WEYMOUTH councillors have objected to alcohol licences for four premises in Weymouth - including a brand new fish and chip restaurant and a bar proposed on The Esplanade - amid concerns about street drinking and littering.

Their objections come despite work currently progressing to increase seating space outside pubs and restaurants on Weymouth Harbour to help boost trade when venues reopen their doors for customers on April 12.

Owners of a new café and bar, 'Sandbar Weymouth' at 123 The Esplanade, have applied for a licence to serve food and drinks to outside tables. The other three applications come from Tropical Turtle Caribbean restaurant at Maiden Street; The Ivy Coffee House and restaurant at Cove Row, and 'Fish and Chips Weymouth' at Frederick Place.

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All four have applied for alcohol licences to serve customers on and off the premises - but town councillors have lodged objections to Dorset Council amid concerns about drink-fuelled anti-social behaviour in the town - particularly around the Pier Bandstand and harbour.

Speaking at Weymouth's Planning and Licensing meeting, Melcombe Regis councillor Jon Orrell said: "Where they're serving alcohol with food at tables, that is great - the kind of family-friendly businesses we want for the town.

"But where it falls apart is when bars serve alcohol through hatches or to take away - that's where we're getting real trouble. We need to limit off-licence sales that aren't linked to food."

Cllr Orrell said the Tropical Turtle restaurant element is "wonderful - exactly what we want" - but is unhappy about proposals for a bar on the premises.

"We've already had a lot of trouble with a bar in that area and it took us a long time to shut it down," he said.

Meanwhile Fish and Chips Weymouth at Frederick Place is asking to serve alcohol to customers eating in and taking away between 11am until 9pm every day.

Councillor David Northam said: "I was surprised to see a fish and chip shop applying for a licence - if it's a sit-in licence that's tolerable but if it's take away fish and chips with take away alcohol I'm against that."

Councillor Lucy Hamilton said she had been in discussions with Dorset Council's licensing team and was reassured that all four premises had agreed to serve alcohol responsibly.

"I agree with the concerns raised - but what are we going to do - shut down the supermarkets?" she said.

"The issue is with individual drinkers - it has become a bit of a curse. We can't blame businesses for trying to get the hospitality sector going."

The committee voted unanimously in favour of objecting all four applications 'on the grounds of the risk of public nuisance and littering'.

Dorset Council will make the final licensing decision.