LymeOnline Digital Edition - June 25 2021

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Bad feeling between councillors erupts at explosive meeting ILL-FEELING between members of Lyme Regis Town Council was brought to a head this week, with the newest member of the council calling the mayor “a joke”.

Wednesday night’s council meeting descended into an explosive argument after recently elected councillor Tara Webb directed the comments at the Mayor of Lyme Regis, Cllr Brian Larcombe MBE. Cllr Webb made the comment after Cllr Larcombe raised questions regarding the foodbank, operated by LymeForward, as the council considered whether to continue with the organisation’s grant of £10,000 a year.

REPORT, PAGE 3

More movie stars in town!

FIND THE LATEST LOCAL JOB VACANCIES - PAGE 22 Artisan Florist

Wild and Seasonal

AMERICAN actress Dakota Johnson is the latest movie star to be spotted filming in Lyme Regis. The ‘Fifty Shades of Grey’ star was seen filming scenes for a new Netflix adaptation of Jane Austen’s novel ‘Persuasion’, which was originally partially based in Lyme Regis. The film crews took over the historic Cobb harbour for filming last week. See page 8 for more photos and full story.

Photo by Richard Austin

Another hike in parking fees

Daily deliveries, order online or self-serve flower shed at 18 Woodmead Road, Lyme Regis DT7 3AD Teresa Fowler

35 years experience

Tel: 01297 444743 07721 628 754

DORSET COUNCIL PROPOSE INCREASING CAR PARK CHARGES TO £10 A DAY

DORSET Council is set to further increase its car parking charges in Lyme Regis to £10 a day next year.

The council caused outrage earlier this year when it quadrupled its all-day charges from £2 to £8 in its Lyme Regis car parks, including Charmouth Road and Holmbush in Sidmouth Road.

As it continues its parking review, with the

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francesca@lyme-online.co.uk

aim of standardising car parking prices across the county, it is now proposing to further increase the all-day charges to £10.

The proposal for a three-tier pricing structure for car parks is said to “differentiate between the diverse and unique areas that Dorset enjoys – rural, coastal and town – and

the seasonal nature of car parks at popular visitor destinations”.

It aims to bring consistency to charging across Dorset Council car parks – where charges currently span from free to £9 all day.

Level one pricing, in smaller more rural car parks, is proposed to start at 50p for 30 minutes and rise incrementally to £4 for all day.

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Unit 5 Uplyme Business Park, Uplyme Road, Lyme Regis, Dorset DT7 3LS www.lyme-online.co.uk edit@lyme-online.co.uk Facebook: facebook.com/LymeOnlineUK Twitter: twitter.com/LymeOnlineUK Instagram: instagram.com/lymeonline Editor: Francesca Evans francesca@lyme-online.co.uk 07810 221 420 Managing Director: Philip Evans MBE philip@lyme-online.co.uk Contributors Richard Austin edit@lyme-online.co.uk Production: Jackie Evans jackie@lyme-online.co.uk

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Chalet and beach hut owners raise concerns about Monmouth Beach

OWNERS of chalets, caravans and beach huts at Monmouth Beach in Lyme Regis have raised a number of concerns about large group gatherings, increased sub-letting and parking in the area.

The concerns were raised when deputy town clerk Mark Green recently met with the Monmouth Beach Residents’ Association.

It comes as an increased number of the beach huts and chalets are advertised for subletting through platforms such as Airbnb, which has resulted in some large parties and gatherings in the area.

One beach hut was recently advertised for sale for £45,000 by a local estate agent and was said to have sold for a record price with an unprecedented level of interest and number of bids.

The council said such sales were financially beneficial, as it receives a 10 per cent transfer fee, plus VAT. However, there are concerns that such high prices are driving a greater pressure to sub-let the beach huts and a further report on the issues, impacts and management implications of this is expected to be considered by councillors at a future meeting.

There have also been recent complaints about increased anti-social behaviour in the area, including underage drinking, drug taking, late night bonfires, littering and urinating around the beach huts and chalets.

In one of the latest complaints sent to the council, one beach hut owner wrote: “I own a beach hut on Monmouth Beach and yesterday arrived to see smouldering remains of barbe-

Council turns down offer to rebuild the Regent Cinema LYME Regis Town Council has turned down an offer to rebuild the fire-stricken Regent Cinema.

