LymeOnline Digital Edition - April 2 2021

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FOR LYME REGIS, UPLYME, CHARMOUTH & AXMINSTER ● FORTNIGHTLY ● APRIL 2 2021

Man jailed after knife attack on coast path A MAN who attacked a woman and threatened her with a knife as she walked along a coast path just outside of Lyme Regis has been jailed.

Vytautas Ausrota, aged 30, of Plymouth in Devon, was sentenced after admitting to threatening with an offensive weapon, committing an offence with the intent to commit a sexual offence and assault by beating.

REPORT, PAGE 2

Elderly man injured in Lister Gardens

Fifth time’s a charm for newlywed couple LYME Regis couple Esme Hopkins and Duncan Weaver were finally able to say ‘I do’ on the fifth wedding date they had set over the past year. The couple were one of the first in the UK to make the most of eased COVID restrictions on Monday and married at Dorchester Registry Office with their mothers and witnesses, followed by a picnic on the beach with family. See page 3 for full story and more photos.

All set for busy season AS LOCKDOWN RULES EASE, LYME PREPARES FOR TOURISM BOOM

LYME Regis is expecting a tourism boom this summer, with the public encouraged to enjoy ‘staycations’ in the UK rather than booking international holidays.

As COVID restrictions continue to ease, the town is anticipating an influx of visitors keen get away after a year of lockdowns.

FRANCESCA EVANS

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More fossil hunting fans are also expected to descend on the area following the recent release of ‘Ammonite’, partially filmed in Lyme Regis and Charmouth and starring Kate Winslet as local fossil hunter Mary Anning.

Lyme has already seen an increase in day-

trippers since the ‘stay at home’ rule was eased on Monday, allowing people to meet outside in groups of six or two households.

The warmer weather and lighter evenings has attracted many beach-goers this week, resulting in one reported incident of a tender dinghy being pushed out to sea by revellers in CONTINUED ON PAGE 10

A 91-year-old disabled man was seriously injured when his mobility vehicle reportedly ran out of control down the steep bank of Lister Gardens in Lyme Regis, crashing onto the flat roof area above Marine Parade.

The ambulance service, fire crew and Devon Air Ambulance attended the scene.

REPORT, PAGE 4

Police investigating reported hit and run

DORSET Police are making enquiries following a reported hit and run in Lyme Regis on Friday. The collision involved four vehicles and took place on Uplyme Road, near The Woodroffe School.

REPORT, PAGE 4

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Man jailed after attacking woman with knife on coast path in summer A MAN who attacked a woman and threatened her with a knife as she walked along a coast path just outside of Lyme Regis has been jailed.

Vytautas Ausrota, aged 30, of Plymouth in Devon, was sentenced at Bournemouth Crown Court last Monday after admitting offences of threatening with an offensive weapon, committing an offence with the intent to commit a sexual offence and assault by beating.

He was sentenced to a total of three years and four months in prison and made the subject of a Sexual Harm Prevention Order for an indefinite period.

At about 3pm on Saturday, August 29 2020 the victim, a woman aged in her 50s from Surrey, was walking along the South West Coast path just outside Lyme Regis when she heard a man running toward her from behind.

The woman moved aside, expecting the man to run past, but instead Ausrota rugby tackled her to the ground and knelt on top of her.

The victim saw he was holding a penknife with the blade out.

The defendant threatened to kill the woman and said he wanted sex.

Moments later two members of the public approached and the victim asked them for help.

They told Ausrota they would call the police if he did not get off her.

The defendant got up and left the scene. Police were contacted and a search of the area was launched.

At 8.08pm that evening Dorset Police received a 999 call from the defendant, who said he had attacked a woman in Lyme Regis and officers were looking for him.

Ausrota was located shortly afterwards in Broad Street and arrested.

Detective Constable Stuart Dalladay, of West-

ern CID, said: “Ausrota subjected his victim to a truly horrifying ordeal, taking advantage of her as she was out walking alone.

“I would like to praise the victim for the courage she has shown in supporting our investigation and I am glad that we have been able to bring this dangerous offender to justice.”

The sentencing comes at a time when harassment and violence against women has been brought to the forefront of the nation’s attention.

Dorset Police have issued a statement assuring women “we are here for you” in the wake of the Sarah Everard murder.

The joint statement from Deputy Chief Constable Scott Chilton and Police and Crime Commissioner Martyn Underhill said: “Over the last few weeks many people in our communities have understandably felt the need to speak out about their experiences and fears of violence, abuse or harassment in this country.

“We acknowledge that this is a very real and concerning problem in our own communities in Dorset and we recognise that people are worried.

“We would like to reassure everyone that we understand your concerns and we are listening to them.

“It is completely unacceptable for women of any age to feel unsafe whether they are at home, on the streets, in school or at work.

“This is a problem that directly affects half of our communities and we need to ensure women and all in our communities are safe and feel safe.

It is paramount that we as a police service are part of the solution, stand alongside women and girls in our communities and bring about real change that will benefit generations to come.

“Dorset Police remains absolutely committed to protecting everyone from violence and society as a whole must play their part in stopping this.

“We take reports of violence, harassment and assault very seriously. We will investigate these reports and do everything we can, working with partners across the criminal justice system, to bring offenders to justice.

“We will continue to work with those people affected to better understand the impact on them and how we can improve our response.

“As always, we encourage anyone who has been the victim of rape, sexual assault, abuse or harassment to have the confidence to report it to us. We are here for you.”

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Lyme Regis couple finally say ‘I do’ as lockdown restrictions are eased LYME Regis couple Esme Hopkins and Duncan Weaver finally tied the knot after setting five wedding dates over the past year.

They were one of the first couples in the UK to make the most of the relaxation of lockdown rules on Monday, which allowed two households to come together for the first time in months.

Esme and Duncan married at Dorchester Registry Office with just their mothers allowed inside as witnesses and their four children having to watch through the window.

But the whole family was able to celebrate together afterwards on Lyme Regis beach and were blessed with perfect weather.

The couple arrived in Duncan’s Sunbeam Tiger car and then enjoyed Champagne and a picnic on Cobb Gate beach, where Esme’s son Hughie gave a best man’s speech with wet feet

having just taken a paddle!

The newlyweds said the beach was the perfect location for their much-anticipated wedding reception, adding: “When you have this backdrop, you don’t need a stately home to get married in!”

ESME and Duncan pictured on Lyme Regis beach with their family

THE couple arrived at the beach in Duncan’s classic car

COVID-19: The latest on local coronavirus figures

Coronavirus case rates remain steady across the Dorset area COVID-19 case rates across Dorset have remained at similar levels over the past seven days, with a very slight increase in the Dorset Council area and decrease in the Bournemouth, Poole & Christchurch (BCP) area.

As of March 26, there were 113 COVID-19 cases in the Dorset Council area, compared to 111 the previous week, and 99 in the BCP area, a drop from 132 the previous week.

This means the case rate per 100,000 people was 29.9 in the Dorset Council area, compared to 29.3 in the last update on March 19, and 25.0 in the BCP area, compared to 33.4.

There are currently 16 COVID-19 patients in hospital beds in Dorset, compared to 21 the previous week.

Up until March 21, 427,599 doses had been administered to people in Dorset.

A spokesperson for Dorset Council said: “COVID-19 case rates across Dorset have remained at similar levels this week, with a slight fall in the case rate for the Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole Council area.

“Case rates for both council areas are lower than the England average and around the same as the South West average.

“COVID-related hospital admissions and deaths continue to fall. Over 425,000 doses of the COVID vaccine have now been given across the county.

FRANCESCA EVANS

francesca@lyme-online.co.uk

“From Monday, March 29, people can meet outdoors in groups of up to six people, or two households. Outdoor sport facilities can reopen and formally organised outdoor sport can resume.

“People should continue to work from home where they can and minimise the number of journeys they make where possible.

“Please continue to play your part to ensure restrictions can be lifted safely.

The government will continuously review the data to determine if the next step can go ahead, so by following the measures you can help to keep transmission low.

“We all still need to keep our distance, wash hands regularly and wear face coverings, and if you have any symptoms of COVID-19, self-isolate with your household and book a PCR test.”

Current COVID case numbers in the local area remain low, with fewer than three cases recorded across Lyme Regis, Charmouth and the Marshwood Vale in the seven-day period up until March 26.

In small areas where there are fewer three cases, full data is not given as to protect the identity of individuals.

In neighbouring Uplyme, Kilmington and Colyton, there were three

cases, an increase of one, and in Axminster there were also three cases, again an increase of one on the previous week.

In Seaton there were nine reported cases, an increase of four.

Cases in the Sidmouth area have dropped back down following a serious outbreak of COVID at a care home in Sidford. In Sidbury, Offwell and Beer and Sidmouth Town there were fewer than three cases, and in Sidford there were six, a decrease of four.

To the east of Lyme Regis, there were four cases in the Chideock and Burton Bradstock area, an increase of two, and fewer than three cases in both Bridport North and Bridport South and West Bay. You can find out more details on COVID case numbers in your local area on the website https://coronavirus.data.gov.uk/ Over 50s in the Bridport, Beaminster, Charmouth and Lyme Regis areas are now being encouraged to book their COVID-19 vaccinations at Bridport Medical Centre.

Anyone over 50 yet to receive a vaccine appointment can call the booking team on 01308 808714, open from 8.30am to 4.30pm Monday to Friday, apart from on clinic days which are usually Wednesdays and Saturdays.

