Calls for better transport links at Weymouth Gateway

Large retail units have opened at the Weymouth Gateway site and they will be joined in the next couple of years by a new Marks & Spencer superstore.

The new building will be double the size of the seafront M&S, which is likely to close in 2027, with 45 new jobs expected to be created by the new development, adding to the 340 already at the Gateway site.

There is already a McDonald's, Dunelm, B&M, and Aldi store on the relatively new Gateway site. Nearby is Sainsbury's, a number of offices and a hotel. 

While car parks are provided at the site there is only one bus link through the area (every 15 mins at peak times).

Ideas suggested including utilising the nearby park & ride site in some way or even bringing back a railway station at Radipole - the Weymouth-Waterloo line runs just behind the retail park. Building a new station however would cost millions.

CGI plans of the M&S at Weymouth Gateway (Image: Supplied) Weymouth Town Councillor for Radipole Cllr David Harris, said improved transport links are needed in the area to deal with the extra footfall as a result of the development.

He said: “We definitely need better transport links in the area because the area around Spa Road and Dorchester Road is congested by the traffic lights. There needs to be a more effective system in place to deal with the traffic.

“One area that needs to be utilised is the park and ride close to the shops as that is totally underused. Dorset Council should look into ways to best bring the park and ride into operation."

Cllr Harris went on to say that the transport links of the whole town need reassessing after the council announced that it is looking for developers to submit plans for the Weymouth Bowl and North Quay site. 

North Quay car park (Image: Cristiano Magaglio) He said: “What’s needed is a total look at transport in the whole if Weymouth with many sites growing including the sites owned by the council - there’s a lot of building going to happen but how are you going to transport people between the sites.

“We need to think the whole thing through quickly get on with things. We want to see better jobs, better facilities and for that to be achieved we need much better transport links and think of the whole town.

“In the next five years Weymouth has a great chance to move forward but we must not block this too early.”

One resident who wrote a letter to the Echo, Jeremy Bull, asked whether consideration could be given to opening a new railway station in the area - either in the immediate vicinity or possibly reopening the old Radipole Halt train station. 

It officially closed on New Year's Eve in 1983, and demolished on February 6, 1984 after British Rail announced that the wooden platform had become too unsafe for use. The company couldn’t justify the cost of repairs at the time, which saw the site off Spa Road demolished.

Cllr Harris said the council must look at all the options available with regards to bringing transport links to the area.

He said: “The train station is also worth looking at with any other ideas in mind. Even a little electric tram system could be a valuable asset.”

Another town councillor, Helen Toft for the Greens, said improving the transport links in the town is 'long overdue.' 

She said: "It would be nice to improve the bus service and to get the park and ride up and running. 

"A fleet of electric buses shuttling between the Gateway and the town centre would be good, as people would be denied access to the M&S which was in town. The whole system needs looking at. 

"It would be a nice idea to open the halt, to provide a shuttle train for people between Dorchester and the park and ride which could help to alleviate traffic over the Ridgeway."

A spokesperson for Dorset Council said that they are looking into options.

The spokesperson said: “We are at the start of a very exciting period of positive change for Weymouth.

"Through the planned regeneration and development of key sites in the town centre and at Weymouth Gateway, we are in the very early stages of considering what options may be available to us to improve transport links around Weymouth. Any options will need to focus on sustainable travel and must bring benefits for all.”

A spokesperson for bus firm First Wessex said: "We're always looking at ways to improve our bus services, and we’re currently exploring how best to connect residents across Weymouth with the new shopping facilities at Weymouth Gateway.”

Network Rail has been approached for comment.