It's official - the borough council is no more and Weymouth Town Council has opened its doors for the first time.

Today marks the inception of the new council which has been established as part of the local government reorganisation in Dorset. It will cover the entire borough except the area covered by Portland Town Council.

Based at the town council offices on Commercial Road, Weymouth Town Council will be responsible for maintaining Weymouth beach and The Esplanade, greenspaces including Greenhill, Nothe and Radipole Gardens, historical monuments like the Jubilee Clock and King George III’s bathing machine, and the town’s public toilets, cemeteries and allotments.

The town council is also responsible for community development work and civic activities across Weymouth.

However as reported in the Echo, car parks, hotels, B&Bs and the harbour have been transferred to the new Dorset Council along with the Peninsula development site behind the Pavilion.

Weymouth Town Clerk Jane Biscombe said: “Weymouth Town Council is up and running and 100 per cent focussed on serving our town and the people who live, work and visit here.“Weymouth is a beautiful and unique place with much to be proud of and even more to look forward to.

“We are committed to working with local people to ensure their voices are heard and that they can help shape and influence the future of our fantastic town.”

It has been agreed that 29 councillors will be elected with the area divided into 12 wards, although this number may be reviewed.

Preparations are now underway for the town council to hold its first ever election, and people can still put themselves forward to stand for election as a town councillor until Wednesday.

Local government elections will take place on Thursday, May 2.

Weymouth Town Council will share its reception space with Dorset Council, which has replaced the district and borough councils (East Dorset, North Dorset, Purbeck, West Dorset, Weymouth and Portland) and Dorset County Council.

Residents can access frontline services provided by Dorset Council in Weymouth, such as housing advice, benefits and planning pre-application advice.

The town council’s contact number is 01305 239839. Its opening hours are from 9am to 4pm Monday to Friday. The opening hours for Dorset Council services in Weymouth are from 8.30am to 5pm Monday to Thursday, and 8.30am until 4.30pm on Fridays.