I refer to the letter from Roger Tipney (Use space and vote for good of the area', Echo August 27) regarding economic issues within the borough.

I can assure him and other readers that the borough council is actively working on addressing economic problems facing Weymouth & Portland with the economy being the council's top priority.

With regards to some of the sites referred in his letter, I can confirm that the Fiveways Garage site has planning permission for housing including 30 per cent affordable housing.

Permission has just very recently been granted at the New Look site. This project includes construction of a new headquarters for New Look as well as a requirement for an enterprise centre to be provided to help create new jobs and to enable new space to be made available for starter business.

A financial contribution has also been secured so that the council can work with Weymouth College to provide business training on the site.

Clearly the borough council has no control over rental levels within the town centre on properties which it does not own and, similarly, rates for commercial premises are a national rather then local requirement.

On affordable housing, our local threshold is lower than the national guidance so that all sites of nine or more, rather than 15 or more, are required to provide affordable housing for rent or shared ownership, with a registered social landlord or housing association.

To return to the economy, we are promoting Weymouth & Portland as a centre of marine excellence for marine related business and industry and water sports.

This week we have taken a stand at the Southampton International Boat Show. This is an ideal location for meeting a wide range of business and investors in the marine industry and where in the past we have met a number of international inward investors who have subsequently established significant businesses in the Borough.

We are also active in a major project to secure a range of IT based organisations operating in the area.

I hope therefore that this helps demonstrate that the Borough Council is indeed taking the local economy seriously.

COUN GEOFF PETHERICK, BRIEFHOLDER FOR ECONOMY, WEYMOUTH & PORTLAND BOROUGH COUNCIL.