FUNFAIR FIASCO: Weymouth Town Council scraps majority of funfair bookings amid complaints of anti-social behaviour!

It's game over for the majority of Weymouth's funfair bookings this year, as town councillors voted to veto the proposed dates at a meeting of the Services committee. The decision was made following repeated complaints from hotel and guest house leaseholders about the disruptive noise and unruly behaviour of gangs of youths on fair nights.

The move has been met with a mixed response, as the debate saw an avalanche of support for fairground operators from members of the public. Despite this, only the previously agreed funfair bookings will go ahead in 2023, which includes a total of 20 days' worth of bookings at the Jubilee Clock, and the Easter funfair on the Pavilion forecourt from April 7th to 16th.

The total amount of funfair bookings for the year has been drastically reduced from the original 71 days proposed, after the council tried to find alternative locations at the Peninsula area behind the Pavilion and the Swannery car park. However, these options were vetoed by the landowner, Dorset Council.

Phil Say, Director of Weymouth Pavilion CIC, said that the presence of the funfair had led to a significant increase in anti-social behaviour inside and outside the Pavilion, which had forced them to pay for security staff. Nonetheless, councillor Ryan Hope acknowledged the tremendous public support for the fairground operators, and highlighted that the council had tried to find a compromise.

Despite this, the debate ultimately ended with the council scrapping most of the funfair bookings for 2023, leaving operators and supporters disappointed. It remains to be seen whether alternative locations or a resolution to the complaints will be found, but one thing's for sure – the debate over Weymouth's seafront funfairs isn't over yet!