THE concrete blocks were placed on the beach in the Second World War to obstruct German tanks Photo by Richard Austin

Art or vandalism?

Graffiti on wartime blocks at Monmouth Beach splits opinion GRAFFITI which has appeared on concrete blocks used to defend the coastline during the Second World War has split opinion in Lyme Regis.

The four concrete blocks on Monmouth Beach have been spray-painted in bright yellow and pink, with some welcoming the graffiti as a colourful addition and others describing it as vandalism of a piece of history.

The concrete blocks are known as Dragon’s Teeth and were put in place along the south coast during WWII to stop German tanks from driving up beaches should they have begun an invasion of the UK.

They were intended to obstruct a tank’s progress or expose the vulnerable underside of a tank if they endeavoured to go over the concrete blockades.

The graffiti was recently photographed by Lyme Regis photographer Richard Austin and posted on social media.

Some have said the graffiti was “vandalism” and disrespectful to the wartime history of the blocks, while others said the art could be considered an “expression of creativity, hope and peace” and brightened up the area.

What do you think?

4 Friday, April 2 2021

Elderly man injured in Lister Gardens accident A 91-year-old man was seriously injured when his mobility scooter reportedly ran out of control down the steep bank of Lister Gardens in Lyme Regis, crashing onto the flat roof area above Marine Parade.

Devon Air Ambulance was called to the scene in the late afternoon of Wednesday, landing on Anning Road playing field, and three paramedics rushed from the helicopter to the scene.

After being treated on the scene the man was taken to hospital via land ambulance.

Lyme Regis co-responders also attended and the fire engine was mobilised to help due to access issues on the seafront. They remained on the scene to help transport the casualty and air crew.

The ambulance service released the following statement: “We were called on Wednesday at 3.48pm about an incident in the area of Marine Parade, Lyme Regis. We were informed someone had crashed their mobility scooter.

“We treated a male patient at the scene who was injured and not responding properly, and transported him to hospital by land ambulance for further care.”

Lister Gardens is owned by Lyme Regis Town Council, which released the following statement on the accident: “We are very concerned to hear about this accident, and very concerned for the health and well-being of the person involved.

“At this point we have had no details from the emergency services of the cause and nature of the accident.

“Our thoughts and best wishes go to the person involved and our thanks to the emergency services for their response.”

The safety of the gardens and flat roof have recently been called into question, with some councillors concerned that events should no longer be held in the area because of possible damage to new glass balustrades, a panel of which was smashed by a stone last year with some shattered glass falling onto a family on the seafront below (see page 5).

It was also recently suggested that a low fence or hedging could be planted at the bottom of the grass bank to stop items such as footballs and skateboards from falling over the edge onto Marine Parade.

Council officers are currently working on a management plan for the area.

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Nominate your favourite Lyme Regis business for new awards scheme THERE is still a few weeks left to nominate your favourite local businesses for the first Lyme Regis Business Awards.

Lyme’s vibrant trading community is to be celebrated following a hugely challenging 12 months at an awards ceremony in July.

LymeOnline has joined forced with Marketing West, the West Dorset marketing and events company, to help organise the awards.

Marketing West has great experience in organising business awards, having hosted similar successful events in Bridport, Dorchester and Sherborne.

Managing director Nigel Reeve, said: “We are committed to helping business to start to thrive again. The Lyme Regis Business Awards will focus on promoting the range and quality of local businesses operating within a three-mile radius of the town which will include Uplyme and Charmouth.”

Having been officially launched with the backing of the Mayor of Lyme Regis, Cllr Brian Larcombe MBE, in February, the awards have since been expanded and businesses can now enter 17 categories (listed below).

The winner of each category will receive a trophy and framed certificate and an overall winner will also be chosen as Lyme’s Business of The Year.

Business owners will be able to enter the awards free of charge and the public can also nominate their favourite local business for relevant categories.

A panel of independent judges will be selected to choose the winners of each category and the overall Business of The Year which, as well as a trophy and certificate, will receive a free full-page advertisement (value £125) in LymeOnline for their own business or preferred charity.

The awards ceremony will now take place on July 1 – not in June as previously advertised – to meet COVID-19 restrictions with the winners and sponsors in attendance. The ceremony will also be broadcast online and on the LymeOnline website.

As well as LymeOnline and Marketing West, other sponsors of the awards include NFU Mutual, Gavin Dixon Finance Solutions Ltd, The Pilot Boat, Higos and Holmbush Cafe.

For more information and details on how to nominate your own business or your favourite local business, visit the website www.lymebusinessawards.co.uk LYME REGIS BUSINESS AWARDS CATEGORIES: Best Community Support; Best Customer/Client Service; Arts, Crafts & Artisans; Mental Wellbeing & Awareness; Best Use of Digital; Green Business of The Year; New Business of The Year; Health, Beauty & Fitness; Independent Business; Retail Business; Service Provider; Cafe/Pub and Hospitality; Tourism Business of the Year; Restaurant of The Year; Accommodation Provider; Rising Star of 2021; Local Business Leader 2021; Overall Lyme Regis Business of The Year.

Crews called to empty dinghy pushed out to sea by ‘partying beach-goers’

LYME Regis coastguards and the lifeboat crew were called to reports of an empty tender dinghy floating 400 metres south of the harbour on Tuesday night.

The volunteer crews were called out at 10.05pm and it was quickly established that the vessel had been pushed out to sea by “partying beachgoers” enjoying one of the first days of relaxed lockdown restrictions.

Lyme Regis has seen particularly high spring tides this week and several groups were seen wading through the water, back and forth to the North Wall, on Tuesday evening.

The lifeboat was quickly able to recover the sailing dinghy and with no one in difficultly, all units were stood down.

A spokesperson for Lyme Regis Coastguards said: “We would like to thank the first informant for promptly reporting this to the coastguard. His actions have undoubtedly prevented a very lengthy search that would have involved many search and rescue assets.”

It was the second shout of the day for the lifeboat crew, which was called to reports of a kayaker in difficulty at Cobden Beach near Abbotsbury at 5.30pm, while crew members were already out training.

The volunteer crew conducted searches, but nothing was found and were later stood down by the coastguard.

Police investigating reported hit and run in Uplyme Road

DORSET Police are making enquiries following a reported hit and run in Lyme Regis on Friday.

Police were called to Uplyme Road, near to The Woodroffe School, in Lyme Regis at 3.55pm on Friday, March 26 to reports of a road traffic collision.

The collision involved four vehicles including a Ford Fiesta, a Nissan Micra, a Skoda Octavia and a Vauxhall Corsa.

It is reported that one of the drivers failed to stop at the scene.

There were no reports of any injuries. Enquiries are ongoing into the collision and no arrests have been made.

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Will events ever be held on seafront roof again?

THE potential for future events to be held on the seafront roof area, above Marine Parade in Lyme Regis, has been called into question, over fears that new glass panelling is not safe.

The flat roof area above SWIM, the Antiques & Craft Centre and the Amusement Arcade was completely resurfaced last year costing £650,000 – the council’s most expensive capital project since the renovation of the seafront shelters.

The work was considered essential to prevent water from leaking into the council-owned commercial buildings below.

The project also included the installation of balustrade made from strengthened glass along the edge of the roof, but it was only in place for a few months before one of the panels was smashed.

The incident occurred in 2020 when a member of the town council’s gardening staff was mowing grass in Lister Gardens and a small stone was thrown up by the mower and hit the glass, with a small amount of shattered glass falling onto a family outside the Amusement Arcade below.

An investigation into the specification of the glass balustrade was launched and the council was told that the toughened glass panels were of a suitable specification for the location, but in this instance the panel had not behaved as expected.

Councillors have now been asked to consider how they would like to use the flat roof area in the future, with suggestions including events such as food festivals, concerts and open air cinemas – as have been held in the past – as well as creating a pop-up, seasonal or permanent open-air restaurant or bar.

They have also been asked whether they would like to allow vehicles to access the area or gazebos and marquees to be erected.

Council officers had been asked to create a management plan for the area, but said they found this difficult as members has “wildly differing views” on the matter and they returned for more guidance at last week’s Town Management & Highways Committee.

But one councillor argued that they had to address the issue of the glass safety before making any decisions on how the area should be used.

Cllr David Sarson said: “I don’t often get very

FRANCESCA EVANS

francesca@lyme-online.co.uk agitated but I personally very strongly object to any of the options listed. I do not believe we should hold any event on the roof, nor should we consider any request for a permanent restaurant, bar, theatre, cinema, etc. I shudder at the thought.

“We need with some urgency an agreed solution to protect the glazing and consider out options for what we can safely put on the roof.

There is no mention of glass on the agenda at all.

“I do still strongly believe that if the architect of glazing manufacturer chose a toughened and laminated glass for this location, we would not have had to go down this path. Laminated and toughened glass panels were installed quite extensively behind the Langmoor and Lister rooms a few years ago.”

Committee chairman John Broom argued that there was “no such thing” as laminated and toughened glass – that this was two separate types of glass – but Cllr Sarson, who had a 20year career in the glass industry, insisted that it was possible to connect the two with an interlay.

‘It’s our responsibility to protect the public’

He continued: “As we know toughened and laminated glass has an interlay; if breakages occur the glass particles adhere to the laminate interlay, which keeps the glass in situ in its frame and will not shatter into small particles.

“There are levels of risk to be considered when choosing a glass specification. I believe the level that of risk to be taken into consideration regarding the consequence of glass shattering and falling over 20 feet on to a very busy footfall below, is of upmost importance.

