COUNCILLORS have re-jected a £67,000 legacy trail after comparing information points to ‘sewer pipes’.

They turned down plans for nine 2.43-metre high, three-dimensional red rings that would have linked Littlemoor in Weymouth to Portland Bill.

Members of Weymouth and Portland Borough Council’s planning committee said the rings were ‘appalling’ and ‘looked as though they were left over from the Weymouth Relief Road’.

Lottery cash would have been partly used to fund the trail, which was designed to be in place for the Olympics.

Committee members blasted the trail’s concrete red rings, which were created by commissioned artists KHBT to frame views of the borough and provide seating and information.

One of the rings was due to be placed on Weymouth Esplanade near to the Jubilee Clock.

Councillor Peter Farrell said: “They are appalling. What we should be doing is providing things for kids.

“How we ever thought this was the right way to go with the legacy money I don’t know.

“I want to see it used for things that matter, not for sewer pipes to be shoved on a Georgian seafront. It will impact on the amenity of the area.”

Councillors said they were concerned that the rings would be vandalised.

Mayor Graham Winter said: “It will be a challenge for people to loosen them and roll them down the hill.

“I have to agree that they don’t enhance the area at all.”

The remaining eight rings, said in the application to be a ‘subtle nod’ to the Olympics, would have been placed in Littlemoor, Lodmoor, Radipole, Chesil and on Portland at New Ground, the Engine Shed, Cheyne Weares and Portland Bill.

The application was recommended for approval.

Councillor Margaret Leicester said: “I think these are the most intrusive things I have seen for the landscape.

“I can’t understand why anybody would come up with an idea like this and think we would all like it.”

The ring designs will look ‘horrible’ if they become ‘splattered with bird poo’, Councillor Christine James said.

She added: “They look as though they were left over from the relief road.

“It’s like the man upstairs has slipped over and emptied his bag of hula hoops.

“Why can’t we spend money on the things we need?”

David Mannings said: “I don’t like it at all. They will be called the sewer rings.

“I’m against it.”

• Weymouth Civic Society objected to the rings and wrote: “We consider these to be artificial, industrial, urban shapes set intrusively as alien features in the natural environment.”

Councillor Kevin Hodder said he agreed with the society’s objection.

“Artificial alien shapes is probably the best comment I have heard about this photo.

“If we can’t come up with a better design that’s in keeping with our environment, I think that’s a pretty poor show,” he said.

• The only councillor who backed the designs was Councillor Ray Banham.

He said: “I’m going to support this. They are eye-catching and all the information is there.

“This is the 21st century and we have got to get used to it.

“I like old things but I’m living in the 21st century.

“I’m going to upset everyone here by saying I will put my hand up and support this idea.”