BRIDPORT has been talking about becoming a rights respecting town for nearly ten years.

And there was more talk in the democratic session at Tuesdays' Bridport Town Council meeting when David Powell explained what it could look like and mean for the town.

Mr Powell, who has been a head teacher and worked for Unicef, has been involved with introducing the rights respecting concept to local school children - and he reminded councillors it was the youth council who asked three or four years ago if the town could declare itself a rights respecting town.

Mayor Anne Rickard said she thought the council was in general agreement with the principle but she said the question was how?

She said: "I would like to take it forward quickly but if we just declare it, it means almost nothing."

And that was a sentiment echoed by resident Robert Golden, who was behind the Home in Bridport project.

He said: "When I work with people in Skilling I felt there is this huge gap between them out there and you in here.

"It is not about putting your money where your mouth is, but putting your feet where your mouth is to really represent the people.

"They are not going to come to you, you have to go to them.

"A really profound thing has to happen

"It will never really happen unless you walk out of this room and into the community."

Cllr Ros Kayes said she couldn't support the idea unless it had 'teeth'.

She said: "I think these rights and responsibilities are very counter what is happening nationally in the political arena at the moment.

"I have to ask when it talks about equal access to all public services and the right to a warm dry home and access to financial security and health and social care what does that mean?

"I don't what to support this unless we as a council are actually going to push that agenda while supporting those people to have access to those rights."

She said there were people in Bridport who had lost thier disablities benefits and having to use the food bank.

"We as a town council need to be doing more.

"It is not about waving a piece of paper in the air and saying these are really great. I would like to see us adopting some teeth with this."

Cllr Dave Rickard said an 'audit' of the town was need to see where rights are being disrespected.

He said: "Of course its a political but id doesn't mean we cannot respect those rights and expect higher authorities to deliver those rights. It gives us more moral standing to demand those rights even if we are not in a position to deliver them."

Mr Golden added: "You have to understand what people are struggling with day by day."

Dave Rickard said: "This is an aspiration. We might not achieve all we set out to but we are setting a target and there is no disgrace to setting a target and missing it."

Mr Powell suggested as in schools the council could run activities and workshops to educate people about the rights they do have.