Weymouth: MFA Bowl could be turned into temporary car park

The bowling alley was a family-friendly attraction for locals and tourists

A temporary car park could be built on the site of a seaside town's former bowling alley.

The land off St Nicholas Street in Weymouth, where the MFA Bowl building currently stands, has been earmarked as a possible source of income by Dorset Council.

Once demolished, the authority hopes to construct a car park to generate money while development plans are finalised.

About 57 new parking spaces could be created, bringing the total to 149.

Inside the bowling alley, which has been closed for about five years

Situated near the harbour, the 18-lane bowling alley closed down in 2019.

Dorset Council submitted a planning application to demolish the building in January, with councillors saying it would "contribute significantly to [their] ambition to regenerate Weymouth's waterside economy".

The authority previously said it had made no firm decisions on the site's future, although earlier proposals have involved building flats.

Planning officers have recommended the demolition and temporary car park plans be approved, describing the bowling alley building as "a fairly uninspiring example of modern architecture".

The council wants to knock down the former bowling alley building

A decision on the site is expected to be made at an area planning committee in Dorchester on Thursday.

It has already been agreed that a car park will be built on the nearby site of the former Weymouth and Portland Borough Council offices at North Quay, which were knocked down in December.

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