WHAT do you think about living in central Weymouth?

That’s the question for residents of Melcombe Regis who are being asked for their views of life in the heart of town.

It comes as an action team starts work on trying to improve quality of life for residents.

Partners including councils and the police are focusing on Melcombe Regis which although at the ‘vibrant heart’ of the town, suffers from serious inequalities including ill health, high crime rates and poor housing.

As reported in the Echo, the Melcombe Regis Board has come up with a 5-year plan which aims to deliver improvements.

Now a survey has been launched to find out what people who live in the area – which includes the town centre and Park District – think about life there.

People are being asked to have their say about housing, job opportunities, the local environment, health services and community safety.

The survey aims to discover where improvements for the area could be made and what opportunities could be created for ‘greater community involvement’.

It has been produced by the Team Around Melcombe Regis, a group of community representatives and staff from various agencies set up to develop a work programme to understand and address the opportunities and challenges that exist so improvements can be made.

The group consists of residents, as well as representatives from health, education, police and council services.

It will report back to the Melcombe Regis Board with its findings.

Helen Southcott, Community Capacity Building Worker for Melcombe Regis, said: “Please fill out the survey if you live in Melcombe Regis, it only takes five minutes and your responses are important and will be carefully considered.

“We will use your responses to help shape and monitor improvements to the area, so it is vital that we find out you think.

“Please complete the survey and ask your neighbours to fill it in too.”

The survey, which takes about five minutes to complete, is open to all residents of Melcombe Regis and is available at dorsetforyou.com/mr2017

Paper copies are also available at Weymouth Library in Great George Street, the Park Community Centre in Chelmsford Street and Weymouth & Portland Borough Council offices in Commercial Road.

Responses to the survey need to be made by July 2.

The survey will be carried out again next year to find out if residents think things are improving.