DOWNLIGHTS are to be added to the seven Victorian shelters on Weymouth Esplanade.

Six lights are planned for each of the grade 2 listed shelters which are all within the town’s Conservation Area.

The Dorset Council request is being recommended for approval at an area planning committee meeting in the coming days.

Officers say any ‘harm’ to the historic structures by the lighting units and cables would be offset by the public benefits, one of the exceptions when making changes to listed buildings and other structures.

The downlighters will be fitted to the ceiling of each of the shelters, with most of the wiring hidden from view.

The proposal has resulted in one objection, a Weymouth resident telling councillors in a letter that  no matter how the lights are fitted they will look out of place: “A lot of time and effort was spent prior to the Olympics to restore these shelters sympathetically and in keeping, to fit down lighters is not in keeping.”

Weymouth Town Council raised no objection when consulted.

A report to councillors says that uplighters were previously installed in the ground at each of the shelters, but these are no longer working and are no longer thought to be sensible when future repairs and maintenance are considered.