“DO WE matter?”- That is the exasperated cry from members of the local community after the south and west Dorset constituencies received only one visit from a leading member of the five main political parties in the run-up to the General Election.

It is one of the closest and most anticipated elections in recent history, but current Prime Minister and Conservative leader David Cameron, Deputy Prime Minister and Liberal Democrat leader Nick Clegg, Labour leader Ed Miliband, Ukip leader Nigel Farage and Green Party leader Natalie Bennett did not make plans to and have not visited either constituency since parliament was dissolved on March 30.

Both Nick Clegg and David Cameron have been frequent visitors to neighbouring constituencies such as Mid Dorset and North Poole, but the only visit from a senior minister to south Dorset was when Justice Secretary Chris Grayling visited the area at the start of April.

When approached by the Echo, a spokesman for each party said visits were not planned due to the short space of time before the election and that they would be concentrating on marginal seats.

When approached by the Echo, a spokesman for the Green Party and the Lib Dems said the reason the areas were not visited by members of the party was because there was a very short space of time to visit areas, and funding and resources was concentrated into marginal seats.

A spokesman for Ukip would not give a reason members of the party or Mr Farage had not visited, and a spokesman for the Conservative Party said Mr Cameron and other ministers from the cabinet would be campaigning throughout the country.

A Labour spokesman did not give a reason for the lack of visits from Mr Miliband or members of the shadow cabinet, but added: “Labour’s shadow cabinet are on the road up and down the country every day supporting candidates and campaigning for a Labour majority.”

Michelle Hind, president of the Weymouth and Portland Chamber of Commerce, criticised the lack of visits and said: “It seems to be that we have been left out of the picture.

“Regardless of how the parties consider our constituency, we are part of the jigsaw for the makeup of the Government and they keep missing us out and you have to ask the question of do we matter.

“It’s a very tight election this year, and it could all come down to the smallest margin of votes but they haven’t been here to campaign, or to listen to our views.

“They are not taking us seriously, and they have almost discounted us in their strategy which is a concern.”

Andy Matthews, a Portland Town councillor, agreed said: “I think the main worry is we are trying to raise the profile of the area and but it doesn’t seem this message is going from the local candidates up the food chain to the top of the parties.

“I think there’s a bit of frustration and a bit of worry the parties haven’t visited here. It does worry me all the hard work to try and improve the local area is seemingly not being noticed.

“I know south Dorset isn’t a key marginal seat, but you would think we would be seen as somewhere where votes can be won.”

Former Weymouth and Portland mayor Ray Banham added: “I think it’s a bit of a snub, really.

“It’s really frustrating, because people need to voice their opinions at the people who are running and who want to run the country, but we haven’t been given the chance. The leaders or somebody high up, should have visited us.”

Local Ukip candidate Malcolm Shakesby, Lib Dem candidate Howard Legg, Labour candidate Simon Bowkett and Green Party candidate Jane Burnet all said it had been a deliberate move not to have the leaders of the parties visit the areas.

Conservative candidate Richard Drax was unavailable for comment.