“It is, of course, our responsibility to protect the public. I hope not but I believe we’ll have more episodes of glass panels shattering if we propose using the roof area for outside events, unless we come upon with an agreed solution to protect the glazing.

“I cannot imagine the effect any future glass breakages would have on our town council if this happens.”

Cllr Sarson asked for officers to bring forward constructive proposals to protect the glass panels before councillors considered how to use the flat roof area.

The Mayor of Lyme Regis, Cllr Brian Larcombe

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Hope an ‘elegant and affordable solution’ can be found to glass safety concerns ■ WITH regards to the seafront glass balustrade – the glass balustrade looks so attractive, it’s a great shame that the incident happened but obviously very good that nobody got seriously injured.

As a regular visitor to Lyme (once or twice a year since a child), and one who now follows Lyme news through LymeOnline, I was particularly interested in this story as I have had my own experience of a section of toughened glass that failed.

In my case it was a very large panel separating parts of a newly re-ordered church building in Berkshire, where I am churchwarden.

In our instance nobody got hurt as it stayed in place and the reason for the failure is still unclear as we wait to get it fixed, but it appears to be something to do with the installation work since no impacts were involved.

Our panel had two layers of toughened glass bonded together so the failure only affected one half with the intact panel importantly holding the fragments of the damaged panel together.

The article (see above) says that the glass did not behave as expected but it is not clear to me as a reader, but perhaps implied by events, that

the seafront balustrade was made of a single thickness, and perhaps history has shown this to have been an inappropriate choice?

Maybe the solution involves retaining all of the balustrade frames without disturbing the groundwork whilst progressively replacing all of the panels as a double thickness, starting with the panels adjacent to the biggest drop, followed up by the panels adjacent to lawns where there is the possibility of a repeat incident from grass cutting or skateboards or other vehicles getting out of control.

Apart from these type of impact incidents, I suppose the thought arises too as to whether with climate change and increasing storms there is a plausible risk of beach pebbles or gravel being thrown to this elevation by a raging sea at high tide?

Clearly an expensive problem to resolve but I hope that an elegant, affordable solution can be found that will preserve the appearance of this attractive balustrade feature and allow a full range of amenity usage to still be contemplated.

Kevin Isles, Berkshire

THE flat roof area above Marine Parade businesses has been resurfaced and had new glass fencing installed for a cost of £650,000 in 2020

MBE, said: “The main concern for me is not necessarily the damage to the glass but the effect it could have if it falls on to the level beneath.

“When you have the SWIM restaurant, in particular, with people eating outside and tables and benches beneath, it frightens me to death there could be glass falling on these people.”

He said for this reason he was definitely against the use of vehicles, trailers or horse boxes on the roof area.

The mayor also raised some previously-expressed concerns that the area was being used regularly for skateboarding and playing ball games, which could damage the glass or see items fall over the edge onto Marine Parade below.

However, he was told there were no bylaws preventing such activities taking place on the roof.

Cllr Rob Smith said he would be concerned

that potential fuel spills from vehicles or generators would damage the new surface of the area, and questioned how gazebos and marquees could be fastened down without damaging the roof.

Cllr Kelsey Ellis also agreed that vehicles should not be permitted on the roof, but she supported the area being used for events such as concerts, theatre performances and open-air cinema nights.

Officers will now go back and give further consideration to a management plan for the flat roof area, taking into consideration councillors’ comments and concerns, in particular, about the safety of the glass.

SHOULD EVENTS BE ALLOWED ON SEAFRONT ROOF? Email edit@lyme-online.co.uk

6 Friday, April 2 2021

LYME MATTERS with Philip Evans Essential reading for all those with Lyme at heart

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Safety first on the seafront H

AVING spent £650,00o on resurfacing, the spotlight is very much on how Lyme Regis Town Council deal with the future use and protection of the flat roof at the foot of Lister Gardens.

The fact of the matter is that resurfacing of the roof – over the top of the Amusement Arcade, Antique Centre and SWIM restaurant and bar – should have been carried out many years ago when the cost would have been much less. But it’s too late to argue about that now.

Foremost on the mind of town councillors is what should – or should not – be allowed on the roof which in recent times has been used to accommodate food festival stalls and other forms of entertainment.

One very popular use has been the showing of films with the audience using the sloping Lister Gardens as a viewing area.

Although it’s difficult to believe when you look at the site that motor vehicles could access the roof, negotiating the very steep bank, that’s exactly what has caused much concern in recent times.

Now that the council has spent so much of council taxpayers’ money on the new surface and smart glass balustrade, it is unlikely the area will be used to accommodate food festivals and certainly there will be a ban on motor vehicles.

The spotlight has fallen on the roof after a six figure sum being spent on resurfacing, but pooling of rain water is still occurring, one of the original reasons for the work being carried out.

Also, not long after the job was completed, a stone from a gardener’s lawn mower broke one of the glass panels which shattered sending glass splinters down onto a family outside the Amusement Arcade below.

No injuries were inflicted but, understandably, it has resulted in councillors asking whether the quality of the glass balustrade was up to scratch.

The matter caused quite a robust debate at a recent council meeting when the Mayor, Cllr Brian Larcombe, said he had seen youngsters skateboarding on the roof and playing football. His concern was the possibility of a skateboard shooting off the roof and falling to Marine Parade below causing serious injury to a passer-by.

Councillor David Sarson, who has 20 years experience of working in the glass industry, said it was possible to get toughened and laminated glass which, if smashed, the laminate interlay would keep the glass in place within its frame.

He said that laminate and toughened glass panels were installed quite extensively behind the Langmoor and Lister Rooms a few years ago.

That begs the question why a similar glass. was not used in this case.

In the end it was decided by the council that the officers should work on a management plan on how the area should be used in future, taking into consideration councillors’ comments on the safety concerns.

Now I’m a good one to talk about using the roof to accommodate events. I was the person, in my role as regatta secretary back in the seventies, who erected the first free-standing marquee on the roof.

We were planning to use the Marine Theatre for all the regatta and carnival indoor entertainment, but at the last moment this was not possible because a new lessee had taken over the premises.

I just happened to be in London and took a girlfriend to the London Fashion Show, which was held in a series of marquees outside the British Science Museum.

THE Dorset Street Food Festival stalls on top the Marine Parade flat roof in 2018 and 2019 - possibly never to be seen again These were the first free-standing marquees The area has come into the spotlight again I had ever seen. The were erected by a com- this week with the distressing accident involvpany from Swansea and the next day I phoned ing a disabled 91-year-old man in a mobility them to see if it was possible to erect a mar- scooter running out of control down over Lisquee on the Marine Parade roof. ter Gardens onto the flat roof, sustaining seThey visited the site the next week and rious injuries (see page 4). agreed to do the job. We had a venue which Various solutions to put a hedge or a small could accommodate 600 people, but I would fence along the bottom of the sloping area like to stress we did not take any vehicles onto have been put forward and I think it is inthe roof. Everything had to be lifted in by evitable, especially after this accident, that the hand. council will impose some restrictions on its More recently, I also arranged for a marquee use due to health and safety reasons. on the roof to entertain members of the The Lister Gardens is a magnificent asset to newly-formed Red Arrows 100 Club whose Lyme, it being the main viewing point for funding generosity paid for the appearance of crowds wishing to watch such iconic Lyme the Red Arrows in Lyme for two consecutive events as Candles On The Cobb and, of years.

Again, no vehicles were involved, but we did course, the Red Arrows.

The council will not want to prevent the garhave problems with people accidently knocking plastic glasses off the top onto the outside dens being used as amphitheatre but the safety of all has to be the first priority. tables at SWIM below.

No heavy rock but hopefully a few gems advantage digital print

Business cards Flyers Posters Leaflets Brochures Letterheads Compliment slips Folders Greetings cards Postcards

the

old radio station

www.advantagedigitalprint.com tel: 01305 75 74 72

RADIO is one of my favourite mediums and as a young journalist I was very interested in a broadcasting career.

I contributed regularly to the old Devon Air at Exeter in the days when it was run by the Stawbs front man Dave Cousens.

In the early days local newspapers saw local radio as a big threat to their advertising revenues but Dave and I became good friends and we joined forces for a combined promotion in which we organised a trade exhibition at Axminster which was a great success.

When I went into management I sat on a number of consortiums bidding for local radio station franchises.

The Independent Radio Authority which controlled the licenses always insisted on a high degree of local speech content but within a very short time of being on air these stations almost all reverted to being virtually all music stations with just brief national and news bulletins every hour.

So all the local content which was planned and promoted at the application stage rarely came to light.

So I’m delighted that our own community internet radio station, Lyme Bay Radio, is scheduling plenty of talk content alongside the wide variety of music which they broadcast.

And I am even more delighted that next Saturday (April 10) I’m a guest of Neil Charleton’s (pictured) excellent Bay Lives show on which a local person talks about their life in Lyme, influenced by some music, a bit like ‘Desert Island Discs’.

My music tastes are a bit varied, leaning very much towards swing, so if you’re expecting some heavy rock you are going to be a bit disappointed.

Bay Lives goes out at around 10am if you want to listen in and hopefully we can get a copy of the interview to put on the LymeOnline Sights & Sounds portal.

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Plans to improve pedestrian safety take a step forward UPLYME parish councillors are hopeful that proposals to improve pedestrian safety in the village may come to fruition over the next year.

