The Western and Southern Area Planning Committee of Dorset Council scheduled a meeting to take place on 02 October 2025. The agenda included discussion of planning applications relating to Buckland Campsite, the King George III Statue, the Weymouth War Memorial, and the Paracademy Kite Surfing Centre. The committee was also scheduled to confirm the minutes of their meeting held on 04 September 2025.

Paracademy Kite Surfing Centre

The committee was scheduled to consider an application concerning the Paracademy Kite Surfing Centre in Victoria Square, Portland. Craig Smith has applied to retain the existing building with alterations to windows and doors for mixed use as a drinking establishment with food provision and a kitesurfing school/shop.

The planning officer, Robert Parr, had recommended that the application be refused, stating that:

The proposed development is unacceptable, it does not accord with the policies of the development plan and the NPPF and it is recommended for refusal due to flood risk.

According to the report pack, the key planning issues were:

• Principle of development
• Proposed mixed use
• Scale, design, impact on character and appearance
• Impact on the living conditions of the occupants and neighbouring properties
• Flood risk
• Economic benefits
• Highway impacts, safety, access and parking

The report pack notes that the site is in Flood Zones 2 and 3¹. The Environment Agency (EA) objected to the proposal, stating that the flood risk assessment did not comply with planning practice guidance². The EA stated that the site is vulnerable to rapid inundation from water overtopping Chesil Beach³. The EA also advised Dorset Council to consider the emergency planning and rescue implications of new development in making their decisions, and to consult emergency planners and services.

Weymouth War Memorial

The committee was scheduled to discuss an application concerning the Weymouth War Memorial, submitted by Weymouth Town Council. The application requests permission to install three new Portland stone plaques to be fixed to the existing panels of the memorial.

The planning officer, Nicola Yeates, recommended that listed building consent be granted subject to conditions.

The report pack notes that the American War Memorial is Grade II Listed⁴ and is located within the Weymouth Town Centre Conservation Area⁵. The memorial commemorates the American servicemen who passed through Weymouth to the beaches of Normandy in the Second World War.

The War Memorials Trust raised concerns over the proposals to introduce new flush plaques to the current recesses. They suggested that works are not urgently required, but rather an accurate record should be made and ongoing monitoring should occur.

King George III Statue

The committee was scheduled to discuss an application to replace the sceptre of the King George III Statue on the Esplanade, Weymouth. The statue is Grade I Listed⁶ and is located within the Weymouth Town Centre Conservation Area.

The planning officer, Nicola Yeates, recommended that listed building consent be granted subject to conditions.

Historic England supported the proposals, but stated that the application did not include any details of the design, materials or fixings. They advised that Dorset Council should ensure that this detail is provided and that all new materials and fixings are appropriate to ensure no longer term harm to the existing statue.

Buckland Campsite

The committee was scheduled to discuss an application concerning Buckland Campsite, Buckland House Lane, Buckland Ripers. Higher Moor Farm Ltd has applied for permission to use land as a camping site from 1st May to 30th September only, annually, as an extension to the season permitted by planning permissions WD/D/18/002905 and P/FUL/2021/00928.

The planning officer, Darren Rogers, made two recommendations:

• Delegate authority to the Service Manager for Development Management and Enforcement and the Area Manager for the Southern and Western Team to grant planning permission subject to the completion of a legal agreement to secure a contribution of £1799.05 to mitigate the impacts of the development on the Chesil and Fleet European site⁷ and subject to planning conditions.
• Refuse permission if the agreement is not completed by 6 months from the date of committee.

The report pack notes that the site is located outside of any defined development boundary.

Chickerell Town Council recommended refusal of this planning application on the grounds of impact on neighbours and the community, environmental and landscape impact, access and rights of way, planning policy and sustainability, and land use and amenity.

Dorset Wildlife Trust stated that there was insufficient ecological information to assess the impacts of the proposals.