The cinema burnt down in March 2016 and, while owners WTW Scott Cinemas initially vowed to rebuild Regent, there has been very little action at the site over the past five years.

The owners have now offered the town council the opportunity to rebuild the cinema and run it as a community asset, but this was turned down at a meeting on Wednesday night.

WTW Scott Cinemas said they were “highly unlikely” to be in a position to rebuild the cinema for a considerable length of time.

While the council said it valued the importance of the Regent, it could not take on the risk and responsibility of rebuilding the cinema.

The discussion was held in exempt business, meaning the press and public were excluded from the meeting, but an update is available on the Lyme Regis Town Council page on page 18.

■ ART students from The Woodroffe School in Lyme Regis will be brightening up boarding outside the Regent Cinema.

In a project being led by town councillor Cheryl Reynolds, nine A-level students will be each be painting a panel of the boarding in Langmoor Gardens to create an art installation in a wave design.

Permission has already been granted by WTW Scott Cinemas and Bradfords have offered to help by supplying paints and equipment.

Seeking permission to go ahead from the town council, Cllr Reynolds said: “We need to support our kids. They haven’t got much to do or to go and I think if we say no to this it will be letting them down.”

Councillors did express some concerns that the art installation may be targeted by vandalism, but they agreed to go ahead with the project.

It is hoped that work on the mural will get started on July 8. Anyone who is able to help with further donation of paints or materials should contact Cheryl Reynolds on 01297 443814.

cues, bonfires and rubbish left from the previous night. It only takes a very small spark to fly off onto the huts and a fire would start.”

Another complainant wrote: “Yesterday my wife did a litter pick on Monmouth Beach. The result was a large bag of discarded drink cans, glass bottles, canis- OWNERS of chalets and beach huts at Monmouth Beach in Lyme Regis have raised ters and other rub- a number of concerns about the site bish, including bags of dog poo. and are still hot in the morning.”

“Most were in the usual places at the far end Councillors agreed that disposable barbeof the beach, although cans were often found cues and bonfires were a concern, both enviaround blackened stones where there had ronmentally and as a physical fire risk.

Many shops have now started to ban the sale been barbecues. There was also the smouldering remains of a tree trunk just a few feet from of disposable barbecues and there are camthe dry grass of the Nature Reserve, not paigns running across Dorset to educate visitors on safe use and disposal of the barbecues, enough smoke to attract fire services.

“We regularly walk along Monmouth Beach which have been known to start wildfires.

Other concerns from the Monmouth Beach and until recently the amount of rubbish had been diminishing now, as summer ap- Residents’ Association have included sporadic waste collection, dog’s mess left on Monproaches it is getting worse.”

Another complaint read: “I would like to mouth Beach and general management and bring it to your attention that I am getting in- maintenance of the chalet park.

Mr Green said the meeting was “entirely creasingly concerned about people lighting fires close to the beach huts and tear- constructive” following a “period of difficult ing up some of the beach hut platforms to use relationships” with the residents’ association, as fire timber. There is also a lot of rubbish left. and that many of their concerns would be “Many of the fires are left burning over night brought to council as separate matters.

newsfromwestminster

A monthly column by West Dorset MP Chris Loder

I ONCE believed Oxford University was the educational envy of the country, if not the world.

But that view has changed, to it being an establishment that facilitates well-off, out of touch youngsters to live in a fantasy world with an expectation that the rest of the working population give them space for their ‘adolescence’.

There is no better example than when Magdalen College recently ‘voted’ to remove the portrait of the Queen from its Common Room because of colonial symbolism.

But as much as I think that Oxford has just lost its way, I have become increasingly concerned about a growing level of ‘cancel’ culture. This could be ‘no-platforming’ people because you disagree, or calling someone a racist, simply to shut down an argument, and there are many other examples.

And more locally, I remember several years ago, a column by the last Vicar of Sherborne that questioned the ethics of ritually slaughtered meat without stunning. He was subject to all sorts of accusations at the time, simply for asking the question and suggesting this meat should be labelled so we have the choice.

