Latest news with #LouieO'Leary
Yahoo
12-04-2025
- General
- Yahoo
Memorial bench on quay for councillor 'who did much for the town'
A MEMORIAL bench for former Weymouth councillor Tony Ferrari is likely to be placed on the town's harbourside. Dorset Council were told by Littlemoor and Preston councillor Louie O'Leary that the bench would be a fitting tribute to Cllr Ferrari who, he said, had done much for the town. Cllr Ferrari, 70, who shared the ward with Cllr O'Leary, collapsed and died while running in November 2023. He had served in many roles in local government over 20 years, including on Weymouth Town Council, and for a period as portfolio holder for finance at Dorset Council. In his spare time he was an experienced long-distance runner, competing in ultra-marathon and endurance events. Cllr Ferrari and his wife, Erica, had moved to Weymouth from Harrow eight years prior to his death, where he had served as a borough councillor. Confirming that Dorset Council would work with the town council over the bench Portfolio holder for Place Cllr Jon Andrews said he, like others, had been stunned by Cllr Ferrari's death, describing him as 'always polite and civil and always gave a straight answer.' *Cllr Ferrari's wife Erica paid tribute to him in the Echo following his death in 2023, describing her husband as an honest, self-deprecating man with a genuine care for others. Although he had spent many years as the managing director of a FTSE 100 company he seldom spoke about it – preferring to talk about his community work and his passion for running. She said he had turned to teaching chemistry in his retirement prior to moving to Weymouth as a way of keeping busy. Cllr Ferrari had worked in the community on a variety of projects throughout the Covid period and was a supporter of many local groups. Fellow ward councillor Louie O'Leary said at the time: 'This is absolutely devastating and unexpected news. I first met Tony when I was selected at 20 years of age and he helped mentor me in many ways. He was a man dedicated to public service an active ward councillor who served in many roles in local government for over 20 years. 'He was a friend, a mentor a public servant of the highest merit and most importantly a dedicated husband, son and loving father and grandfather. 'His loss will be felt by all those he served and knew.'
Yahoo
11-04-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Fresh hope for iconic hotel as talks spark optimism for its future
There is hope for the future of an iconic Weymouth hotel. The Riviera Hotel, at Bowleaze Cove, is a Grade II-listed art déco hotel built in 1937 which enjoys sweeping views across Weymouth Bay. Fencing went up around the site around two years ago, and the hotel stopped accepting bookings, sparking questions about its future. However, this future was recently discussed at the Weymouth Town Council full council meeting by Littlemoor and Preston councillor, Louie O'Leary. Cllr O'Leary revealed that he had a meeting with fellow ward councillor Peter Dickenson and the cabinet member for planning at Dorset Council. Cllr O'Leary said: 'A number of you will currently be aware it [the hotel] is empty and in a bit of a state. 'He [the cabinet member] is working with conservation and planning enforcement officers on the subject and the scaffolding has come down which we are unsure to know whether that is a good thing or a bad thing.' However, the councillor further revealed that there has been some interest in the site. He added: 'We do have a meeting coming up with somebody that is interested in the future of the site which hopefully will be a positive. 'Whilst it is a ward issue, it is one that affects the skyline of Weymouth, as it were, and one that affects the whole town, so, hopefully, we can get a positive way forward on that.' Last year, a member of staff at the site told the Echo that work was still going on at the site, at that time, repairs to the roof ahead of a refurbishment - though no timeline was given as to when it might re-open. The hotel, which became a listed building in 1997, was used by authorities to house homeless people during the pandemic. It suffered a major blow in February 2022 when the ballroom roof collapsed after damage caused by Storm Eunice. The following year, the 98-bedroom hotel was put on a list of 'most threatened buildings in the country of demolition, redevelopment or neglect' by the Twentieth Century Society. The future of the Weymouth venue made headlines in 2021 after estate agency Rolfe East took it off the market due to difficulty selling properties amid the pandemic. It had been up for sale for £5.5 million. The Riviera has had several owners over the years, including holiday camp owner Fred Pontin and Saudi Arabian investors. In July of this year, several youths gained entry to the grounds, sparking a police warning not to enter the site.
