In a surprise move, councillors have tonight vetoed proposed dates for funfairs following complaints about noise and anti-social behaviour from hotel and guest house leaseholders.

The decision at tonight’s meeting of Weymouth Town Council’s Services committee meeting means only previously-agreed funfair bookings will go ahead in 2023.

The previously agreed bookings include a total of 20 days’ worth of bookings on various dates at the Jubilee Clock, and the Easter funfair on the Pavilion forecourt (April 7th - 16th).

This means the total amount of funfair bookings for 2023 has been considerably reduced from the 71, and latterly 74, days originally proposed.

It comes after the town council attempted to compromise by finding alternative locations, including at the Peninsula area behind the Pavilion, and the Swannery car park. However these options were ruled out by landowner Dorset Council.

As reported, members of the Weymouth Hoteliers Guest Houses and Leaseholders Association have been vociferous in their opposition to the funfairs due to “screaming, public urinating and drug taking” by gangs of youths on fair nights.

The debate saw an avalanche of support for fairground operators by members of the public.

At tonight’s meeting, councillor Ryan Hope said that although the hoteliers had been vocal in their concerns, there had also been a huge response from the community, and that members of the public had been “absolutely shocked” by the prospect of the council scrapping the funfairs.

Phil Say, Director, Weymouth Pavilion CIC said anti-social behaviour both inside and outside the Pavilion increases dramatically with the fairground’s presence, and that the Pavilion has had to pay for security staff as a result.

You can watch the full meeting below:

The vote at the meeting was as follows:

Against the fairground dates: Cllr Kevin Brookes Upwey Cllr Tia Roos Melcombe Regis Cllr Helen Toft Wyke Regis Cllr Matt Bell Wey Valley Cllr Peter Dickinson Preston (Proposer)

In support: Cllr Ryan Hope Westham East Cllr Graham Lambert Weymouth East.

Before tonight's decision, proposed alternative sites included the Swannery car park and peninsula area behind the Pavilion.

Dorset Council’s harbourmaster said the peninsula cannot be used as construction work is to begin imminently, which rules the site out for the next two years.

Meanwhile Dorset Council’s parking services manager said the cost of hiring it to the town council would make its use “unviable.”

In a statement ahead of the meeting, the Weymouth Hoteliers Guest Houses and Leaseholders Association said: “We find the responses from Dorset Council regarding the use of the Pavilion or Swannery car parks to be very disappointing. 

“There is an incredible amount of wasted space on the Pavilion car park and building work has been “imminent” for many years now. 

“We understand, however, that the responses from Dorset Council are beyond the control of Weymouth Town Council and we would like to repeat our thanks to all concerned for their efforts."