for monitoring sustainability actions.

Ecology

• See Biodiversity under Landscape and Green Space.

COMMUNITIES

Walkable Communities

• Support retention of community shops and services including those at Lennox Street, Park Street, Southill, Chalbury Corner, Preston, Abbotsbury Road, Chapelhay, Eastern Radipole Spa, Broadwey, Littlemoor.
• Give priority to local shops and services providing a local need e.g. consumer outlets, local surgeries.
• Encourage and support the change to Town Centre outlets in response to changes in peoples shopping habits and recreational preferences.
• Support the creation of walkable neighbourhoods where all facilities are within a ten-minute walk and maintain existing pedestrian access routes.
• Consult with Dorset Council and the statutory agencies on the incorporation of walkways into the flood defences by the marina along Westway Road.
• Work with local communities to develop local history and nature trails and promote use of access to the countryside and open spaces.
• Encourage and support local organisations and community groups who wish to register community assets (e.g. pubs, community halls, open spaces) with Dorset Council as Assets of Community Value.

Community Social Hubs

• Support multi-use of existing community hubs to help ensure viability e.g. pop up services, libraries lending tools and toys as well as books, shopping outlets in pubs.
• Support the creation of new community hubs where these are lacking e.g. Rodwell South.
• Provide and promote community meeting areas e.g., community benches and outdoor social areas (such as at Chapelhay Shops) with noticeboards.
• Maximise the use of Tumbledown Farm as a Community asset.
• Work with Dorset Council and relevant organisations to investigate options for a central hub where people with learning difficulties are able to network.

Shopping, Culture and Arts

• Seek finance to update and implement the Seafront Master Plan and the Town Centre Master Plan so as to improve the waterfront and provide the Town Centre with a better mix of social attractions and facilities.
• Consult with communities on the incorporation of street furniture e.g. planters and art projects that enhance the culture and character of the local neighbourhood and which help retain community culture and identity.
• Create opportunities for creative arts.
• Seek to identify sites and financial support for the provision of a Culture and Arts centre.
• Encourage and support green infrastructure projects e.g. Wesley Street.
• Identify and assign additional live performance areas, particularly in the Town Centre.
• Promote community focussed diverse events, for example, litter picks, music events.

Leisure and Recreation

• Support enhanced provision of community growing space and related group projects.
• Improve access and facilities at Newtons Cove for water sports e.g. through concessions.
• Maintain support for local recreational and sports facilities e.g. Redlands, The Marsh/Moonfleet and seek to extend the range of available activities e.g. basketball court, children’s play area, community orchard.
• Secure the future of Weymouth Swimming Pool and Fitness Centre as a vital community facility.
• Reinstate the area at the top of the footpath to Cassiobury Road currently used for parking as an adopted play area and incorporate signs and litter bins.
• Work with Dorset Council and other organisations to improve art, sport and social facilities.
• Seek to provide greater flexibility of opening times for sports and leisure facilities to meet the diversity of needs.
• Create indoor leisure areas in the Town Centre.
• Develop the area to the east of Westham Bridge for water recreation and leisure use.
• Support a strategy which leads to the creation of a food-focused destination by the waterside (fine dining) and which builds upon existing provision and prioritises opportunities for more family friendly mid-range restaurants as well as bringing new life into the public spaces through diverse festivals, sports and art events and encouraging after dark use by a wider demographic.
• Work with the Youth Council to identify the types of young persons facilities required in communities.
• Work with local communities to establish Voluntary Community Maintenance agreements on amenity land.

Tourism

• Continue to support jobs in the tourism sector and prioritise the need to adapt to meet the changing needs of tourists whilst maintaining a focus on eco-tourism.
• Assess the viability and support for innovative ideas such as a rail heritage attraction or rail themed cafe/accommodation at Weymouth rail station/sidings.
• Create a visitor hub at Mount Pleasant with café, vehicle hire (e-bikes etc), along with overnight camper van parking facilities.
• Support the expansion of the Sea Life centre and adjacent amenities to provide a more diverse range of leisure offerings.
• Explore options to extend beach concessions and out of season activities e.g. beach huts.
• Explore feasibility of establishing water sports and boat hire/trips concessions from a possible new pier west of the Oasis.
• Promote tourism jobs at Bowleaze Cove leisure area and the Riviera Hotel.
• Extend facilities at Lodmoor Country Park to create additional jobs.
• Support indoor tourism provision as a way to enhance the tourist attraction in Weymouth and create additional all year round tourism employment opportunities.
• Take into account the need to adapt to post-Covid new working/trading practices in the tourism sector.
• Focus on high-quality attractions that provide differentiation to the visitor mix and have all-year-round sustainability.
• Focus the provision of tourism facilities in areas which are accessible without the need for a car.

Eco Tourism

• Work with the local tourist sector to undertake research into and evaluate the impact of climate change and to seek opportunities to both benefit from and mitigate against the effects.
• Collaborate with the tourist sector to define and develop an Eco town concept.
• Approach ‘We Are Weymouth’ about the promotion of an Eco-town concept.
• Work with the Information shop and Climate Hub to co-ordinate and promote information on eco-tourism.
• Approach Bournemouth University regarding current research on Eco-Towns and explore how they might help Weymouth use this to develop the Eco town concept.
• Encourage a comprehensive suite of eco-tourism offers promoting the green and blue natural assets and heritage across Weymouth supported by attractively priced accommodation (B&B, holiday camp eco chalets, and lodges).

Allotments and Agriculture

• Extend allotment accessibility by working with access and disability groups to provide practical solutions such as raised beds.
• Consult with allotment holders in order to improve site facilities and identify appropriate locations for new allotments sites.
• Work with farmers and growers to help maintain hedgerows and dry stone walls.

Getting Around

• Work with public transport providers to improve bus services to outlying areas particularly in the evenings, for leisure events and access to workplaces.

Heritage

• Encourage and support local communities in making additions to the Local List of non-designated assets and the identification of Assets of Community Value and consider alternative means of protection.
• List the Old Town Hall as an Asset of Community Value.
• Consult with the Local Planning Authority on updating and improving the Conservation Area Appraisals and ensuring their enforcement.
• Continue to develop waymarked history trails whilst also making use of current technology.
• Work with the Local Planning Authority and local community groups to develop local heritage and nature walks.
• Prepare a list of unused buildings and seek ideas and options for bringing them into community use.

Community Safety

• Encourage liaison between the police and local community representatives to reduce anti-social behaviour and crime and address road safety issues.