A COUNCIL leader has come under fire after sending an email urging members and officials to limit help to ‘scruffy’ and ‘miserable’ hoteliers who said their trade was suffering.

The Echo has obtained an email from Mike Goodman, the chairman of Weymouth and Portland Borough Council’s influential management committee suggesting that the council should ‘be careful’ what it offers this particular group of hoteliers ‘by way of direct assistance.’ It comes after the hoteliers spoke to the Echo regarding concerns over loss of income and little Olympic business.

The hoteliers and other councillors have blasted Coun Goodman who they say is ‘completely missing the point’ and should now ‘consider his position’ as chairman of the management group.

In the email, Coun Goodman, who is also leader of the Conservative group on the council, said: “I just can't believe how determined some of these guest house operators seem to be to ruin their own image.

“The photograph, widely available across the web, shows a group of scruffy individuals looking as miserable as sin.”

The chairman of Weymouth and Portland Hoteliers and Leasehold-ers Association, Dave Price said: “Hoteliers and guest house owners are not moaning they are stating the facts. It is a fact that it has been our quietest year.

“We have had disruption from roadworks and suffered from negative advertising campaigns which have put people off from coming to the town during the summer.

“But we want everyone to know that we are open and ready for business and our prices are not going up.

“I cannot believe that the constituency of Upwey re-elected Mike Goodman.

“I do not think anything will change for Weymouth and Portland while he is the leader of the council and the Conservatives.

“I spoke to Coun Goodman and heard what he has had to say at meetings and he seems to completely miss the point.”

When contacted by the Echo, Mr Goodman said: “I have got nothing to say to the Echo about the internal communications of the council.”

When asked to explain whether he thought it was an appropriate email, he said: “I am not going to talk about this.”

Coun Goodman then ended the call.

Mr Price added: “He completely misses the point that tourism brings millions of pounds. Since he has been leader of the council we have seen nothing but decline, such as the harbour wall.

“He is not doing a good enough job and it is not just hoteliers that I’m talking about, it is the whole area.

“It is a really inappropriate that he has even mentioned people’s appearances. He is paid a lot of money to do what he does and he should know better.”

Now disgusted hoteliers have said they feel alienated and have invited coun Goodman to discuss his views publicly.

Coun Mike Goodman

Councillor Goodman, right, was first elected in 2000 to represent Upwey and Broadwey and has served on the council for 12 years.

He is leader of the Conservatives and brief holder for corporate affairs and continuous improvement.

He is also chairman of the council’s management committee and a member of the port health authority and shared services joint advisory committee.

He retired from the Navy in 1996 where his last appointment was Commander of HMS Osprey.

His council biography states that his ‘main interests concern the problems of affordable housing’ and he ‘believes that improving the quality of local employment and progressively reducing the reliance on tourism will generate the best conditions for long-term progress in this.’ Coun Goodman MBE received £11,003 in expenses for 2011/12 – including more than £6,000 in special responsibility allowance.