A group calling for urgent action to tackle ‘poverty wages’ in Weymouth and Portland has criticised the Local Plan.

Weymouth and Portland Action on Wages (WeyPAW) was started earlier this year, after it was revealed that the area has the lowest average weekly wage in the UK.

The group has hit out at the Weymouth, Portland and West Dorset local plan review which it says is not viable.

Philip Marfleet of WeyPAW attended a Weymouth and Portland Borough Council policy development meeting and asked why the plan does not facilitate creation of high quality jobs for the area.

He said that while it acknowledged that such jobs had drained away from Weymouth and Portland, the plan specifically identified only new space for retail businesses, which did not offer the best opportunities for local people. He also asked why the plan was silent on improvements to transport and communications across the area - poor road and rail links inhibiting economic development and job prospects.

Mr Marfleet said WeyPAW is alarmed at the lack of joined-up thinking in plans for the area.

He explained: “Economic strategy, plans for land use, and policy on education, transport, housing, health and well-being are being developed by different bodies which apparently have different agendas.

“It’s increasingly clear that Weymouth and Portland suffers from lack of an integrated approach - a key reason why wages are falling and people in the area are experiencing serious problems with housing, services, schools and health provision. This can’t go on: it’s creating huge problems for thousands of families.

“WeyPAW will be organising a conference later this year at which we can have full public discussion of these issues and how to address them as a matter of urgency.”

The borough council has responded to Mr Marfleet’s concerns.

Cllr Ray Nowak, Weymouth & Portland Borough Council’s spokesman for Environment and Sustainability, said: “Our Local Plan and the Local Plan Review both include separate chapters on the economy.

“These include policies which aim to provide new employment land and protect existing employment space in addition to supporting town centres and making provision for additional retail floor space.

“Local Plans deal primarily with land use planning matters recognising that economic development is a key priority for the area.

“The plans refer to the Dorset Local Enterprise Partnership’s Strategic Economic Plan and our Western Dorset Economic Growth Strategy. These strategies have a wider perspective dealing with issues such as the provision of new homes, employment sites and infrastructure, together with other key economic development themes, such as skills, the needs of different business sectors and the management of council assets.”