Weymouth resident Ken Whatley claims people in the town are concerned about the deal being negotiated over assets which will transfer to the new town council.

He told councillors many people were upset that Weymouth would get things which cost money to run while the income-generators, such as car parks, went to the new unitary Dorset Council.

“I think we have been led down the path by the unitary…we need some pride in Weymouth,” he told a meeting of the shadow town council last Thursday.

“We need to bring some pride back but, unfortunately, are being let down by our negotiators.”

Another frequent public speaker, Eddie Farn, was more direct in his criticism: “We are being shafted from a great height. The unitary is up here and the town council is down here,” he said using is arms to demonstrate the difference, “the scales are at the wrong level.”

“We are being shoved aside and I don’t know if we will ever get back on our feet.”

Peter Barrow from the community organisation at Southill, SPARK, said he was concerned about the lack of detail involving land and community buildings in the area and was worried that while some of the facilities might transfer to the town council, others would go to the Dorset Council.

“We want some assurances that we won’t lose the work we have been doing there for five years,” he said.

Interim borough chief executive Stuart Caundle told the meeting that, in law, all assets owned by the borough council would transfer to the new Dorset Council. He said that the list before the meeting were exceptions to that which was being negotiated to help set up the new Weymouth Town Council.

Senior council officer David Brown said that the list, which includes parks and gardens, was still “indicative” and would not finally be agreed for some months, but that there would be scope to continue discussions after the new Weymouth Town Council meets for the first time after elections on May 2.