Update on Greenhill Rafts Decision

On Wednesday 22nd April, the Environment and Services Committee made a decision on Greenhill Rafts.

The Council sought legal advice from a law firm specialising in health and safety. The report which went to the committee to consider can be downloaded below:

A statement in relation to the background of how the decision was made is below.

“Following a decision made at the Environment and Services Committee on April 22nd, the rafts will not be returning to Greenhill Beach in 2026. This has been an agonising decision and not one that has been taken lightly.  

“A number of other options were previously considered but none of these were viable. We have since taken legal advice from a firm specialising in health and safety and supplied them with all the RNLI reports and correspondence that the Council had received, along with other background information including committee reports, and correspondence with our insurance company. 

“The solicitors concluded that the documentation provided clear and compelling evidence of a significant risk to the public. 

“The report they provided demonstrates that effective mitigation measures for the rafts are not realistically deliverable in practice. No operator is willing or able to provide the necessary supervision or operational support, and key risks remain at the highest level.   

“This position is compounded by the withdrawal of insurance cover for the rafts, which cannot currently be reinstated. In these circumstances, Weymouth Town Council would be exposed to a significant liability risk should the rafts be redeployed. Any claim brought against us would be difficult to defend given the risks to public safety that have been identified. 

“Based on the legal advice received, the removal of the rafts is not simply the lowest risk option, but the only option which can properly be regarded as legally and operationally defensible.”

ENDS

In addition, the Environment and Services Committee also agreed to create a cross-party work party to inform and assist the following:  

 i) Funds to be considered for professional research to be undertaken by a marine safety/leisure expert to find safe provision of a raft or alternative leisure swimming/marine facility.   

ii) A report to be submitted early in the new year to allow a decision and procurement to take place before the 2027 season.   

Members of the cross-party group will be decided at the next meeting. 

To view the livestream of the meeting, visit the Council’s YouTube channel.

Notes to Editors

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