A NEW public transport interchange on the site of Weymouth's railway station is included in plans for a major revamp of the town published today.

The King Street transport hub, taking in bus and taxi services, would also boast co-ordinated timetables and improved facilities for pedestrians and cyclists.

The transport scheme is part of a wide-ranging 10 year plan introduced by Weymouth and Portland Borough Council today.

Review ideas and policies are designed to shape the future of the resort for the next decade and they embrace everything from housing and employment to community facilities and tourism.

Four two-week exhibitions will be held around Weymouth to explain the proposals and ask for public views starting with the first exhibition in Weymouth Central Library today.

Review proposals also include safeguarding the route for the A354 Brown Route Dorchester Road Relief Road and long term reservations of land for the A354 Western Route Rodwell and Wyke Regis Relief Road and the Underhill Relief Road.

Proposed housing developments on the former air station at Portland and at Littlemoor in Weymouth are also dealt with, as is employment development on the air station site, at Southwell and off the Wessex roundabout in Weymouth.

Other points dealt with include the gasholder site on Westwey Road, Weymouth, where a mixed use development may be preferred including a new home for Asda supermarket.

Tourist development is also earmarked for the ferry terminal and Lodmoor Country Park in Weymouth and at the former air station site.

Other concepts include a Portland Quarry Park and Stone Centre, land for community use in Southill, Littlemoor and Underhill, improved leisure facilities at the swimming pool site in Knightsdale Road, Weymouth, and improvements to the footway, cycleway and local highway network.

Reviewing the Local Plan will extend its life from 2001-2011 and set out policies for the control of development and land use in the borough to provide the basis on which planning applications are determined.

All these proposals together with policies designed to protect borough assets such as trees, open spaces, historical sites and buildings, coastline and important nature sites, leisure and tourist attractions are set out in a leaflet entitled What is the Weymouth and Portland Local Plan Review?

The leaflet, the Local Plan and comment forms will be available at council offices in Weymouth and Portland and local libraries while an exhibition on the Local Plan will be touring Weymouth for the next eight weeks until the Local Plan formally goes on deposit on March 13.

Environment Committee chairman Coun Jim Churchouse said: "This Local Plan gives local people and others with an interest in the area the opportunity to help shape the future planning of the borough.

"I would encourage you all to go to your local library and look at the Plan. There are a whole range of proposals which I know local people are interested in and we do need to hear your views to help us decide how to take the plan forward."

Objections or support for policies and proposals in the Plan must be made in writing using comment forms provided.

When the borough council has considered all the comments a Revised Deposit Plan will be prepared and, if any objections remain unresolved, a Local Plan Inquiry will be held.