Dorset News
Weymouth town centre being killed claims TV expert
7:21am Tuesday 14th February 2012
HEFTY parking prices and a rundown town centre are killing Weymouth, according to a TV business expert.
And traders have backed Geoff Burch, who said that the town must improve before the Olympics or it will never win back visitors..
Mr Burch, who visited Weymouth and Dorchester in 2010 returned to both towns recently. He, said that whilst the county town hadn't changed much, Weymouth had 'definitely deteriorated.'
Mr Burch, who presents 'All Over the Shop' on BBC2, said: “Weymouth is an attractive, quirky town and it should be a destination town.
“But the council seem to have taken its eye off the ball in the run up to the Olympics.
“It is near impossible to find somewhere to park and when you do it is extremely expensive.
“I looked at the towns just over a year ago and while Dorchester hasn't changed much, Weymouth has definitely deteriorated.
“There are empty shops, 99p shops and there is a pervading feeling of neglect. It is such a shame because the town has so much to offer.
“The council should have free parking to encourage people to come to the town and get it moving again.
“It was pointed out to me that there is a great new road coming into town but I should also point out that is also makes it easier for people to leave and spend their money elsewhere.”
Robin Clark, who owns Meridian Shoes in Weymouth and has another store in Dorchester said: “In Dorchester, there is a very proactive attitude with the Business Improvement District (BID) and the way that the council tries to help local businesses, free parking days being an example of that.
“Weymouth is dying. The parking charges in Weymouth are ridiculous. We have customers saying they will never come again.”
Mr Clark said he believes that the new £100m Brewery Square development, due to open in Dorchester in 2014, will be the final blow for Weymouth.
“People don't come in to Weymouth now, when 2014 comes around it will be a ghost town.
“The thing that's most depressing is that the town has been given this great opportunity of the Olympics and the council has done nothing about it.
“What's ludicrous is the amount of money that has been spent on the roads when they are all going to be shut during the Olympics. “ Shaun Hennessey, owner of Blondz Hairdressing in St Edmund Street, said: “The town is suffering but no worse than most towns.
“I still think the number of empty shops is not that bad when you consider the number of shops we have doing alright.
“Obviously there's a problem but there is also a lot of good going on in the town and we are really trying to put that across.”
Mr Hennessey added that the attitude of Weymouth and Portland Borough Council is an issue for Weymouth.
“The council's arrogance is just unimaginable, especially when it comes to parking. It's already three or four times more expensive than Dorchester.”
Councillor Ian Munro-Price, brief holder for economic development at Weymouth & Portland Borough Council, said: “The council recognises the current economic challenges facing shops and businesses in Weymouth and is committed to supporting the local economy.
“There has already been a lot of improvements across the town including the £120 million relief road and £20m that has gone towards improvement to the town's transport infrastructure.
“The first phase of the £14m Granby Industrial Estate extension is due to be completed later this year and there are plans for a brand new headquarters for New Look as well as a hotel, family restaurant, a large amount of new employment space and a new Sainsbury's store on the site.
“Businesses are already planning to develop a Weymouth Business Improvement District.”
A JEWELLERY shop owner who was shortlisted to make the Royal wedding rings said that Weymouth Borough Council were unsupportive of his bid to open a store in the town.
Neil Strudwick, of Goldcrest Jewellers in Dorchester, said that he was not allowed shutters on premises in Weymouth.
He said: “I found that the council in Weymouth were not supportive of businesses like they are in Dorchester.
“I was told that we couldn't have covers because the council didn't want the town centre looking like Beirut.
“Well I've been to both Dorchester and Weymouth in the evenings and Dorchester is much more inviting.
“With the new Brewery Square development, Dorchester is a much more exciting place to be.
“When I wanted to do something beneficial for Weymouth and open a store in the town, I received very little support from the council.”