The Uplyme Neighbourhood Plan contains the aspiration to improve safety on the narrow stretch of the B3165, near the junction with Crogg Lane, by providing a footway.

This would provide a safe scheme for pedestrians, particularly schoolchildren walking to and from The Woodroffe School.

Safety is presently compromised by walls on each side of the road and restricted sight lines.

Large articulated vehicles occupy the whole width of the road and some have to use the wrong side of the road to get past the small traffic island, which was installed to slow down all traffic.

The parish council has had difficulty in progressing this aspiration due to lack of funding in Devon.

Uplyme’s county councillor, Cllr Ian Hall, has been actively attempting to progress this issue and local resident Simon Williams has independently been emphasising its importance to Devon County Council.

Now Devon County Council and Dorset Council are working together to discuss the possibility of obtaining match-funding the

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scheme in the next financial year’s capital programme, with both Cllr Hall and Dorset councillor Daryl Turner working with officers on the project.

Uplyme Parish Council will also be expected to contribute Community Infrastructure monies.

Devon County Council will consider committing Local Transport Plan funds in next year’s programme to refresh the footway design to ensure the delivery of a safe scheme for all road users.

The scheme will then be presented to the parish council and is expected to gain their formal agreement to contribute to the scheme.

Devon County Council would then be able use £40,000 of its Local Transport Plan funding towards the cost of the scheme and, whilst timescales cannot presently be set in stone, it is likely to be towards the end of 2021/22.

Uplyme Parish Council said they are very grateful to Cllrs Hall and Turner for their support for this “much-needed project”, which they described as an “excellent example of joint working across county boundaries”.

Summer show set to go ahead in July THE Uplyme & Lyme Regis Horticultural Society is busy planning its 2021 Summer Flower and Produce Fair to be held on Saturday, July 10.

The event will be held from 1pm to 5pm at the King George V playing field in Uplyme and, as usual, the show will feature a wide range of flower, fruit and vegetable classes with some classes for children and crafts.

There will also be charity, commercial and demonstration stands for people to enjoy and a fun dog show. In addition, the society will be organising a plant stall as it is unable to hold its regular plant sale in May. The scope of entertainment is yet to be determined, depending upon COVID-19 restrictions at the time.

Robin Britton, the society’s chairman said:

“We’re working hard on a show that will welcome all our visitors back this summer and give them a great afternoon out. We’ll be including as many of our regular features as possible while making sure we’re COVID compliant.”

Preparations are well in hand to adapt the show to conform with COVID-19 requirements.

Society members have already claimed their potatoes for the ‘Potato in a Bucket’ competition and will be able to obtain plug plants to grow on for the show, thanks to the support of Groves Nurseries.

The show schedule with full details of classes and how to enter will be available from local shops in the next few weeks. You can also find out more information on the website https://ulrhs.wordpress.com/

NEWS FROM UPLYME PARISH COUNCIL ...

UPLYME Parish Council would like to take this opportunity to thank Ricky Neave for all his hard work and efforts during his five years’ service as the clerk to the council. We wish Ricky all the best for the future.

We have now appointed Anne-Marie Bates as the new clerk to the council and would like to wish her every success in her new role.

Please note the parish council contact details are now as follows: Address: Uplyme Parish Council, PO Box 259, Exmouth, EX8 9EA Telephone: 07413 947 067 Email: clerk@uplymparishcouncil.org Website: www.uplymparishcouncil.org Thank you to parish councillors who have been busy and volunteering their time to carry

out some maintenance work in the play area at King George V, also at Stafford Mount Gardens ready for spring.

Uplyme Parish Council has a casual vacancy for a parish councillor, and our current parish tree warden will soon be retiring. If you are interested in either of these volunteering positions, please visit our website for more information or contact the parish clerk.

The parish council is still currently having monthly Zoom meetings which residents are welcome to join. Information of these meetings can be found on the website or noticeboard.

We will let you know when face-to-face meetings resume again; these will be held in the village hall.

THIS JUST IN...

Catch up with all the top stories with LymeOnline’s video news bulletins Weekly videos with a round-up of the latest stories, plus breaking news bulletins ‘Bringing your local news to life’

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Friends launch new podcast and radio show for women

KIARA Holley-Paliano in her first on-screen role as a young Mary Anning

New short-film based on young Mary Anning to premiere at virtual festival

A NEW short-film based on the discoveries of Lyme Regis fossil hunter Mary Anning will premiere at the Cleveland International Film Festival in April.

‘Sea Dragon’, filmed partially on Charmouth beach, stars Kiara Holley-Paliano in her first on-screen role as a young Mary Anning.

As she makes groundbreaking discovery of the first ichthyosaur skeleton, she finds herself locked in an ideological battle with a devious auctioneer and the soon-to-crumbled views of 19th century England.

The short film also stars Harvey Dean as Mary’s brother Joseph Anning, Nathanial Parker as Mr Fairfax and many local actors in the supporting cast.

‘Sea Dragon’ was directed by James Morgan, whose previous short-film ‘Seven’, set in the Arctic, was long-listed for a BAFTA award.

The film, which has been backed by the Association for Science Education, has been selected to be screened at the Cleveland International Film Festival, which will be held online only from April 7 to 20.

‘Sea Dragon’, which runs for 17 minutes, will be available to screen on Thursday, April 8 and you can purchase tickets here.

The screening comes as the UK awaits the release of the full-length feature film ‘Ammonite’, which stars Kate Winslet as Mary Anning.

newsfromwestminster

A monthly column by West Dorset MP Chris Loder

THIS month has been busy in the House of Commons, but on Tuesday I had my first walk along Lyme Regis seafront in months.

The Prime Minister backed my call for railway investment to improve regional connectivity at Prime Minister’s Questions, which I want to use to focus on the Heart of Wessex line.

With the ‘Yeovil South Chord’ we can connect Bournemouth and Dorchester to Exeter and achieve Dorchester to London journey times down to two hours and 15 minutes.

A boost in rail will help keep cars off the road, particularly the A35 where a reduction in road traffic is much needed between Lyme and Bridport.

I again pushed for investment in faster broadband for Dorset.

I have been working hard for months to secure government funding for broadband for rural Dorset and I specifically asked the Minister to top up the fund for a full-fibre spine for Dorset – we then got the news that Dorset is top of the list for funding in Project Gigabit, which will be a gamechanger for connectivity in Dorset.

It’s been a year since I introduced my Animal Welfare (Sentencing) Bill to parliament, which will change the law to ensure proper punishments for those who abuse animals by raising the maximum sentence for the worst offenders from six months to five years.

Having navigated various hurdles pre-

sented by Coronavirus, my Bill completed its passage through the House of Commons and is now in the House of Lords.

I’m hoping it will receive Royal Assent in May. I went to Clapham Common to pay my respects to Sarah Everard, which gave me many insights.

The press has taken a particular dislike to the Metropolitan Police over the events at the bandstand, but the review has since found that the police did act appropriately in the face of abuse and provocation. It is worthwhile, I think, for all of us to know the full facts before reaching any conclusions.

I wish you all a very happy Easter.

To receive my latest updates from Westminster and West Dorset, please sign up to my newsletter at www.chrisloder.co.uk.

Visit www.chrisloder.co.uk for links to my social media channels and news, or email hello@chrisloder.co.uk if you are interested in a face-to-face meeting at one of my surgeries

JANETTE Edmonds and Lisa Galvani of Saggy & Sage LYME Regis pals Lisa Galvani and Janette Edmonds have launched a new venture dispelling the unrealistic image of perfection for women everywhere.

The friends have launched Saggy & Sage, sharing good-humoured lifestyle advice and sharing stories of real-life women via their website, social media, local radio show and podcast.

Lisa, who owns Lisa Galvani Makeup & Beauty Salon in Silver Street, and professional photographer Janette, who has a studio at The Room Upstairs in St Michael’s Business Centre, have been working together for two and a half years.

But their latest venture is something completely new to both of them, helping to cast off the myth of perfection and talking openly about real-life subjects, which they hope will help their listeners and followers.

Describing their content as “non-preachy lifestyle stuff for women”, the Saggy & Sage blog and soon-to-be-launched podcast will cover everything from health issues to career advice, friendship, relationships and more.

And Lisa and Janette will also be discussing relatable issues every week on their new show on Lyme Bay Radio, which will be broadcast on Wednesday nights from 7pm to 8pm and repeated on Friday afternoons at 2pm via www.lymebayradio.com They will be encouraging listeners to join in with this lighthearted escape from the everyday pressures of life and welcoming special guests into the studio, including some celebrating guests to be announced soon.

You can find more on the Saggy & Sage website at www.saggyandsage.com, where you can sign up to the newsletter to have regular content sent straight to your inbox, and you can follow them on Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn and YouTube.

You can get in touch by emailing saggyandsage@gmail.com What else is new on Lyme Bay Radio?

Despite the lockdown, the team at Lyme Bay Radio has managed to more than double the amount of shows on the station.

As well as the new Saggy & Sage show, Lyme Bay Radio has also recently launched Soul

Kitchen, presented by Neil Charleton and guest starring local chef and restaurateur Mark Hix, who will be preparing some mouthwatering dishes and answering listeners’ culinary questions.

Foodies can tune into Soul Kitchen every Sunday from 11am and email neil@lymebayradio.com if you have a question.

Lyme Regis Pantomime Society star Jon Doody will be bringing his usual sense of humour and style to another new show – Thursday Throwdown – with great chat and great music, all live from the Lyme Bay Radio studio.

