Let there be light!

Residents are invited to take part in a celebratory event to welcome Weymouth's new seafront lights.

Dorset Council and Weymouth Town Council are holding a public event on Thursday, December 19 at 6pm.

Lasting about 60 minutes, people will be able to see the lights up close and personal, view the different lighting cycles and hear from those who have worked on the project and its "cultural importance".

There will also be information displayed detailing the different stages of the project for those who would like to more know more.

Those wishing to attend should go along to the seafront opposite Alexandra Gardens.

Designed to complement the existing laser lights, reduce lighting 'clutter' and adhere to highway regulations, the lights comprise of 12 cycles. 10 are inspired by elements and activities of Weymouth and its community and two are ambient scenes that feature in between the 10 cycles.

The event will close with the 'gifting' of the lights from Dorset Council to Weymouth Town Council.

John Sellgren, Dorset Council Executive Director for Place Services, said: “We are very proud of the new lights, and would like to acknowledge all of those who have worked on the project, both internal (Weymouth Town Council, Dorset Council, and Dorset Coast Forum) and external (Tonkin Liu, Bounce Back Arts CIC, Weymouth BID, A.C Special Projects Ltd and Intratest Ltd).

"We would also like to thank residents who were involved, from the consultation process through to completion. The project celebrates the elements and activities of Weymouth, and the new lights bring a new lease of life to the seafront."

The Weymouth Promenade Artistic Lighting Scheme is part of Dorset Coastal Connections, a portfolio of 18 connected projects managed by the Dorset Coast Forum, which aim to improve physical, digital and emotional connections to the coast in Dorset, supporting and growing the local economy.

The Dorset Coast Forum asked people for their views to feed into the design brief which Bounce Back Arts developed.

You can find out more information on the lighting scheme, including final cost, financial contributions and lighting programme

at dorsetforyou.gov.uk