Farmers are painted as the enemy of the environment and that it’s more environmentally friendly to eat avocados flown here from 5,000 miles away than drink a pint of milk from the farm round the corner.

It’s high time that we stand up to this cancel culture and called it out because it is dangerous. We need to be better informed, able to challenge and better understand the facts rather than assume everything we’re told is right.

Over the coming months, I will look to do this more and particularly with the non-stunned slaughter of animals.

On the subject of welcoming, I was delighted to welcome Tourism Minister Nigel Huddleston to West Dorset last week. The spell of near perfect weather we enjoyed around the middle of June helped showcase the very best our area has to offer – Sherborne Abbey, The Cerne Abbas Giant and our fantastic Dorset Museum to name just a few.

Many important issues were discussed during this visit with councillors and businesses. Whilst visitor numbers in West Dorset go from strength to strength, I believe continual innovation is key to maximising value for visitors and businesses.

I asked the minister here because I want West Dorset to be recognised by government for the many great things we have here, and I think it was successful.

To receive my latest updates from Westminster, 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

Friday, June 25 2021 3

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Explosive argument as mayor called ‘a joke’ by new councillor ILL-FEELING between members of Lyme Regis Town Council was brought to a head this week, with the newest member of the council calling the mayor “a joke”.

Wednesday night’s council meeting descended into an explosive argument after recently elected councillor Tara Webb directed the comments at the Mayor of Lyme Regis, Cllr Brian Larcombe MBE. Cllr Webb made the comment after Cllr Larcombe raised questions regarding the foodbank, operated by LymeForward, as the council considered whether to continue with the organisation’s grant of £10,000 a year.

Following a number of recent allegations and private email exchanges regarding the governance of LymeForward, which resulted in a public falling between its chair Sue Davies and town councillor Belinda Bawden (see page 16), more questions than usual were raised when discussing the grant review.

Cllr Larcombe said that most people would consider the foodbank the “key focus” of LymeForward and he raised several questions on how this compared to foodbanks in neighbouring towns, including the number of people using it, currently reported as 15.

He also questioned how much other towns donated in terms of support and money, who runs them, whether they were volunteer-led, and whether other local councils supported foodbanks.

Cllr Larcombe said: “These are voluntary groups who don’t receive very much funding if any – that’s my understanding of them, which I think maybe we need to bear in mind.

“Also, do we still know where the money is spent that we give them?”

Cllr Michaela Ellis, who is the new council representative for LymeForward, said these were the kind of questions that should have been

FRANCESCA EVANS

francesca@lyme-online.co.uk asked when it was originally agreed to make the £10,000 a year grant.

“We agreed to give LymeForward a grant towards their running costs. I don’t understand what the question is now or why we would be discussing this,” she said.

Cllr Larcombe said some of these concerns had recently been brought to the council’s attention and it was important to know how the money was being spent.

In an uncomfortable exchange, Cllr Tara Webb then interjected: “You are a joke, I’m sorry.”

Cllr Larcombe replied: “I beg your pardon? I will not be called a joke, Tara.”

Cllr Webb: “You are a joke, I’m sorry but that is a very factual statement from me right now.”

Referring to the Seaside Store, a new food scheme which has recently been set up by Lyme Regis Development Trust, she continued: “That foodbank has done nothing but help our community and now we have another one that’s come into The Hub, that is charging people – charging people that are on low income – making a real whitewash of everything that Sue Davies has done for the foodbank, and you’re now saying ‘should we give them a grant?’.

“Sorry, but I feel very, very strongly and rather upset that you seem to think we shouldn’t give them the grant. That’s my actual opinion and I’m sorry if you don’t like it.”

Cllr Larcombe replied: “I will not be called a joke by anybody and I ask you to take that back.”

Cllr Webb: “No, I have just stated it and I’m not taking it back. Sorry, but no.”

Cllr Larcombe had asked members at the beginning of the meeting to show respect for one another.

THE Mayor of Lyme Regis and new councillor Tara Webb had a heated exchange at this week’s meeting This was added to the mayor’s regular introductory statement after Cllr Belinda Bawden recently said she felt “distressed, embarrassed and unsafe” at council, adding that she would no longer attend meetings until members’ behaviour was addressed. She has since returned to council meetings.

