COUNCIL leader Mike Goodman has finally apologised publicly for his remarks about Weymouth hoteliers – but it’s ‘too little too late’ say opponents.

The Tory chairman of the borough’s management committee said sorry after labelling hoteliers ‘scruffy and miserable’ in a leaked email obtained by the Echo.

The email was written in response to an Echo story about hoteliers’ concerns about loss of income and little Olympic business.

In the furore that followed, Coun Goodman telephoned one of the hoteliers concerned to apologise and said the rest could ring him if they wanted to speak to him.

He apologised publicly at a council meeting in response to a speech from chairman of Weymouth and Portland Hoteliers and Guest-house Leaseholders Association Dave Price.

Mr Price had addressed councillors at a full meeting of Weymouth and Portland Borough Council to express his concern about the authority’s failure to act over Coun Goodman’s comments.

Mr Price claimed the council was ignoring tourism and was ‘only interested in big companies that want to come here and develop’.

He said hoteliers were dismayed about issues affecting the town including the loss of Condor Ferries and the closure of Brewers Quay.

Mr Price claimed there was a ‘lack of vision’ in the town and Coun Goodman’s email about hoteliers ‘topped it off’.

He told councillors: “I’m disgusted and amazed you’re not taking him to task.

“We’ve got a petition going but we’d like to avoid that and hope councillors will take action.”

Economy spokesman Ian Munro-Price said promoting tourism was a ‘big part of what we do’.

Coun Goodman said: “I would like to take this opportunity to apologise unreservedly for any offence, anger or upset I caused.

“It was not my intention to attack individuals. I’m deeply sorry people are upset.”

Coun Goodman said the trust within the council had also been damaged by someone putting an internal email into the public domain.

After the meeting Mr Price said: “It’s not the end of it. His apology was too little too late.

“I also wonder if he’d have said anything if I hadn’t gone to the meeting and spoken up.”

He added: “The petition will continue. We want Councillor Goodman’s actions to be noted by the council and for him to be warned about his future conduct.

“We want to work with the council and move forward but we think Councillor Goodman abused his position by forcing his views on other councillors.”