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Weymouth Station Forecourt and new Pocket Park

Improvements to Weymouth Train Station forecourt, car park and pocket park.

Weymouth Station Gateway wins double at engineering awards

We are pleased to announce that the improvements to Weymouth Train Station forecourt, car park and pocket parkhas won two trophies at the ICE South West Civil Engineering Awards 2023 in November 2023.

As well as being presented with the Community Award, Weymouth Station Gateway was also given the Judges’ Special Award. The judging panel was impressed with the collaborative, respectful partnership behind the scheme, bringing together the local community, the rail company and the transport authority to improve the public realm. The judges described the project as an outstanding example of infrastructure that unites communities and improves people’s daily lives.

Read more here > Weymouth Station Gateway wins double at top engineering awards – Dorset Council news

Project overview

Weymouth train station has seen some significant improvements including transformation of the train forecourt into a more welcoming and user-friendly place for visitors and residents of the town, and a new Pocket Park that celebrates local heritage.

This multi-agency, partnership-led and funded project included:

  • Much improved station forecourt with new pedestrian areas and walking routes.
  • New open space in centre of forecourt available for pop-up events and seasonal Christmas Tree.
  • Information panels outlining the history of the railway in the area.
  • New bus interchange with direct links to Portland and the Jurassic Coast and real time rail, bus and local information screens.
  • Dedicated taxi rank.
  • Improved car park layout with new exit and lower wall with railings – improving visibility and public safety.
  • New Pocket Park alongside B&Q, including existing track and signage referencing Weymouth’s railway heritage.
  • Pocket Park also operates as a wide and much improved walk and cycle way to Radipole Park, Lakes and Jubilee Retail Park.
  • Completely refurbished canopy on platforms 2 and 3.
  • Additional secure cycle storage.
  • New station café with information displays promoting rail travel.
  • Crime prevention hub base for British Transport Police, SWR’s Rail Community Officers and local police.
  • Living wall adjacent to train station exit.

The project was coordinated by Dorset Coast Forum in consultation with the Project Steering Group who met on a regular basis to discuss updates, feed into the design plans and assist with decision making. Steering Group members are Dorset Coast Forum, Dorset Council, Weymouth Town Council, Weymouth BID, Community Safety Team, Public Health Dorset, South Western Railway, Weymouth Area Development Trust, First Wessex Buses, Local Melcombe Regis Councillors.

In addition, we worked closely with key stakeholders including Network Rail, WSP Design Consultants, Hanson Contracting, Dorset Police, British Transport Police and Weymouth Taxis Station Association.

Thank-you

We would like to give a huge thank-you to all project partners and stakeholders listed above for their time, completing the works and giving advice and support throughout the project.

Our gratitude also goes to the project funders, including Dorset Council for contributing around £727,000, including funds from the Local Transport Plan, Contain Outbreak Management Fund and Community Infrastructure Levy; and for Southwest Railways for contributing £436,000 from the Customer and Communities Improvement Fund.

Thank-you also to Public Health Dorset for £35,000 contribution towards the development of Pocket Park, We Are Weymouth for £15,000 contribution towards CCTV and Weymouth Town Council for contributing £1,000 towards maintenance and for agreeing to take on longer term maintenance of the historical information panels.

We would also like to thank Chris Smith from Smith and Jones for the creation of the historical information boards which can be seen at the station forecourt, at Pocket Park, the Loop and at the Quay. Thank-you to those who contributed photos and gave historical details that made up the content of the panels, including Graham Perry from Weymouth Museum, Geoff Pritchard and Mike Oakley.

Last, but not least, we would like to thank local residents and local businesses who gave their input into the original design, detailing what they felt were issues they wished to be resolved and elements they would like to see in this space. We hope that the final result is something that you and everyone else involved, can feel proud of.

Find out more about this project on Dorset Coast Forum’s Have Your Say website