Cllr Larcombe reminded Cllr Webb that he had asked members to pay respect to one another, to which she replied: “I have paid respect all night.”

Cllr Larcombe: “That was not respect.”

Cllr Webb: “A lot of things you say are not respectful, you’ve actually been quite dismissive of a lot of comments that have been said. If it works for one, it works for everyone and that is my statement.”

Attempting to bring the meeting back to proper debate, Cllr Ellis said the foodbank had provided bags of food to those with no means to afford it throughout the pandemic, as well as meals to local schoolchildren, and more were likely to rely on the service as the furlough scheme came to an end.

“We need to be supporting these people in the community,” she added.

“To me, that is part of why I’m on the council, to support our community. I’m not here for any means of my own, I’m here for Lyme Regis and its townspeople and I really, really strongly believe we need to be supporting this area of our town.”

Cllr Larcombe replied: “I completely agree that we should help people in the town that rely on the food bank, completely agree, and that’s not being dismissive Tara, with respect.

“The point we have to consider is, is it being run and done as effectively as possible given that we have a Lyme Community Support Group that has been very effective in this area, and I applaud that.

“I fully support all that’s needed to aid a food bank hence why I asked questions about how it’s managed in other towns because we really don’t know.”

Cllr Cheryl Reynolds said the Community Support group was not privy to the names of those referred to the foodbank so it could not operate this service.

She added: “It’s nothing to do with other towns; we are talking about Lyme Regis, this community. I don’t care what Seaton, Axminster or Bridport do with their foodbank, I only care about what happens here in Lyme Regis.”

She also argued that the numbers using the foodbank did not matter, adding: “I don’t care whether it’s five or 50, those five are just as important as any 50.”

Eventually it was agreed to continue with the grant with the next review to be held in October.

Four councillors abstained from voting, including Cllrs Larcombe, Rob Smith, David Sarson and Belinda Bawden, some of whom expressed concerns about the issues recently raised about LymeForward.

‘Radical solutions’ needed to resolve parking problems CONTINUED FROM FRONT PAGE Level two pricing, in market towns and shopping destination car parks, is proposed to start at 50p for 30 minutes and will have slightly higher incremental rises up to £6 for all day.

Level three pricing, in visitor destination car parks, is proposed to have the same pricing as level two car parks in the low season. In the high season (April 1 to October 31, prices are proposed to start at £1 for 30 minutes and rise incrementally up to £10 for all day.

As a tourist destination, Lyme Regis would be placed in the level three pricing tier.

The proposal also includes a single car park permit for drivers living and working in Dorset. This would replace the 76 different permits currently available across the county, covering the old district and borough local authority areas.

The annual residents, workers and business car park permit would allow drivers to park in specified Dorset Council car parks throughout the year, and the price for this has yet to be set.

There are concerns that a further hike in car parking charges will encourage more visitors to park on residential roads, which is already proving to be an issue during busy periods in Lyme Regis.

One resident recently contacted the town council about the possibility of having double yellow lines at the top of Sidmouth Road due to parking issues during the busy season. The complainant said that parking during the recent May Bank Holiday had caused mothers with prams to walk in the road.

Matt Daly of The Woodroffe School has also requested double yellow lines on areas of Uplyme Road where, during drop-off/pick-up times, parked cars narrow the carriageway and cause unnecessary hold-ups outside the school.

Speaking at this month’s Town Management tions, like stopping traffic coming into the Committee meeting, the Mayor of Lyme centre of town except for blue badge holders Regis, Cllr Brian Larcombe MBE, said he had and residents; convert the two bottom car recently received a complaint from a resident parks to blue badge holder only and shoppers for residents with perof Springhill Gardens, mits. off Haye Lane, about The problem is only going “I don’t think we should hazardous parking just say nothing can be from Horn Bridge upto get worse so I think we done because it’s absolute wards which he said should look at quite radical murder; it’s horrible for was “getting progresthe residents and it’s sively worse”. solutions. I don’t think we ridiculous not to do anyCllr Michaela Ellis should just say nothing can thing about it.” commented: “Whertown council agreed ever we talk about, be done because it’s abso- toThe discuss parking probthere is going to be a lute murder; it’s horrible for lems across the town in problem with parking full at a future meeting, in this town. Nobody is the residents and it’s ridicu- and to invite a represenable to go abroad this lous not to do anything tative from Dorset Counyear and they are all coming to the seaside, Cllr Belinda Bawden cil to join the discussion. about it.”

