'WE WANT actions not words'.

That is the call from residents as a team investigate the problems in central Weymouth plagued by crime, ill health and poor housing.

Public service leaders, who have formed the Melcombe Regis Board to improve quality of life, visited the area in a 'walkabout' to get a better understanding of the problems.

The area – which includes the town centre and Park District – suffers from serious inequalities and is among the top 10 per cent of the most deprived neighbourhoods in the country.

While acting as the gateway to Weymouth and being home to the shopping centre, transport hubs and the award-winning beach, it also has a high proportion of housing.

While efforts to try and make things better are welcomed, residents say authorities should get on with it as problems they complained about 10 years ago continue to blight the area.

And the problems seem to be worse than ever with drug dealing openly in the alleyways, litter strewn around the streets, and problems associated with poor quality HMOs, some of which are unregistered.

Members of the Waterside Community Forum say the visible police presence by community officers has diminished, suggesting police cuts are to blame.

They are, however, used to seeing armed officers dramatically swoop on the area for various operations – at least three times in the past two months.

Concerns were raised after council, police, health and education leaders visited the area and spoke to people there, including a doctor, a police officer and the borough’s new environmental enforcement officer, to gain a better understanding of what can be done to tackle problems caused by inequality.

Park District resident and forum member Dave Burchill said: "Any moves to improve this area can only be good – but we have gone over this ground many, many times and nothing has changed.

"We were raising these issues when I was chairman of the PACT group ten years ago.

"There seems to be lots of paid people doing reports and having meetings but nothing seems to change. We want actions, not words."

He added: "The new board may come up against apathy because it's dragged on for so long. People are fed up of asking for improvements and seeing nothing done.

"One thing they need to do is put more PCSOs in our area because we used to have a great team dedicated to this area and now you hardly see them.

"And they need to put the rubbish bins back. There's not a single bin in this area after the council removed them."

His wife Genny added: "Over the years we have been asked so many times what is wrong, what are the concerns – and nothing has changed. People now feel totally disenfranchised, and wonder what is the point."

Forum chairman John Morse said: "Nothing gets done. They have meetings about meetings, and they don't involve people who live here so I'm afraid I don't have a lot of faith.

"When the board visited the Park Centre to speak to us they arrived late and spent a few minutes there before leaving again."

County councillor for Weymouth Town and local GP Dr Jon Orrell said he could understand local concerns – but he said the point of the Board was that it brought together different agencies which are working on a plan.

He said: "They are looking at other areas which have similar problems, seaside towns which have become dumping grounds for cities to move troubled individuals, and the regeneration schemes which have been carried out.

"We need to do that here, to restore the area to its former glory. The Park District is a great area, with residents very proud of their community, and it's clear some practical action needs to be taken."

THE Melcombe Regis Board has been set-up so different agencies can work together more effectively.

It was set up last year and includes representatives from a multitude of different organisations.

Priorities include delivering a good standard of housing, creating a thriving community, improving the environment, helping people to achieve better physical and mental health, increasing employment and reducing crime.

A part time Community Capacity Building worker, funded by the Board, has already begun work.

Chief Executive of Weymouth & Portland Borough Council and Board Chairman Matt Prosser said: “We are working together because we are committed to improving life chances for people in Melcombe Regis.

“We visited the area to not only gain a greater understanding of the challenges faced, but to see some of the really good work that is already going on. We were there to ask ourselves ‘what can our organisation do’ to make life better here?' There are complex issues that affect parts of Melcombe Regis, which we can tackle more effectively by working closely together and also with the community.

“The Board has the power to make changes and having so many senior people involved means we are well placed to deliver through increased partnership working. Our current agencies already deliver huge amounts in Melcombe Regis, the Board is in place to make sure we remove any duplication and make sure partnership working is effective as well as delivering longer-term solutions for structural issues, such as the quality of local housing stock.”

The Melcombe Regis Board invites residents to a drop-in information event on its work. It is from 4pm-7.30pm at the Park Community Centre, Chelmsford Street, on Wednesday, May 17. Mr Prosser will give a short presentation at 6pm followed by an open Q&A.