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BRIDPORT'S upbeat image should not hide the fact that life is tough for many of its residents.

Areas of the town are amongst the most deprived in Dorset, council leader Charles Wild told the annual town meeting.

He said it had been a particularly busy and eventful year for the council which had demonstrated even more strongly its willingness and desire to undertake initiatives for the benefit of the town - and not just function as a reactive body.

But while there was much talk of the liveliness of the town - with references to Notting Hill on Sea - not everyone was prospering.

He said: "There are many people in the town for whom the realities of life are far from comfortable and for whom access to services, employment, training and leisure activities remains a problem.

"Two areas of Bridport feature in the top 20 out of 250 in Dorset in the indices of deprivation relating to health, education, employment and income.

"Whilst this is not something on which it can have a direct or immediate influence the town council can make a significant contribution through its support for initiatives attempting to address these problems."

Coun Wild said groups that could influence change for the better included Bridport Area Health Forum, The Western Area Transport Action Group (WATAG), the Older People's Forum and the BLAST project which is aiming to create a skills training centre in the town, as well as their direct support organisations like the Citizen's Advice Bureau.

Coun Wild concluded by thanking Mayor Geoff Ackerman and his deputy Frances McKenzie on another successful civic year and he thanked the county and district councillors for their continuing efforts in the "not easy job" of representing the interest of the town on those bodies.

He also praised town clerk Bob Gillis and the entire town council staff for their continuing good work.

There was also praise for the town council from the only member of the public present at the meeting.

After voicing one or two complaints John McHugh added that he wasn't there just to moan.

"The council and officers do a great job and it is a great town to live in," he said.

And he told Coun Ackerman who is standing down after his fifth term as Mayor: "May I say on behalf of the townspeople thanks for your years' of service wearing the chain. We shall miss you."

1:58pm Tuesday 13th May 2008

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