Meanwhile, Dorset and we are going to have issues everywhere. Every resident will be Council has launched surveys on its proposed complaining that their street is being parked increase in car park charges and residents’ and workers’ permit. on by visitors.

Town and parish councillors, and commu“The car parks are full, we have no park and ride due to the COVID restrictions except dur- nity representatives participating in stakeing the mains weeks of summer. I think this holder groups, are being asked to comment is something we are going to have to live with on the proposed tiered car park pricing structure, while the permit survey is open to everythis year. I can’t see any way out of it.

“If we start putting yellow lines everywhere, one to ensure plans take into account the the residents will complain that they them- views of Dorset’s motorists, as well as specific, local knowledge on parking. selves can’t park.”

The permit survey can be found at the surCllr Belinda Bawden said the council needed to consider more radical solutions to solve the vey at www.dorsetcouncil.gov.uk/parkingpermit-survey town’s parking issues.

Comments on the proposals will be reviewed “I think the reality is that we have to live with it this year, but I don’t think we should and incorporated into the plans, where approjust accept that we can’t do anything. I think priate.

It is hoped the final proposals will be prewe should talk to Dorset Council and try and get something much, much more radical sented to the Dorset Council Place and Resources Overview Committee in October and sorted out.

“The problem is only going to get worse so I to Cabinet in November, with a view to introthink we should look at quite radical solu- duce new parking charges in January 2022.

“

Cllr Ray Bryan, portfolio holder for Highways, Travel and Environment, said: “We want a pricing strategy that works for as many people as possible and brings consistency in parking charges across the Dorset Council area.

“We also want to mitigate the impact of any price changes on Dorset’s residents, workers, and shoppers by offering discounted parking through a new permit.

“We’ve worked extremely hard on benchmarking our prices and checking the cost of parking when compared to our neighbours and similar locations.

“We’re trying to get the right balance so that costs are not so high that our car parks are under-used and people are pushed into parking on residential roads, but not so low that drivers cannot find a space to park or choose to drive rather than using a more sustainable form of travel.

“We also want our peak season charges to be aimed at visitors by making them comparable to prices at similar destinations in the south.

Our proposed Dorset parking permit will protect our residents and workers from paying these higher prices.

“We’ll be gathering comments from residents, stakeholder groups, parish and town councillors and Dorset Council members, so please take the time to complete the permit survey and/or speak with your local town, parish or Dorset councillor to find out more about this work developing the new parking charges.”

Anyone wishing to provide feedback on the proposed parking permit should complete the survey at www.dorsetcouncil.gov.uk/parkingpermit-survey or speak to their local town or parish council.

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NEWS ONLINE: Catch up with A round-up of the top Share your school memories of stories from our website St Michael’s for 190th anniversary

Yeovil business donates £500 to Lyme Regis lifeboat crew A SOMERSET firm that chose the RNLI as one of its favourite charities presented a £500 cheque to the volunteers at Lyme Regis lifeboat station this week. The cheque, from Blake Envelopes of the Lynx Trading Estate in Yeovil, was handed over by marketing manager India Broad to new lifeboat shore crew recruit Maria Barbarshina. India and several work colleagues came to the lifeboat station to meet the crew and deliver the donation.

Lyme Bay arts member opens new exhibition at museum gallery A NEW exhibition of paintings and drawings by Lyme Bay Arts member Pauline Sayers opened at Lyme Regis Museum this week. The exhibition ‘Lyme Light – Where Sea Meets Sky’ will be open in the museum’s Rotunda Gallery until August 1. This exhibition represents the past year observing the ever-changing sea, sky and coast from different areas within Lyme Bay.

ST Michael’s Primary School in Lyme Regis is looking ahead to its 190th anniversary in 2024.