Don’t forget you can also listen to LymeOnline editor Francesca Evans’ weekly news round-ups on Lyme Bay Radio, Fridays at 5pm and then repeated on Saturdays at 12noon and 5pm.

You can view the full Lyme Bay Radio schedule at lymebayradio.com/schedule Lyme Bay Radio are still looking for new presenters and office staff. If you’re interested in getting involved, email studio@lymebayradio.com

If you have a story for LymeOnline call editor Francesca Evans on 01297 442781 or email francesca@lyme-online.co.uk

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Friday, April 2 2021 9

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Councils make preparations to avoid ‘undesirable experiences’ seen across the county last summer CONTINUED FROM FRONT PAGE the high tides (see page 4).

Both Dorset Council and Lyme Regis Town Council are now making preparations which they hope will prevent a repeat of some of the “undesirable” incidents seen across the county last year - including overcrowding of beauty spots, illegal parking, littering, fires caused by camp fires and disposable barbecues, outdoor ‘toileting’ and an increase in anti-social behaviour.

Major incidents last year included hundreds of beach-goers being pushed together on a small section of Durdle Door beach as air ambulances had to land when several people were injured while ‘tombstoning’ off the cliffs.

Wareham Forest suffered mass destruction when a disposable barbecue that was not properly disposed of started a week-long heath fire.

And Lyme Regis saw an increase in anti-social behaviour and violent incidents over the summer months, resulting in the town council employing private security guards to patrol the seafront and public gardens, although there is no evidence this was caused by visitors.

Last year, the county also saw a significant increase in motorhome use and illegal camping, with people pitching up in lay-bys, on beaches and on private land, having campfires and leaving litter behind, often in highly protected areas of Dorset.

The town council has committed to un-budgeted expenditure of £21,000 to ensure its Marine Parade toilets can be kept open until the late evening and regularly cleaned, and to employ additional staff to clear litter.

It is hoped this will help manage what the town clerk recently described as an increase in “different types of visitors” seen in Lyme Regis last year, including more young people who were keen to stay on the beach later into the night and sometimes until the early hours

of the morning.

Dorset Council has now announced it will be spending dedicated government funding to ensure it is better prepared for an influx of visitors this summer.

Cllr Ray Bryan, Dorset Council’s portfolio holder for Highways, Travel and Environment, said: “Tourism is a very important part of the Dorset economy and we are looking forward to welcoming visitors back after what’s been a very tough year for our business community.

“However, the impact of so many people on our beaches and at beauty spots, towns and villages was disappointing last year when littering, illegal campers, forest fires and illegal parking and other anti-social behaviours became commonplace.

“We know how frustrating this was for some of our communities, and we share those feelings. That’s why we’re investing in an ambitious plan to help combat some of those behaviours.

“Using government funding provided for this purpose, we will employ more parking wardens, put in place more waste bins and collections, improved signage to warn of dangers of disposable BBQs and a possible ban on beach camping.”

Dorset Council is part of a multi-agency group of partners including Dorset Police, Dorset & Wiltshire Fire and Rescue Service, Dorset health partners and Bournemouth, Christchurch & Poole Council, working together to tackle some of the more “undesirable experiences” from last year.

Cllr Bryan continued: “Dorset is a very special place and we want to protect it. Our Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty and World Heritage Coastline being just two internationally important designations.

“We have an opportunity this year to create a lasting legacy for Dorset to help strengthen our place in the UK as one of the most desir-

able places to visit.

“We can only do so much though, to influence individuals’ behaviour. We hope the measures we put in place will have a positive effect, but the responsibility is on the visitors themselves to behave with respect for the area they are visiting.”

Funding to put these additional measures in place has been given to all councils to help with these very issues, funding is not coming out of Dorset Council’s budget.

The council is also looking at innovative ideas like electric hot plate installations at key locations to deter the use of disposable BBQs known to cause devastating fires, and new tow-away areas in places where irresponsible parking is a problem.

The council is also working closely with landowners to open up properly managed additional camping and parking areas.

Crime is likely to increase Ahead of the Easter Bank Holiday weekend, Dorset Police’s Chief Constable has thanked the county’s communities for all they have done over the last year during the national fight against COVID-19, and has warned there is likely to be an increase in some crimes as restrictions ease.

Chief Constable James Vaughan said: “This week marks the start of a brighter future for so many people in Dorset. We can now meet up with friends and family outside, revisit our favourite places and have a well-earned Easter break from the confines of home.

“As the current restrictions begin to lift over the coming months, we are asking the public to continue to play their part so that we do not undo all of the good work.

“We will continue our 4Es approach to the new legislation using engagement, education and encouragement to ask members of the public to comply with the regulations.

“Now that the stay at home restriction has been lifted we expect certain crimes will start

to increase locally and nationally. It is important for our communities to know that we will be carrying out high-visibility patrols this spring and summer and that we continue to be here for them.

“While 2020 was a difficult year, it has also shown how our communities rallied together and helped each other. I would like to thank everyone for playing their part in sticking to the restrictions and helping others, whether it has been collecting groceries, making trips to hospital or doctor appointments, volunteering at vaccination sites or checking on neighbours – you have made a real difference.”

The force has been lucky to have the support of its own army of volunteers, special constables and cadets.

Since Monday, March 23, 118 special constables have worked more than 31,470 hours and 124 police staff volunteers have dedicated more than 2,666 hours. The force’s cadets have given 310 hours and their 13 leaders 210 hours.

Chief Constable James Vaughan continued: “I am immensely proud of each and every member of our police family for the commitment they have shown over the last year to continue to protect the public and help keep them safe.

“It is highly likely this summer will be our busiest summer ever. While we welcome the boost it will bring to our economy, we need to ensure that we take proactive measures to manage any rise in demand on our policing service and keep our communities and visitors safe.

“We understand our communities may be feeling nervous about the coming summer months and we are asking everyone to respect each other and protect our environment while enjoying what Dorset has to offer.”

Working Lyme to Five CAN you keep a secret? I can. In fact, I have probably forgotten more secrets than I can remember. Maybe it stems from my working background or maybe I’m just a very secretive person.

Anyway, the point is, I have a secret that I’m going to share with you… if you promise not to tell.

But before I do, let me tell you about the latest from the Royal Standard because they have been getting ready to open their takeaway doors to the general public this week.

I was in there with Maisy doing a deep clean and over the past three months, landlords Rachael and Akis have been industriously busy giving the pub a spring spruce-up. have to admit, after a quarter of a year, I wasn’t sure if the benches had been recovered or if I had forgotten what the pattern on the cushioned bit looked like. Either way, it all looks great, ready for the next stage in the government’s big reopening plan.

The outdoor area, with its netting and sail cover, is going to be the perfect seagull sanctuary. No, not for the gulls, for the guests.

After three months of having to find their own food, the Lyme Regis seagulls are going to be pretty hungry, I watched one unwary day-tripper lose his ice cream as he walked along Marine Parade. Personally, I wouldn’t have scooped it up off the ground and popped it back in the cone to eat, but maybe that’s me being fussy.

Anyway, after we had cleaned our way from

one end of the bar to the other, everyone turned up for a staff meeting and to be introduced to the new iPad ordering system.

Now I make no secret of my lack of love for IT, but I have to say, this is a very clever system and will mean I no longer have to search for pen and paper.

There wasn’t much gossip to catch up on, everyone saying the same thing about the latest lockdown, don’t get me started, but there are some newbies on the block who will doubtless take to the iPad system like a duck to water (or seagull to an ice cream), which is good for me if I get stuck.

So anyway, about that secret. It’s no secret I love writing and I love books and when I saw there was an opportunity to be surrounded by and talk about books all day, I couldn’t let the opportunity pass me by.

Under new ownership, the Lyme Regis Bookshop, previously Serendip, is opening its doors on April 12. Kevin Ramage has been busy giving this wonderful shop a bit of a facelift and I cannot wait to join his team.

So with the combination of pulling a pint and selling the latest literary gems, our paths are bound to cross and if you want a word in my shell-like, just pop into either establishment, you know your secrets will be safe with me.

Sophia Moseley

Golden Horizon ship to visit Lyme this summer THIS stunning sailing ship is expected to arrive in Lyme Regis this summer as part of a cruise around the South West peninsula.

The Golden Horizon is expected to stop in Lyme Regis on August 1 during an 11-day tour around the South West.

The ship is the world’s largest square-rigged sailing vessel and a near-replica of the 1913

ocean vessel, France II. Retaining the charm, adventure and romance of an historic ship, the Golden Horizon offers adventure-seekers a unique sailing experience with luxurious and elegant interior, including a restaurant, piano bar and spa.

You can find out more about the Golden Horizon at www.tradewindvoyages.com

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Old seafront railings becoming health and safety hazard LYME Regis Town Council are to submit a second planning application to replace old railings on the seafront before they become a health and safety hazard.

Replacement of a 200-metre stretch of railings at the eastern end of Marine Parade has been a long-time objective of the council.

Members first considered the condition of the railings in 2015 when they were told that further ad hoc repairs were no longer practicable.

The council initially agreed to replace the old railings with a more modern design, as seen at the western end of the seafront, which had been installed by the now-defunct West Dorset District Council.

Despite this, advice from West Dorset’s conservation officer recommended like-forlike replacement at the eastern end of Marine Parade, rather than the modern design.

The town council still went ahead with a planning application for a modern replacement in 2017 and this was subsequently refused on the casting vote of the chairman of West Dorset’s Planning Committee.

