Blueprint for future

Research was carried out earlier this year and work is about to begin on drawing up the community plan. The aim of the plan is to improve the services offered in Weymouth and Portland.

Consultation with a wide range of people took place during the summer, including a roadshow in supermarkets and events in schools and community centres.

Thousands of people took part and their ideas and opinions are now being used to form the blueprint, which will look at the best way forward for the borough across a range of services.

Areas being considered in the plan include health, education, housing, transport and crime prevention.

More than 20 organisations are involved including the borough council, Dorset Police, health groups and Weymouth College.

The organisations taking part are forming a partnership to draw up the plan and put it in place. A 'state of the borough' summit will be held early next year before the plan is finalised in March.

Alex Parmley, policy officer for Weymouth and Portland Borough Council said: "The consultation process undertaken earlier this year has provided a good snapshot of what residents' views are.

"The initial response has been very encouraging, raising many important issues affecting community life. This will now form the basis for the community plan.

"For the first time there will be one plan setting out the long-term vision for the future of Weymouth and Portland that all the agencies are working towards."

She added: "The partnership aims to attract business, voluntary and community groups and other public sector bodies to participate in the delivery of improved services."

Superintendent Malcolm Palmer of Dorset Police said: "The plan will be relevant to people's wants and needs and will improve the overall environment in which we live.

"However, the plan must be realistic. It is impossible to do everything that people want, but if we work together we can achieve more."