The school is already preparing for the celebrations and plans to create a ‘living history’ in the school.

An appeal has now been launched for past pupils and staff to share old school photographs and memories from either the old school site off Church Street – now St Michael’s Business Centre – or the current building in King’s Way. Photographs are also being sought of the current school building as it was being constructed, or memories from local tradespeople employed in building the school.

It is likely there was some form of education centred around the church from medieval times, but 1834 is the start of formal education for all within Lyme Regis.

The first Capital Church of England National

Schools were established in 1834 by the recently appointed Vicar of Lyme Regis, the Reverend Frederic Parry Hodges.

This included separate education for boys, girls and a few years later an infants school – this catered for all children aged 5-14 years old.

Henry Bennett Jnr became the first master of the National School, housed in a building now known as Church Cliff Flats to the North East of the church. The school later moved to what is now The Hub and St Michael’s Business Centre before the current King’s Way site was built.

Anyone with photos, stories or information can email history@stmichaelslyme.dorset.sch.uk or send them by post (with a self-addressed envelope for the return of any items) to History Project, St Michael’s Primary School, King’s Way, Lyme Regis, Dorset DT7 3DY, or call 01297 442623.

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Patch repairs to continue on historic Cobb wall PATCH repairs will continue to be made to the listed, historic Cobb harbour in Lyme Regis until a full-scale improvement plan is approved. Dorset Council says it is waiting for agreement to be reached on phase 5 of the overall Lyme Regis coastal improvement scheme before it can undertake anything other than minor repairs and maintenance to the historic structure. Previous stages of the scheme have included the construction of Gun Cliff Walk and the sewage works, East Cliff Walk, stabilisation works in Langmoor and Lister Gardens and a complete re-profiling of the town’s main beach to protect it from coastal erosion and landslides.

Photo by Richard Austin

Friday, June 25 2020 5

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the latest from Lyme Regis

FROM LYME’S OW N COMMUNIT Y WEBSITE

Stay up to date at www.lyme-online.co.uk - 24/7 news | sport | community Does the man in the street care about his local council?

MP welcomes news Gill Meller to host on National Park one-off lunch event WEST Dorset MP Chris Loder has welcomed news that Dorset will not be designated a National Park. Natural England has confirmed that Dorset will not face the prospect of National Park designation this year. Mr Loder said the government has “clearly listened to our feedback and think we are better off as an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty rather than a National Park”.

FORMER River Cottage head chef Gill Meller will be hosting a one-off lunch as part of a series of pop-up dining events being held at a wildflower farm in Stockland. Gill will be cooking as a special additional date to Axminster chef Gideon Hitchin’s pop-up events this summer at Goren Farm. For details on how to book visit giantclub.co.uk

THERE’S been a lot of talk in our office of late about the level of interest in local government.

Does the everyday man in the street really care about his local council?

I recently spent six hours working on an article about bullying allegations within East Devon District Council that was read a pitiful 160 times online.

And then ‘Fifty Shades of Grey’ actress Dakota Johnson turned up in town and our website figures went through the roof. It seems you just can’t compete with celebrity culture these days.

I’ve followed local government matters with close interest for the past 14 years, but would I discuss that with my friends in the pub? Quite honestly, no, I’d probably talk about Dakota.

I was 18 years old when I first sat on the press bench at a Lyme Regis Town Council meeting as a trainee reporter. I didn’t know who anyone was and probably didn’t understand a lot of what they were talking about.

It was a little intimidating at first. I was a shy teenager and most members of the councils I covered were older men who often turned to me and said “don’t write that down” if they didn’t want their comments in the paper.

Now I think they probably know better – if you tell me not to write it down, chances are I will make a point of publishing it!

Things have changed a little over the years; all of the five parish councils I cover now have at least one female member, and in Lyme it’s split almost 50/50. And three of them have a member in their 30s or younger, including the Mayor of Seaton, Deputy Mayor of Lyme Regis, and Axminster’s youngest ever councillor at just 18.

I recently wrote how great it was to see a younger generation getting involved in local government, but I’m not sure anyone – young or old –

would be encouraged to take an interest after soaking up the glum atmosphere at Lyme Regis Town Council this week.

