A STARK picture of deprivation in Weymouth and Portland has emerged as a report details how certain priority areas are in declining health and in need of a boost.

Action is needed to improve quality of life in areas of the borough which experience difficulties – due to factors such as high crime, poor housing, and high unemployment – and fall within the top 20 per cent of the most deprived communities in the country.

Littlemoor, Melcombe Regis (town centre), Westham and Underhill (Portland) have historically been the borough’s poorer wards.

While they have featured in the English Index of Multiple Deprivation (IMD) since it was first published by the Government in 1997, monitoring of the IMD over the last few years has shown that some wards have declined further.

This includes a ‘marked decline’ of Underhill on Portland, where almost half of children there are classed as living in poverty. Underhill’s ranking has changed from 2386th to 1564th nationally.

Littlemoor ward has also dropped down the rankings.

The IMD provides a reliable national comparison that is respected in funding bids and is also useful to target resources and funds locally.

Borough councillors will be given an update on the multiple deprivation areas and the role of the Working with You partnership initiative, which works in communities, at a meeting next week.

Working with You has developed a number of different projects in priority areas such as running support groups for families and vulnerable residents, health initiatives, free swimming lessons, and debt counselling.

Issues surrounding mental health support and gaps in the service have been highlighted as part of this community work.

Councillors will hear Working with You projects are continuing, and that there should be also a focus on Weymouth East ward, particularly Rodwell and Chapelhay, which has also shown a decline in the IMD rankings.

The council’s Community Planning & Development Manager Jane Nicklen says in the report: “The borough has experienced and continues to experience significant deprivation especially in comparison with the rest of Dorset.

“There are 12 areas in the county within the top 20 per cent most deprived nationally for multiple deprivation and, of these, nine are in the borough.”

She also highlights:

  • Almost 1 in 4 children in Weymouth and Portland live in poverty (2,360). The borough has the third highest level of child poverty in the south west
  • Weymouth and Portland residence-based weekly earnings are £488 per week compared to £541 for Great Britain
  • The number of youngsters claiming Job Seekers Allowance is increasing with short-term claimants contributing to this because of seasonal employment
  • 9 per cent of borough residents claim Disability Living Allowance compared to the 7 per cent Dorset average
  • An estimated 23.9 per cent of adults in the borough smoke and 25.9 per cent are obese
  • The rates of sexually transmitted infections, hospital stays for self-harm and drug misuse is greater than the England average
  • 1 in 8 of all anti-social behaviour incidents in Dorset is in Melcombe Regis. Violence is twice the rate in the borough than for Dorset.
  • Substance abuse and rough sleeping are also issues of local concern

SOUTH Dorset MP Richard Drax said: “It’s often the case that beautiful resorts like ours have pockets of deprivation that are not visible at first glance. But if you look deeper they are easy to see.

“I know that many people are doing their best to improve the area, we are all playing out part to do more such as working to attract investment and better transport links including faster trains and trying to get the Western Route built which will help Portland Port to expand.

“We need skilled jobs. Seasonal jobs are important but there is an over reliance on seasonal work.”

Mr Drax said Weymouth College was doing good work to improve opportunities for youngsters.

He said there were many positive things happening locally and people needed to ‘talk the town up’ more often.

Andy Matthews of the Portland Community Partnership said issues being faced by Underhill ‘were not going away’ and he said voluntary groups like the partnership were trying to do their best but with a lack of support from the authorities.

“It does feel like you’re banging your head against a brick wall trying to get them to listen,” Mr Matthews said.