Health and safety ‘killjoys’ blamed as Dorset council scraps popular beach rafts after 87 years

Apr 28, 2026 · 10:17 AM UTC ·7 min read · 0 reactions · 0 comments · 26 views

#local government #public safety #beach amenities #health and safety #community reaction

Health and safety ‘killjoys’ blamed as Dorset council scraps popular beach rafts after 87 years

TL;DR · WeSearch summary

Weymouth Town Council has decided to permanently remove two popular beach swimming rafts that had been in place for 87 years due to health and safety concerns. Legal advice warned the rafts posed a significant public risk and could lead to criminal liability for the council. The decision has sparked backlash from locals who argue the rafts were safe and an important part of the beach experience.

Key facts

▪The Weymouth beach rafts have been in use since 1939 and were a long-standing feature for swimmers.
▪A legal assessment concluded the rafts posed a significant risk and their continued use could result in criminal prosecution under health and safety laws.
▪The RNLI raised concerns that the rafts were outside the primary area covered by beach lifeguards, increasing safety risks.
▪Local swimmers, including the Weymouth Bluetits group, expressed anger, noting no prior accidents had occurred on the rafts.
▪Weymouth Town Council, led by the Liberal Democrats, voted to remove the rafts based on the legal and safety assessment.

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Original publisher	The Independent
Canonical URL	https://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/home-news/weymouth-beach-rafts-removed-dorset-b2966289.html
Publication time	Tue, 28 Apr 2026 10:17:25 GMT
Retrieval time	2026-04-28T10:28:43.855Z
Last seen	2026-04-28T10:28:43.855Z
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Opening excerpt (first ~120 words) tap to expand

NewsUKHome NewsHealth and safety ‘killjoys’ blamed as Dorset council scraps popular beach rafts after 87 yearsThe platforms have been used by generations of swimmersJames Podesta Tuesday 28 April 2026 11:17 BSTBookmarkCommentsGo to commentsBookmark popoverRemoved from bookmarksClose popover{"translations":{"comments":"Go to comments","share":"Share","copyLink":"Copy link","bookmark":"Bookmark","removeBookmark":"Remove bookmark"},"showComments":true,"showBookmark":true,"articleId":"b2966289","articleMeta":{"url":"https://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/home-news/weymouth-beach-rafts-removed-dorset-b2966289.html","title":"Health and safety ‘killjoys’ blamed as Weymouth scraps beach rafts after 87 years"}}Related: Dolphins play with Weymouth lifeboat crewYour support helps us to tell the…

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