Every council goes through its good and bad periods, but after several months of relatively smooth sailing, I would say Lyme Regis has definitely hit choppy waters once again, and the obvious undercurrent of ill-feeling between members bubbled to the surface this week at one of the most uncomfortable meetings I have ever had to cover (see page 3).

Snide comments, point scoring and throwing insults sadly seems to have become the norm in recent weeks. Even when things are not said out loud, I sit and watch mutters under breath, judgemental looks and the rolling of the eyes.

This type of behaviour wouldn’t be acceptable in any other working environment, and I don’t see it at any other local council, so why is it deemed acceptable in Lyme Regis?

It does nothing to encourage interest or involvement in local democracy; in fact the opposite, I hear several members are on the cusp of throwing in the towel altogether.

I don’t often use this column to comment on council matters (I leave that to Philip’s Lyme Matters column on page 6), but I came away from this week’s meeting so frustrated and disheartened that I felt I had to use my voice.

Whether the man in the street cares about his local council or not, Lyme Regis deserves better.

Francesca Evans, Editor

The

Woodmead Halls Explorers take to the water with new kayaks

YOUR LOCAL COMMUNITY HALL

A DONATION of inflatable kayaks has helped the Powder Monkeys Explorer Sea Scout Unit, based in Uplyme, take to the water for the first time, as the unit continues to grow and develop in its second year. The donation of four kayaks came during lockdown from local firm Coast Water Sports and the Explorers tested them out during their recent session in Charmouth. The Explorers are open to teenagers aged 13 and half to 17 and you can find out more at lymvalleyscouts.org.uk

‘Intriguing’ exhibition at Town Mill

ARTISTS David Smith and Nigel Dawes have joined forces to host an exhibition described “intriguing, elegant, and beguiling” at the Town Mill’s Malthouse Gallery in Lyme Regis.

Dawes uses discarded and rediscovered plastic components to construct quirky sculptural assemblages, while Smith’s intimate, mesmeric drawings use repetitive elements that have been erased, redacted, or distorted by chance actions.

The exhibition will be open until Tuesday, June 29.

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6 Friday, June 25 2021

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

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philip@lyme-online.co.uk

Parking: is there really a solution?

T

HERE may be some disagreement in the council chamber over what to do about Lyme’s increasing traffic problems - but all will agree that this summer is going to be pretty awful.

The May Bank Holiday proved that and every day the sun shines the main car parks are full before breakfast is served.

When the car parks are full it’s bedlam. Vehicles of all sizes driving around town to find that elusive space. Some park as far out as the top of Sidmouth Road where there are more requests for yellow lines to prevent cars blocking the entrances and exits to the houses.

It would take months for Dorset.

Council to agree to more parking restrictions and even longer for yellow lines to be laid.

The general opinion at this week’s council meeting, especially the old hands who have discussed this problem and possible solutions many times before, is that there is not a solution. Lyme will just have to live with it.

Father of the council Stan Williams, soon to be made a Free-

man of Lyme Regis for his 50 years of service, fought his first election back in the 1960s on a one-way system for the town.

It didn’t get anywhere, and nor has numerous other possible solutions to cope with Lyme’s increasing popularity as a resort.

Relative newcomer Councillor Belinda Bawden, accepting that the situation can only get worse, thinks the council should be looking at more radical solutions, telling her colleagues it’s “ridiculous” to do nothing.

Stopping traffic coming into the centre of the town is one of her ideas. This has come up before but there’s always been opposition to such a move, especially from the traders.

A few eyebrows have been raised by news that Dorset Council is planning to increase car parking charges in their two main car parks (Holmbush and Charmouth Road) to £10 a day.

Two years ago it was £2 a day but the new authority argued that this year’s £8 a day fee would include parking a car for 24 hours. The problem here is that not many people want to spend 24 hours in

EFFORTS by the Cancer Research UK fundraising committee in Lyme Regis, of which I am chairman, have been defeated again in our bid to start to raise some money. I’m sorry to report that our ‘Welcome Back’ Community Lunch, planned to take place at the Woodmead Halls on Sunday, July 18, has been postponed because of the extended COVID restrictions.

