TRANSPORT minister Baroness Kramer said there would be more chances for Dorset to benefit from government funding through the Local Enterprise Partnership.

She spoke on a visit to Bournemouth and Poole yesterday where it was announced that £66.3million Growth Deal funding would be invested in the county for bids in the Strategic Economic Plan.

Most of the money will support projects in the east of the county, including a package of road schemes to improve access to the Port of Poole and Bournemouth Airport.

This has sparked concern locally that Weymouth is missing out on much-needed regeneration funding.

Speaking about the west of the county missing out on Growth Deal funds, Baroness Kramer said: “This has been very much led by the Local Enterprise Partnership.

“They’ve made the decision on the priorities.

“They’ve come to us for money for this year and part of next year but there are six years in this whole programme so I’m expecting they’ll be back to us very soon with the next round of projects that they want to see funded.”