The refusal notice said the replacement of the railings with a modern design would “result in the loss of an important and historic feature in the Conservation Area” and that the proposed design “fails to preserve or enhance the character of the Conservation Area and would be detrimental to the setting of the adjacent listed buildings”.

Considering how best to move forward, discussions were held with planning officers and it was made clear that they were “extremely unlikely” to support anything other than like-for-like replacement of the railings.

The town council’s chosen architects, Boon

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Brown of Yeovil, then decided they would no longer be involved in the process.

The railings have since continued to deteriorate and, while temporary repairs have been made, council officers have now advised that they are “fast approaching the point where they constitute a health and safety risk”.

Councillors were asked at a recent Town Management & Highways Committee meeting whether they still wanted to pursue the modern design or a like-for-like replacement.

Deputy town clerk Mark Green said he was happy to pursue whatever options councillors decided on, but warned that moving forward with the modern design may be “like pushing water uphill”.

It was also reported that the modern railings may be the more expensive option, with the latest quote obtained in 2015/16 standing at £35,000, which did not include the cost of removing the old railings or installation of the replacement.

The latest quote for like-for-like replacement, obtained in 2018, was £45,000, which did include removal and installation.

Mr Green advised that, although they were described at like-for-like, it was likely the new railings would have some minor differences to meet modern safety standards.

Councillors noted the importance of getting the railings replaced as soon as possible to avoid a health and safety issue, and agreed to pursue the like-for-like design with a second planning application.

It is hoped the work to replace the railings will take place in autumn 2021.

A 200-metre stretch of railings on Marine Parade is in need of replacing

Seafront signage to be tidied up LYME Regis Town Council is to hold an audit of signage in an attempt to tidy up the seafront area.

Members agreed at a recent Town Management & Highways Committee meeting that there was too much signage on the seafront, which looked messy and made the signs less affective as they were all competing for attention.

More than 85 signs have been counted on the seafront, not including any commercial signage which businesses pay to display.

It was noted that some signs were essential and helped the council’s enforcement officers to enforce regulations, including when dogs were permitted on the beach and rules against feeding seagulls.

Councillors asked operations manager Matt

Adamson Drage to carry out a full audit of all signage, giving priority to signs which were deemed essential, and to come back to the committee with suggestions on which ones could be scrapped.

EXPLORING 100 YEARS AT LYME REGIS MUSEUM Making Movies

MARCH 2021 sees Lyme Regis Museum celebrate its centenary. It’s also by coincidence the month when ‘Ammonite’ Francis Lee’s 2020 film about Mary Anning is released.

The museum’s involvement with the film goes back to a torrential day in the winter of 2017-18 when museum geologist Paddy Howe took Francis Lee out on a fossil walk.

Francis grew up on a Yorkshire hill farm so was unlikely to be deterred by a drenching morning in Dorset. One conversation later we were aware of his ambition and had agreed to maintain secrecy.

In the summer and autumn of 2019, the museum’s team advised See-Saw films on life in Lyme in the mid-19th century, potential locations as well as the science.

We met Kate Winslet and saw at first hand the eye for detail needed to be a worldclass actor. Kate even learned to write as Mary had.

Getting the Lyme accent right was crucial.

Museum volunteer and Lyme girl Lizzie Wiscombe worked with the vocal coach and Kate to ensure its accuracy. Who wants yet another of those roving, slightly piratical accents beloved of West Country costume dramas? You know, the ‘Oi be in Dorzet’ stuff. Although the script was kept secret, Lizzie had the privilege of a private reading, just her and Kate.

The museum also helped out with props.

Our life-sized model of the first great fossil discovered by Mary and Joseph Anning appears in the film as do some of Paddy Howe’s fossils. Indeed, See Saw films props team actually improved our model by

slightly lightening it so it more resembled the local stone from which the original was extracted.

Our major contribution to ‘Ammonite’ was through the work of Paddy Howe. Paddy taught Kate how to rapidly break open a nodule with a geology hammer to uncover the fossil within. The key skill is that one needs to be able to do this rapidly to be convincing.

Lyme’s modern day fossil hunters wield a hammer as if they were Thor, and it’s certain that Mary Anning was equally proficient.

Paddy also explained to Kate that when she released a fossil from its rock that it’s best ‘not to leap around with joy’, this is, after all, what an expert expect to see.

For me at least, the most amusing consequence of our involvement is my film credit as ‘geological adviser’. I am nothing of the sort. I have an O level (C) in geology.

Paddy, who did all the intellectual heavy lifting, worked his socks off to obtain an Open University degree in geology and has 30 years’ experience of Lyme’s beaches – which he has reminded me of on more than one occasion.

From the very start we understood what the film’s romance was to be. Our view was simple, we know nothing about Mary Anning’s personal life and our sole interest was making sure the science was as accurate as it can be within the bounds of film-making.

We hope we’ve managed to achieve that.

As we all know, there’s much more to get steamed up about than the contents of a movie.

David Tucker Lyme Regis Museum Director

WE’RE OPEN FROM WEDNESDAY, MAY 19th!

To find out about visi!ng the museum and our famous fossil walks visit www.lymeregismuseum.co.uk Lyme Regis Museum ‐ Where Mary Anning Lived

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12 Friday, April 2 2021

Traders invited to Chamber of Commerce revival meeting

EFFORTS are being made to revitalise Axminster Chamber of Commerce after a period of inactivity during the coronavirus lockdown.

Local businesses are being invited to attend the chamber's annual meeting which will take place on Zoom on Tuesday, April 6 at 7.30pm An appeal to support the meeting has been posted on the Axminster Noticeboard website by long-term chamber member Jane Rockett from Axminster Printing.

She said: "It’s been a while since the chamber has been fully active. There is, however, currently a great deal of potential for its revival and it’s really important that businesses have an effective voice and we play our part.

"With Totally Locally Axminster a key contributor, we do already have a lot of momentum and the time is right to get the chamber back into full voice.

"The AGM is a crucial starting point. Please do come along."

Barrie Hedges, who runs Totally Local Axminster, the organisation which promotes independent traders, said: "We encourage all those traders who have supported Totally Locally Axminster's various initiatives over the past two years to attend.

"The strength of the chamber over the coming months will be really important in contributing to Axminster's increasingly exciting revitalisation.

"If the town gets stronger then so do individual businesses and indeed the whole community as a whole."

The Zoom link for the annual meeting is: https://us02web.zoom.us/j/81512890316

www.lyme-online.co.uk

Totally Locally putting Axminster on the map!

THE Totally Locally Axminster traders group is launching a campaign designed to ‘put Axminster on the map’ as the town comes out of lockdown.

It will lead its push with a dynamic new town centre map for shoppers and visitors which will be available free from April 12 through local shops and also prominently displayed in Trinity Square.

The map has been made possible through support from the East Devon AONB Sustainable Development Fund, delivered locally on behalf of DEFRA (the Department for Environment & Rural Affairs).

The Trinity Square display will, with the kind permission of Boots, take over an old display case that had been much in need of renovation.

A new one is being handmade by Ian Styles, managing director of Axminster Property, as his gift to the initiative.

The idea for the map came from Naomi Eden, owner of the Collate Interiors homewares shop, and has been guided by a small team of Totally Locally Axminster volunteers.

“We think it will be appreciated by visitors and locals alike,” said Naomi.

“Our aim was to create a map that would be both useful and beautiful so that people want to keep it beyond their visit.

“Our hope is that it will help to create a sense of pride within this wonderful community and that it will showcase the unique and truly brilliant selection of small independent high

A national network of h hyperlocal news websites, now covering the Ax Axminster & Seatton areas With editorial content provided by the team from Ly Lym meOnline

Visit our new websites at

axminsterr..nub.news and seaton.nub.news And don’t forget to follow us on Facebook & T Tw witter to keep up to date with all the latest local news

street businesses that we have here.”

The map has been designed by Bridportbased Delphine Jones who is a specialist in highly visual maps and knows Axminster well.

She has painstakingly illustrated a selection of Axminster’s most familiar town centre buildings.

The print has been capably handled by Axminster Printing.

While the front face of the map is visual and pinpoints the lo- ARTIST Delphine Jones pictured with the map on screen cations of individual retail businesses and other key facilities, the AONB and to Ian Styles for their support,” reverse carries a pictorial guide to the town, said Naomi. its heritage and the wider countryside and “We know that a map of this sort will need other attractions that surround it. regular updating to keep up with the changes “We are hugely grateful to the East Devon so we will plan that in for the future.”

Steering group holds first meeting to discuss revitalisation of Axminster THE first meeting of a new steering group to discuss the future of Axminster was held last week.

The steering group was formed of councillors and interested parties following a virtual public meeting earlier this month, when several ideas on how to revitalise and improve Axminster were shared.

One of the main concerns raised at the public meeting was the volume and speed of traffic travelling through the town centre, with several people suggesting more pedestrianisation, green spaces and al fresco dining.

Other ideas included renovating dilapidated buildings in the town centre, such as the Webster’s Garage area, and smaller ideas included more community planting and bunting to brighten up Axminster.

The first steering group meeting was held on March 24 with 25 people in attendance, split evenly between district and town councillors and members of the public.

It was agreed that conjoining Axminster’s Neighbourhood Plan with other work on the town’s future using potential funding from East Devon’s new Resilience, Adaptation and Innovation fund, while an attractive proposal, did not take into consideration the fact that the Neighbourhood Plan is a legal planning document.

