REQUESTS for more public funds to be spent on work near Weymouth rail station forecourt have been met by a hard ‘no’ from local councillors.
The original design for the pocket park had to be scaled back after the project ran out of money.
Dorset Council has created a new design but is seeking contributions for carrying out the works which will cost around £22,900.
But when the request for funding was raised at a meeting of Weymouth Town Council’s services committee on Wednesday, councillor Alex Fuhrmann summed up the mood in the room by saying he had just two words in response to Dorset Council: ‘no way.’
Intended to reflect Weymouth’s railway heritage, the pocket park was created as part of the recently completed ‘Weymouth Gateway’ redevelopment of the nearby rail station forecourt.
The regeneration project cost a total of £1million, jointly funded by Dorset Council and Network Rail, but has received mixed feedback.
“I appreciate the ambition (Dorset Council) has got with this but we just cannot afford it – and why should we, quite frankly,” cllr Fuhrmann said during the debate on Wednesday.
Scathing rhetoric was offered by councillor Christine James, who said those at Dorset Council responsible for the pocket park “need their backsides kicking all around the room.”
“I’ve sat in so many meetings where they say ‘look at this wonderful design,’ and you think, ‘that is an absolute load of crass (sic),’” she added.
“I don’t think we should give them any more money - how can you call this a park? It’s just a board that’s been graffitied on with information about the railway – it’s all been made to look very pleasant but the drinkers still sit there.”
Councillor Jon Orrell said it is “shameful” that steel rails removed from the old Weymouth tramway are sitting in a depot, as they were supposed to form a heritage feature at the pocket park.
“If we have a chance to splash the cash I’d rather it was spent on helping kids to eat amid the cost of living crisis rather than on whimsical projects such as this,” added councillor Tia Roos.
The committee unanimously voted to reject the request for funding.
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