Working with local people, West Dorset District Council produced 'A Vision for West Bay - Regeneration Framework' in 2003. This was adopted as supplementary planning guidance and formed the basis of a £1.25m enhancement scheme for West Bay.  Design work halted when government policy on flood risk changed, and the plans for the Mound areas had to be re-considered. Following further consultation with local residents and organisations, revised ideas for enhancement works were approved by the district council in June 2007.

The enhancement scheme: completed and on-going projects

• New public toilets in West Bay Road car park were completed in 2009.

• The existing harbour master's office and public toilets on the Mound have been refurbished and are now in use.

• The public toilets on Fisherman's Green have been passed to Bridport Town Council and will be made available for community uses.

• The district council set aside £100,000 towards the cost of building a sea angling jetty at West Bay. However, in the face of the escalating costs, and information on the likely safety issues and ongoing maintenance requirements, the steering group that was set up to progress this project reluctantly decided that the project for a new sea angling jetty would have to be abandoned. It is likely that the money will be used for other water-based recreation facilities in West Bay.

• Traffic management and environmental improvements are being prepared, and the district council is working with the county council to deliver the scheme. A set of draft detailed designs were subject to consultation in March and April of this year - copies of the display boards are on this page. Following feedback from local residents, community groups and businesses; priority will be given to the proposed works in West Bay Road, which are intended to encourage visitors to park in the West Bay Road car park and reduce the amount of traffic entering the harbour area. As part of this, access on foot from the car park to the area around the harbour will be improved. It is now hoped to implement the priority works during winter 2012/2013.

• The district council is working with the local community to secure the re-use of the Methodist Chapel.

 Current proposals

A hard landscaping scheme at the Mound

This will create a new multi-purpose open space to allow for car parking and occasional public events is due to start on 17 October and will be carried out during the winter of 2011/2012. The area will have new paving, street furniture and public artwork to reflect the history, geology and nature conservation of West Bay and its surroundings. An access ramp will also be constructed from the Mound car park to the refurbished harbour master's office. You can see an artist's impression (pdf, 222kb) (opens in a new window)  of what the finished work will look like. For further information contact the West Dorset District Council Local Policy Team.

West Bay Enhancement Fund

The district council is offering a total of £50,000 to enhance water-based recreation activities and amenity projects in West Bay. This is a one-off scheme that will offer grants of between £3,000 to £25,000 to voluntary groups, charities and to the town and parish councils. Grants can only be used for capital projects (e.g. buildings, building enhancement, public art, and equipment) and must be completed by December 2012. 

This scheme has now closed and no further applications will be accepted. Information on the grants awarded will be published in due course.    

• Name: Leisure & Tourism (West Dorset)
  Email: Leisure@westdorset-weymouth.gov.uk
  Tel: 01305 252250
  Fax: 01305 257039
  Full details for Leisure & Tourism (West Dorset)
• Name: Local Policy (West Dorset)
  Email: local.policy@westdorset-dc.gov.uk
  Tel: 01305 252386
  Fax: 01305 251481
  Full details for Local Policy (West Dorset)
• Name: Engineering (West Dorset)
  Email: engineers@westdorset-dc.gov.uk
  Tel: 01305 252356
  Fax: 01305 252349
  Full details for Engineering (West Dorset)