WEYMOUTH and Portland were 'kicked in the teeth' when they missed out on a massive funding boost, councillors have said.

As reported in the Echo, Dorset Local Enterprise Partnership (LEP) was awarded £19.5 million government funding to create jobs and boost the local economy.

But of that £19.5 million, west Dorset is to get a few hundred thousand pounds- and Weymouth and Portland receives nothing.

Councillors have reacted with anger, particularly as no funds have been allocated to assist with flood defences, despite a bid being made.

At Thursday's Full Council, leader Jeff Cant, said: "Frankly I'm absolutely outraged. I'm appalled, it's inexcusable and it's genuinely one of the few times in my life I'm extraordinarily angry."

Cllr Colin Huckle said: "Today we've been kicked in the teeth again with the flood walls."

Cllr Nowak said that if the council didn't get some big money, there wouldn't be a borough to protect because of flooding.

Cllr Cant added that he was 'appalled' that the western area of Dorset hasn't won more funding, also saying that the council won't 'let this drop'.

The LEP said that the funding is calculated by a government formula and there is "no bias" towards Bournemouth and Poole.

It added that bids from this area are more likely to be successful as they are more likely to create jobs and provide growth due to the nature of the area.

Some funding was allocated to help complete projects in West Dorset, with the Shire Hall getting £56,000 and Lyme Regis Museum and the Bridport LSI also securing some funding.

Previous Growth Deal funding has gone to Jurassica and to a new agri-tech building at Kingston Maurward College.

'Funding was evenly split across east and west,' LEP says

A spokesman for the LEP said: “We are surprised that Weymouth & Portland Borough Council has made these comments. In fact growth deal funding is pretty much split evenly across west and east Dorset.  Examples of West Dorset projects that have already benefited from growth deal funding include Kingston Maurward College, Jurassica, Weymouth Town Centre, Enterprise Zone Status for Dorset Green Technology Park and delivering the Careers and Enterprise Company service across all of Dorset.  

"Yesterday’s announcement saw investment in Gillingham, the Shire Hall,  Mary Anning Wing, tourism support for the Literary and Scientific Institute and Swanage Pier.

"We are happy to meet Councillor Jeff Cant and explain the growth deal funding process.  Bidding for growth deal money is highly competitive and oversubscribed – and ultimately the government makes the final decision as to which projects are awarded funding.  This process was highly competitive and the 38 LEPs submitted high-quality and ambitious proposals totalling £5.9 billion against a funding pot worth £1.8 billion.  Money is allocated to projects which make the most powerful case for economic growth in the region and demonstrate best value for public money.”