OLYMPIC tickets secured by Weymouth and Portland Borough Council are to be given to people who have contributed to the community.

In a meeting of the management committee on Tuesday, councillors voted in favour of allocating 35 pairs of tickets to residents who have made a contribution to their local communities through charitable work or other achievements. Following nominations, current mayor Graham Winter and the Mayor for 2012/2013, Margaret Leicester, will decide who to award tickets to.

In total, 100 tickets were part of a compensation package secured by the council from the London Organising Committee of the Olympic and Paralympic Games Limited (LOCOG) in return for making the Nothe Gardens available during the sailing.

The remaining 30 tickets will be used by the council to attract potential business investors. Councillor Howard Legg, portfolio holder for 2012 and special projects, said: “One of the legacies of the Olympics is to encourage people to bring industry and jobs here.”

Councillor Geoff Petherick added: “These are not to be used as a perk or reward, but as a method of looking forward to secure or cement further investment.”

But councillor Andy Blackwood said: “Like many people, I applied for tickets and was unsuccessful.

“I have a major problem with tickets now being kept to one side for business people to grease their palms.”