It was therefore agreed that there needed to be two strands to the steering group, and those taking forward the Neighbourhood Plan will be town councillors Andrea Sedgewick, Jeremy Walden and Steve Holt, along with David Knapman, Cindy Furse, Barrie Hedges and Simon Smith.

The second arm of the group will look at shorter-term objectives and “quick wins” for the town, co-ordinating with Totally Locally and the recently revitalised Chamber of Commerce.

Members focussing on this will include district councillor Sarah Jackson, town councillors Simon Sleigh and Martin Spurway, and residents Simon Smith, Cindy Furse and Bar-

rie Hedges.

Both arms of the steering group will meet separately too further discuss ideas and the full group will then meet again in about a month.

Members of the group agreed that employing a professional town planning consultant to take plans forward was also an attractive option, but consideration needed to be given to employing a firm with specialisms including town and transport planning.

It was also noted that different residents and interest groups would have different views about the vision of the future of Axminster.

District councillor Paul Hayward is engaging with the Economic Development Officer at EDDC to discuss the current position of Axminster Regeneration Board, which was set up in 2016 under the former district council leadership to revitalise a town’s economy through a careful blend of council and private sector investment and collaboration.

POLICE are appealing for information on a motorcycle stolen from the Axminster area.

The KTM 250 EXC 12 pictured above was stolen from the Axminster area in the early hours this morning (Wednesday, March 31).

Anyone with information is asked to contact police on 101 and quote crime reference number CR/024912/21.

Friday, March 19 2021 13

www.lyme-online.co.uk

At long last, it is the moment we have all been waiting for and we cannot wait to welcome you back to The Pilot Boat.

Whilst we cannot quite open the front doors just yet, we can open our terrace for groups of 2 households or groups of up to 6 people from mixed households, to enjoy some al fresco eating and drinking from April 12th.

Whilst we are all keeping everything crossed for good weather, it is best to come prepared for every eventuality, so wrap up warm, bring a blanket and perhaps even an umbrella, just in case. Also, you are welcome to use the toilets inside.

We hope to open from 10.00 until 20.00. Our opening times are weather permitting and can change at short notice! You will not be able to shelter inside.

Face Coverings: Need to be worn until seated at your table, please wear them if you need to come inside the pub to use the toilet. Our team will still be wearing face coverings for now, as per government guidance.

Table Bookings: Due to the unpredictability of the weather and limited capacity, we will not be taking table bookings and tables will be offered on a first come, first served basis. We will make every effort to accommodate you.

Our Menu: Breakfast will be available from 10.00 until 11.30.

Whilst we are outside, our pizza menu will be the only option available from 12.00 until 19.00.

1 Bridge Street, Lyme Regis DT7 3QA – 01297 443157

14 Friday, April 2 2021

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Reflecting on coastal glazing THERE IS MORE TO GLASS THAN MEETS THE EYE SCIENCE FEATURE

by Professor Glenn Patrick

Professor Glenn Patrick is a particle physicist and science communicator who explores the quantum world of sub-atomic particles (including at the Large Hadron Collider) and now lives in Lyme Regis

T

HE recent reports about problems with the newly-installed glass balustrades on the seafront roof area above Marine Parade in Lyme Regis (see page 5) have caused some heated discussion.

Regular readers will know that Lyme Regis Town Council arranged for the roof area to be re-surfaced and a new balustrade to be installed in 2020, but concerns have recently been raised after one of the glass panels was broken by a flying stone.

It got me thinking about what we know about this amazing material that we take for granted in our everyday lives.

Glass is useful for storage - what else would we make our wine bottles and glasses out of (and please do not say plastic)?

We are literally surrounded by the stuff sitting behind double-glazed windows at home and windscreens in our cars, giving us protection as well as light.

For those of us who wear spectacles, it even improves our view of the world.

We also have glass oven doors which must withstand heat, but still enable us to see the dinner roasting, smartphone screens which respond to our touch, and thin strands of glass bringing us the internet over optical fibres.

I was a member of a team at CERN that even used 12,000 blocks of lead glass – as used in fine crystal glassware – to build a particle detector!

Despite all these applications and the fact that glass has been around for about 5,000 years, we still do not fully understand the material.

I remember being told by a science teacher that glass is a liquid, and this is often repeated. Proof of this is supposed to be found in the stained-glass windows of churches and

the glass balustrades above Marine Parade shortly after completion cathedrals that are thicker at the bottom than at the top.

We are expected to believe that over the centuries the glass has flowed to the bottom, but this cannot be true because the atoms of glass move far too slowly.

The thick end of stained-glass windows is usually due to the medieval manufacture of glass panes, which in those days were not particularly flat or uniform.

The panes of glass were often made by a process which involved spinning it into a disk before it was cut. This made the glass thicker at the edge of the disk and the craftsmen naturally put this thickest end at the bottom of the window.

So, what is glass? Well, it is neither a solid nor a liquid, but is somewhere between the two and can be regarded as a different state of matter.

This is because solids are made up of highly organised structures of atoms (think of crystals like sugar or salt) whereas liquids are not organised.

THE stained-glass windows of St Michael’s Parish Church - it is a myth that such panes are thicker at the bottom because the glass is a liquid

Glass is what is called an amorphous solid, which means that it is more organised than a liquid, but it does not have the rigid structure of solids.

It was the mass production of motor cars that created a demand for so-called ‘safety glass’, which was less likely to break and less likely to cause injury if it did.

Henry Ford was the first car manufacturer to use laminated glass in 1919. When it shatters, laminated glass is held together by a plastic inter-layer bonding the layers of glass.

It was discovered accidentally in 1903 by the French chemist Edouard Benedictus when he dropped a beaker and noticed that the glass held together because it had previously contained a clear liquid plastic (cellulose nitrate) which had dried.

In England, John Crewe Wood also patented laminated glass using tree resin as the protective layer. In 1937, it was made compulsory for all motor vehicles to have laminated glass and we have come to rely on it for protection.

Toughened - or tempered - glass is about four times stronger than ordinary (or annealed) glass. It also has the benefit that it shatters into small pieces, which are less harmful than the jagged fragments of normal glass.

It is produced by heating it to over 600 degrees Celsius and then going through a quenching process, which rapidly cools the glass using pressurised air. This induces a state of compression on the surface of the glass whilst the interior is in a state of tension.

It is these balanced stresses which gives the glass strength and makes it break into relatively harmless, granular pieces.

Toughened glass has routinely been used in the rear and side windows of vehicles because it is cheaper than laminated glass, but still has some of the safety requirements.

Toughened laminated glass should combine the best of both worlds and is increasingly used where safety is paramount. Both laminated and toughened glass were recently deployed in a test panel installed on Sidmouth seafront.

This was part of a trial to see whether glass could be used as part of a scheme to raise the sea wall, but still retain some attractive views.

According to East Devon District Council, the panel consisted of two 19mm thick toughened glass panes laminated together with a 0.89mm SentryGlas interlayer.

It survived the battering of three major storms, but was shattered by vandals! At least the lamination did its job and held all the pieces together.

What about bullet-proof glass? This is constructed from multiple layers of laminated glass and thermoplastic, which are sandwiched together. The resistance to projectiles depends on the thickness and structure of these layers.

Such glass is routinely used in armoured vehicles and ‘The Beast’ famously has five-inchthick glass to protect the President of the United States.

The thicker the glass and the more layers, the greater the protection, but the challenge is to keep it transparent.

In the 1950s, the Mona Lisa was attacked with acid by a visitor and sadly it had to be put behind safety glass, but this obscured the visibility to the chagrin of art-lovers. However, in 2019, the masterpiece was placed behind a special bullet-proof glass that, although constructed from multiple layers of glass and PVCB sheets, is especially transparent meaning that the enigmatic smile can still shine out.

Astronauts on the International Space Station have a unique view thanks to the Cupola observation dome, which consists of seven windows. This glass not only has to withstand the extreme temperature fluctuations of space, but also the impacts of space debris.

Even though it is made from multiple layers of thick fused silica and borosilicate glass it can still get damaged as demonstrated by Tim Peake who took a photograph in 2016 showing a 7mm chip from a tiny fleck of debris hitting it.

As the town council has discovered, all glass has its limits and a seaside location several feet above a busy walkway needs special consideration.

I am reminded of the phrase “people in glass houses shouldn’t throw stones”, but maybe that is a glass half-empty point of view.

www.lyme-online.co.uk

FLASHBACKS with Richard Austin

Friday, April 2 2021 15

Tales from behind the lens of our award-winning photographer

LIKE millions of people worldwide I watched the series ‘The Crown’ on Netflix.

If what was filmed and portrayed was anything near the truth, then they live in a totally different world than most of us.

The series brought back memories firstly of Princess Diana and then the Queen Mother, whose 100th birthday celebrations were held in St Paul’s Cathedral with all the liv-

ing members of the royal family present, as well as high-up representatives from countries worldwide.

I was one of only three photographers allowed inside St Paul’s to photograph whatever we wanted.

During the service we couldn’t see much of the Queen mum because she was too short and blocked out by hundreds of taller people.

Our chances of a good picture came as the service ended

and the royal entourage walked out, normally led by the Queen but on this occasion it was the Queen Mother’s day and she led the family out with her grandson, The Prince of Wales.

The picture shows the prince asking his grandmother if she needed a hand, to which she declined. What a day that was.

Lyme Regis high street to Local man arrested after Pound Street burglary undergo resurfacing work

LYME Regis’ high street is to undergo “essential” resurfacing works over four days this month, which may cause delays.

