INSIDE: Meet the candidates in our election special USE YOUR VOTE ON MAY 2nd!
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FOR LYME REGIS, UPLYME & CHARMOUTH ● FORTNIGHTLY ● APRIL 26 2019 ● www.lyme-online.co.uk
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Council leader resigns from Tory party
Eagle impresses Easter crowds AN impressive bald eagle scared off the seagulls but attracted the crowds when it visited Lyme Regis last week. Lyme Regis Town Council organised for Xtreme Falconry to bring its bald eagle, weighing seven pounds, and a falcon to the seafront during the Easter holidays on a trial to see the effect the larger birds would have on seagulls in the area. See page 7 for full story. Photo by Rob Wheeler
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WITH a week to go before he seeks re-election, East Devon District Council leader, Ian Thomas, has resigned from the Conservative party. In a press statement, Mr Thomas, who lives in Ware Lane, Lyme Regis, said: “With a heavy heart, I confirm my resignation from the Conservative party on April 17 2019. “My decision was in no way related to the excellent case being presented by East Devon District Council Conservatives in the pre-election period. Theirs is an outstanding presentation based on the performance delivered by a capable and experienced Conservative led team. “It rather reflects deep disappointment in the performance of the party elsewhere. “I have resigned the leadership of the East Devon District Council Conservative Group but remain leader of the council until the annual meeting on May 22 if re-elected; otherwise I will step down on May 3. “I am arranging that all 2,192 electors in my home Trinity ward receive a personal letter, hand delivered by my team and me. This confirms that should I be honoured by re-election, I will sit as an independent councillor, not aligned to any political party or group, with this simple aim; to ensure that East Devon District Council delivers the services Axmouth, Combpyne-Rousdon and Uplyme residents want and value, in a caring, open and transparent environment.” Mr Thomas has represented the Trinity ward, which comprises of Uplyme, Rousdon, Combpyne and Axmouth, since 2009 and was elected leader of the district council in 2018. He will go head-to-head with Labour candidate Sarah Birnie in the May 2 district council elections (see page 11).
CALLS FOR CHANGE AFTER EIGHT YEARS OF SQUABBLING
LYME Regis goes to the polls on May 2 to elect a new town council after eight years of in-fighting and squabbles between councillors.
In this special Election Issue, the 16 candidates for the 14 town council seats outline their reasons for
PHILIP EVANS
philip@lyme-online.co.uk standing, with several calling for change on how the council operates (see pages 8 and 9). It will be the first town election in Lyme for eight years with the last two councils at times bringing the town into disrepute. The town clerk
has had to warn members about their behaviour damaging the council, with a number of alleged breaches of the council’s code of conduct being referred to West Dorset’s monitoring officer and apologies having to be made. As well as voting for town councillors, the electorate of Lyme will be appointing the first member of
the newly-formed Dorset Council unitary authority (see page 11). Four candidates will be bidding for the one seat representing Lyme Regis and Charmouth - siblings Conservative Daryl Turner, a former county and district councillor, and his sister Cheryl Reynolds, a town and district councillor stand-
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