THE future is pleasant – Mount Pleasant – as a new home for Weymouth Football Club is investigated on land next to the park and ride site.
The Echo understands a site for the Terras’ 5,000-capacity community stadium and associated facilities is being looked at between Weymouth Rugby Club and the overflow car park of the underused Mount Pleasant park and ride facility.
Proposals are at an early stage with nothing agreed and no planning application submitted.
However if plans progress successfully with all parties in agreement, it could provide a modern new home fit for the 21st century for the Southern Premier Division side.
The land is about half a mile from a site next to Lodmoor Country Park previously considered for the club but rejected by councillors last summer.
Any new application would be subject to consultation and have to go before Weymouth and Portland Borough Council for consideration.
West Dorset District Council would also have a say on the matter as it is linked to a new homes plan.
Developers Wessex Delivery LLP must provide a replacement stadium for the Terras as part of strict planning obligations agreed last year when it was given the go-ahead to build up to 170 homes on the current site of Weymouth Football Club at Chickerell. Work cannot start at the Bob Lucas Stadium until a satisfactory alternative stadium is available for use.
At the West Dorset District Council planning meeting last October it was revealed that discussions were progressing for an alternative site and that a planning application for a new stadium could be submitted ‘early in 2015’.
Speaking after that meeting, Weymouth FC chairman Chris Pugsley described two potential sites in Weymouth for a new ground as ‘very positive and suitable’.
However no plan has come forward.
Asked by the Echo yesterday about the possibility of the Mount Pleasant site, Mr Pugsley said he was unable to comment, but said the club would be releasing a statement at the AGM tomorrow night.
Weymouth Rugby Club chairman Ian McMillan said: “I’ve heard rumours but I don’t believe in rumours. I’m not prepared to comment until I have the facts.”
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The park and ride will be closed this winter as the county council moves to make the troubled service break even.
Operators and landowners Dorset County Council said it had not been approached and was not in discussions regarding the site for the football club.