Broad Street, as well as Pound Street and Sidmouth Road in Lyme Regis will be affected from April 20 to April 23 to allow the works to be carried out by Dorset Council.

During this period, traffic will be under ‘stop and go’ management from 9am to 4pm daily, but the roads will be open overnight.

There will be no on-street parking allowed and any vehicle contravening this may be removed.

Dorset Council is restarting a programme of carefully-selected surfacing works in line with the government’s guidance for construction activity – that this should continue where it fits with both the current Public Health re-

quirements and in accordance with industry safety guidance.

The revised list of surfacing sites is made up of roads that are in a deteriorating condition and are considered essential to help keep life-saving medicine, equipment, supplies and key works travelling safely across the county.

The work comes after significant disruption in Broad Street on late 2020 when utility works were carried out alongside the installation of a new pedestrian crossing.

It will also follow the planned reopening of non-essential retail on April 12.

The official diversion will see traffic signposted from one end of the town to another via the A3052, A35 and A358 through Musbury.

A 38-year-old local man was arrested on Tuesday on suspicion of burglary, after jewellery was stolen from a property in Pound Street, Lyme Regis, last month.

At about 3pm on Saturday, March 20 the victim – a woman aged in her 70s – was in her garden when she noticed a black Audi car near to her home off Pound Street.

As she returned to her kitchen the victim heard a tap on her front door.

She answered the door and a man said his Jack Russell dog had squeezed through the fence and into the victim’s garden.

The victim locked the front door and went to check her garden. She returned and noticed the man walking near to the house and told him that she could not find his dog. The man left in the

Audi car.

A short time later the victim discovered that a vanity mirror and jewellery box had been stolen from her bedroom.

Some items of jewellery were later found on the ground near a gate on her property.

At the time of the incident, Detective Sergeant Matt Bradley, of Weymouth CID, said: “This suspect distracted his victim while he stole items of jewellery from her home and I would like to reassure the community that a full investigation is underway to identify him.

“I am appealing to the public to come forward if they noticed any usual activity in the area of Pound Street at the relevant time.

“I would ask anyone who saw a black Audi, or any motorists who were travelling in the area and may have cap-

tured a vehicle or man matching the details given on their dashcam, to please get in touch.

“It is believed that the suspect gained access to the address via an insecure back door and I would encourage residents to ensure all doors are locked when they leave their address, even if it is just for a moment.”

On Tuesday, March 30 there was a notable police presence for several hours in the Woodmead Road area and police confirmed they had arrested a 38-year-old local man on suspicion of burglarly relating to the Pound Street incident.

He has been released under investigation as detectives continue to make enquiries.

If you have a story for LymeOnline, call Francesca Evans on 07810 221 420 or email francesca@lyme-online.co.uk

16 Friday, April 2 2021

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classifieds&jobs

Friday, April 2 2021 17

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ITEMS FOR SALE

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BOWLS, two sets of bowling woods, £65 each ONO - 07889 019 587.

GREENHOUSE, 6ft x 8ft, free, complete, no damage - 01297 32703 (evenings only).

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ITEMS TO SELL?

You can advertise items for sale up to £200 free by filling in the form below or emailing francesca@lyme-online.co.uk

Please note this service is only for private sellers, not for commercial items, tradespeople or vehicles. Please include a brief description of your item, the cost and a telephone number where a buyer may contact you.

If you wish to advertise an item over £200 your advertisement will cost 10p per word, please email or phone us to arrange payment. Please also include your name and address, although this will not be published.

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The Oyster & Fish House is perched on the hillside overlooking the Jurassic Coast and Cobb Harbour in Lyme Regis. This busy coastal restaurant serves the best of local fish and seafood all year round.

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LymeOnline Sport

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Friday, April 2 2021 18

April 2 2021

football

FOOTBALL RETURNS TO THE DAVEY FORT FOOTBALL returns to the Davey Fort tomorrow (Saturday), although spectators will not be able to watch the game from inside the ground or have a drink afterwards.

Recreational sport has been given the go-ahead by the government but under strict COVID-19 restrictions.

Member clubs playing in the Devon and Exeter League were given the option to continue their season but with no penalty for those who did not think they could complete their fixtures.

Twenty clubs decided to withdraw, equating to 31 teams.

In the top Premier East Division only five teams have agreed to continue - leaders Feniton, Lyme Regis 1st team, Kentisbeare, Chard Town and Dawlish United (see table below).

With the divisions having been reset, Lyme - in second place - are left to play eight games by the end of May which they should achieve comfortably.

Devon & Exeter Reset Premier East P W D L F A GD Pts Feniton 3 3 0 0 8 2 6 9 Lyme Regis 2 2 0 0 15 4 11 6 Kentisbeare 5 1 1 3 10 16 -6 4 Chard Town 3 0 1 2 1 2 3 2 Dawlish Utd 3 0 1 2 1 11 -10 1 Devon & Exeter Reset Division One East P WD L F A GD Pts Exmouth R 6 5 1 0 12 4 8 16 East Bud 7 4 1 2 23 13 10 13 Otterton 5 3 1 1 12 12 0 10 Teignmouth 4 2 1 1 14 9 5 7 Clyst Valley 4 2 0 2 13 17 -4 6 Dunkeswell 6 2 0 4 8 13 -5 6 Lyme Res 3 0 0 0 3 0 4 0 Lympstone 5 0 0 5 3 13 -10 0

PHILIP EVANS

philip@lyme-online.co.uk The Seasiders commenced training this week, with manager Julien Simier delighted with the turn-out, and are back in action tomorrow with a home match against Feniton who lead the table with maximum points from three games. Lyme are in second place with six points from their two games.

Although spectators are not allowed in the Davey Fort ground, Lyme is fortunate to have a lane that runs along the top of the northern bank (Spittles Lane) from where supporters are likely to gather to see their side back in action but with social distancing strictly observed (kick-off 3pm).

No travelling supporters Lyme Regis Reserves will also be completing their season in Devon and Exeter Division One East in which seven other cubs are competing - Exmouth Rovers, East Budleigh, Otterton, Teignmouth 2nds, Clyst Valley 2nds, Dunkeswell Rovers and Lympstone (see league table left).

With Shane Featherstone having stood down as Reserves team boss, the Ressies will be managed by Mark Bailey, stepping down from the 1st team, with help from Matt Preece and Mark Batey.

No travelling supporters will be allowed.

The Davey Fort clubhouse will also remain closed. As from April 17 the club will be able to serve drinks outside with table service only. Full hospitality can recommence from May 17 with table service only continuing to June 21.

Lyme’s third X1, the Rovers, play in the Perry Street League which has called a halt to the season.

In the Devon and Exeter League there will be no promotion or relegation this season and the winners of the various divisions will receive plaque.

cricket

TOP CRICKETERS: Ben Morgan (right), Seaton CC captain, and Tyler Wellman (centre), of Uplyme CC, receive their top bowling and batsmen trophies from Karl Hancock, chief executive of sponsors Nub News

Uplyme preparing for another fantastic season

THE cricket season is fast approaching and Uplyme and Lyme Regis. Cricket Club are busy preparing for what they hope will be another successful campaign.

Devon League fixtures will begin on May 1 with Uplyme competing in D Division East.

Their first match being away to Sidmouth 2nds.

Last season got off to a late start because of COVID-19 resulting in the league being divided into a number of regional leagues.

Uplyme finished top of their tier and went on to win the play-off final in fantastic style, beating Plymouth Civil Service before a crowd of around 200, unknown in local cricketing cir-

cles. The highlight of the season was the performance of allrounder Tyler Wellman who scored three consecutive centuries, another first in local cricket.

During the season it emerged he was a third cousin on his mum’s side to former England test captain Ken Barrington.

Uplyme have also played a leading role in setting on the new East Devon T20 Blast competition which will commence in June with seven local teams competing.

A good turn-out of players and supporters started preparing the club for the coming season last Sunday and nets commenced this week.

Getting back to normal for sporting Lyme LYME’S sporting fraternity can’t wait to get back to normal with the lockdown restrictions having been eased by the government (writes Philip Evans).

Football kicks-off tomorrow (Saturday) at the Davey Fort and local cricketers have started nets in preparation for the start of their league season on May 1.

There were some early risers at Lyme Regis Golf Club on Monday morning and Lyme bowlers will soon be in action at the Monmouth Beach green, named after former British champion Charlie Mercer.

Although they have had to cancel their Easter competitions, Lyme Regis sailors are looking forward to getting back on the water for this their 100th anniversary year.

Likewise, members of the Lyme Regis Gig Club will be itching to put their skills against other West Country rowers and the power boat enthusiasts will no doubt maintain their reputation as one of the top competitors in the country.

No news yet from the town’s pub sports - skittles, darts, pool and cribbage - but by winter they will no doubt all be back in action.

netball

Lighting for courts WITH organised sport now permitted, the netball courts at Axe Valley Academy sprung back into action this week.

Axe Vale Netball Club hosted their first training session on Tuesday evening, hosted by head coach Trish Warwick.

The netball players were joined by the Mayor of Axminster, Cllr Jill Farrow, and town councillor Jeremy Walden as the courts now benefit from lighting funded by the Community Infrastructure Levy.

LymeOnline is published by Lyme Regis Media Limited Unit 5, Uplyme Business Park, Lyme Regis, Dorset DT7 3LS Printed by Newsquest, Weymouth

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