We who live in Weymouth and Portland are not the only people to be disappointed by the effect of the Olympic Games on our communities and environment.

London has also been described as a ghost town. We have every right to feel let down but surely the time has come when we must begin to think of what we can and should do next. Those serving on our councils should have the grace to stand aside and allow new people with integrity, imagination, intelligence and the determination to serve our community, without payment, take their place. Look around your community, identify someone you can trust, who would have the experience and courage to provide the necessary check and balance to the professional public servants, and persuade them to stand in the next election. The remedy is in our own hands.

In 1978 unemployment in Portland was estimated at 15 per cent and rising, but our community was too small for anyone on the mainland to be interested. No one was going to do anything for us so we decided to do something for ourselves – entirely a community enterprise. We raised the money to buy St George’s school, which was fast turning into a ruin. We employed out of work craftsmen and set up a training scheme for our unemployed young people as well as an outreach office for the Weymouth Job Centre. Over two years we employed 200 young people and got 80 per cent of them into long-term employment. Today, The Island of Portland Heritage Trust still owns and runs St George’s Centre with two well used community halls and a study centre.

All this was achieved by local people who asked nothing but the satisfaction of achieving something worthwhile for our community. If we could do it then it can be done again; this time not just for Portland but by and for the entire borough of Weymouth and Portland.

Instead of wasting energy searching for people to blame it is time to look forward and create our own legacy.

Carenza Hayhoe Easton Street Portland