A CAMPAIGN has been launched in a bid to get a fair deal for the people of Weymouth and Portland.

Following months of protest when boat owners, allotment holders and chalet tenants have all hit out at proposed steep increases in charges, there were calls today for a borough-wide discount scheme to end the uncertainty surrounding fees and rents for council services.

Councillor David Harris said he would use his influence as chairman of the borough's community committee to address the issue.

He is calling for details of the present policies and wants to establish a clear set of criteria that will enable boat owners, allotment holders and chalet tenants to know where they stand for a period of three to five years so they can plan their own budgets.

Coun Harris said the criteria must also establish who is eligible for a discount.

He said: "The first priority of any discount scheme must be to protect the vulnerable and those least able to pay, and then residents must clearly be given priority over non-residents where the services belong to the borough.

"We have been pressing for a couple of years for a proper residents' discount scheme and as the fees and charges policies are reviewed we shall be determining a consistent policy in this area."

Currently there are discounts for various groups for council services but Coun Harris said there was no clear understanding of what was meant.

He added: "Fixing charges annually means that in difficult times, like this year, there is a lot of pressure to increase charges in an ad hoc way.

"This is unfair on the tenants and so a clear medium term policy needs to be established. This will coincide with the changes that the new senior financial officer Jason Vaughn is introducing to the rest of the borough's accounts."