Joint Statement About Weymouth

Cllr Jon Orrell, Mayor of Weymouth, and Cllr Nick Ireland, Leader of Dorset Council, have made the following joint statement responding to unfair criticism about the town.

“A recent article in the national press unfairly criticised our wonderful town of Weymouth referring to it as a ‘scummy ghost town,’ an accusation we totally refute. We stand together to ensure an accurate picture of our fantastic coastal town cuts through the negative reporting, and we were heartened to read some of the lovely comments from both residents and visitors who responded to share their thoughts about what they love about Weymouth.

“Weymouth Town Council and Dorset Council are committed to working together to improve the quality of life for all residents of Weymouth. We want to build a stronger, more vibrant Weymouth to ensure it succeeds as a place where everyone can live, work, and enjoy life.

“We know that Weymouth is a great place to live, as well as visit, and we wanted to shout about some of that good news with you and celebrate how wonderful our town is.

• We’ve been voted Britain’s Best Beach for a reason – it came from the people who visit us year on year. The large expanse of golden sand, safe sea, free toilets and showers, cafes, shops and attractions give you everything you need for a brilliant day at the seaside.
• The original and still best traditional seaside resort. It was made famous with royal patronage when George III introduced sea bathing and remains unequalled
• We host and put on a range of events such as the Ironman, and festivals that are attended by residents and visitors alike and have a free concert on the beach to look forward to in May when we honour VE Day 80.
• Dorset Council has committed to invest significantly in the town; from regeneration of several key development sites to £10m flood defence schemes and improvements to public areas. 
• The investment in new facilities at Weymouth Quay are intended to benefit the fishermen and other harbour businesses to thrive, putting more money back into Weymouth’s economy.
• Beyond the beach we have great independent shops and chain stores – 19 new businesses have opened in the past year, and major brands like Primark announced they will open a store in the town in 2026. And a flagship M&S store is also set to open at Gateway Retail Park in 2027, creating an extra 45 jobs. 
• Our historic working harbour is renowned for its sea-to-plate dining experiences, as well as many other fine dining and more traditional seaside eateries.
• Weymouth has some award-winning attractions – from the rides on the beach, to fairs, to the Sealife Centre and the Nothe Fort which is celebrating a £1.4m grant to help them go from strength to strength.
• Weymouth also has award-winning gardens across the town from Sandsfoot to Greenhill, and we know from feedback that our skateparks and play areas are well loved.
• There’s a new family hub launching at Littlemoor in the next few weeks, aimed at offering free advice, guidance and support for new families in the area.
• Crime levels have significantly reduced in the town thanks to the work of the Police, the community safety team, and the Business Improvement District Rangers.
• Both councils work hard to keep the beach and town litter free, and everyone can help with this by always putting your rubbish in a bin or taking it home.

“We know that our water quality is “good” and we’re working in partnership to get that back up to “excellent”. We can’t do that alone.

“If you visit any seaside town, or any town for that matter, you’ll see closed shops, that’s something all towns are struggling with, but not every town has the amazing things to offer that we do.

“We’re proud to work together and with partners including Dorset Police, Dorset NHS, We Are Weymouth, The Chamber of Commerce and our varied businesses, awesome attractions, and inspirational communities to make the very best of what we have.

“And this year Weymouth shares the Towns of Culture honour with Portland Town Council and a host of partners – all working to make this one of best years Weymouth has seen in a long time. Join us on that journey of positivity and growth, because when we work together, we will achieve so much more.

“Let’s talk up Weymouth and all be part of the success!”

ENDS