THE Wessex region should have more decision-making powers, a political party has said.

In the wake of the Scottish referendum, the Wessex Regionalist Party has said it is time to look at devolution for the area, which includes Dorset.

But the idea has met with a luke warm response in Weymouth.

Secretary-general of the party David Robins said the no vote from Scotland had ‘worked in our favour’.

He said: “It has opened up the debate. Our idea is to have a regional assembly, similar to what there is in Wales and we would ask for the same powers as a minimum, but ideally a wider range.”

He added: “I think there is an appetite for change. Thanks to what has been happening in Scotland people are more aware of what the options are. The powers a regional assembly would get through devolution would include economic development, tourism, agriculture – and we are in a much better position to decide what is best for us than people who live in London.”

Wessex Regionalist Party president Colin Bex added: “With Scotland confirmed as staying put, the case for an English Parliament now looks weak. “It would represent 83 per cent of the UK population and guarantee nothing in the way of decentralisation from London.

“Home Rule within England for historic regions like Wessex is the alternative whose time has come.”

Mr Robins said Dorset makes a ‘significant contribution’ to the Wessex region.

But Nigel Reed, manager of Weymouth BID, said he was unsure of how many people would like the idea of a Wessex government.

He said: “It is worth a debate and it’s a good time to have it.

“But we are not separate countries and business is about trying to market yourself to as many people as possible. In addition to that a lot of issues faced by businesses are the same whatever region you work in: infrastructure, parking, things like that.

“I do not think a regional Wessex is something people would buy into.”

And Richard Drax, MP for South Dorset, said he believed firmly in a United Kingdom.

He said: “I would not want to see the country broken up into smaller, regional areas, which would cost a fortune to administer.

“There may be a more efficient form of local government and I would be amazed if we do not see further progress in the amalgamation of district and borough councils in the future.”