Thank you to all those of you who booked your tickets for what promised to be a real community event to celebrate our return to some sort of normality.

However, we will try again and find a suitable date once we known when the lockdown will be finally lifted.

HOLMBUSH CAR PARK: Full to the brim on sunny days in Lyme by early morning Lyme; they want to park their car, enjoy a day on the beach, have a bite to eat and go home. Eight hours maximum.

The Charmouth Road park and ride will return for the six peak weeks in the summer, which should help the situation, but it won’t solve the problem.

Lyme Regis Football Club cashed in on the number of people looking for car parking facilities during the bank holiday for just £5 a hour.

But this will be the last year the

club will be allowing vehicles to park on the pitch as they are investing heavily in new drainage and other treatments to improve the quality of the surface now that they are playing Premier football.

The £10 a day fee will be hugely unpopular with Lyme’s trading community, not only because it adds to Lyme’s reputation as being one of the more expensive resorts along the south coast, but because it’s difficult for their staff who live outside the town to find parking.

The council is planning to have a special meeting just to discuss parking and to invite a Dorset Council representative to be present. This is not the first time this has happened, but they will be keen to show that they are not giving up completely.

Radical solutions have been found in other places, especially on the continent, and are worthy of further examination, but I can’t see this council embracing such ideas with much enthusiasm.

Football? It’s a family thing in Lyme advantage digital print

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I HAVE written many times in this column about the impact sport has had on my life, especially football.

From at an early age, kicking a ball around the Anning Road playing field, pulling on a Lyme Regis shirt for the first time, ten years as chairman and now president, I’ve had enormous pleasure from being involved in what we used to call the “beautiful game”.

I even had five very enjoyable years as a vice-president at Tottenham Hotspur Football Club when I managed a London based sports publishing company.

But like many football fans of my age, I am totally disillusioned with the professional game, particularly the Premier League which has been ruined by money and greed.

But I am passionate about grass-roots football - local football played on school playing fields, on the village green and at local clubs like Lyme Regis FC. Very often - and this is certainly true about Lyme - with

generation after generation playing and becoming committee members. I am extremely proud of how the Lyme club has gone about developing the Davey Fort after the disappointment of losing the Strawberry Field site due to planning difficulties.

With the help of a generous capital grant

by Lyme Regis Town Council, matchfunded by ourselves, the four-year project is now reaching its conclusion. It would have been completed months ago had it not been for COVID. With just the resurfacing of the car park and the erection of a new groundsman’s hut left to do, we will begin next season with a celebration to mark the opening of the new facilities.

The club is now playing at a higher standard than at any time in its long history and we commence our Devon and Exeter Premier East division as champions, having finished top of the table of a watered down league due to the pandemic, but, neverthe-

less, still an achievement to be proud of.

The club is going through a very busy time during the Euros with the clubhouse being opened to all-comers for all the England games.

As you might imagine, they are pretty rowdy occasions as our players and guests cheer on England in the hope we can win the tournament.

At one of these games a young family visiting the town asked if they could join in and we welcomed them with open arms. They had a throughly enjoyable experience and some of players even took their young son out on the field for a kick-about. It made his day.

The couple wrote to us afterwards to thank us for our kindness.

Reading the letter brought a lump to my throat because it demonstrated there is more to footballers than bad language.

They know how to behave when they have to.

Friday, June 25 2021 7

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COVID-19: The latest on local coronavirus figures

Coronavirus case numbers across Dorset double for the second consecutive week CORONAVIRUS case numbers across Dorset have more than doubled for the second week running.

In the latest update on Friday, June 18 it was reported that there were 106 confirmed COVID-19 cases in the Dorset Council area, compared to 42 the previous week, and 228 in the Bournemouth, Christchurch & Poole (BCP) area, more than three times higher than the previous week’s figure of 74.

This means the case rate per 100,000 people stands at 28.0 in the Dorset Council area, compared to 11.1 in the previous update on June 11, and 57.7 in the BCP area, compared to 18.7.

There were three COVID-19 patients in hospitals across Dorset, an increase from one the previous week.

Up to June 13, 959,163 doses of coronavirus vaccinations had been administered to people in Dorset.

A spokesperson for Public Health Dorset said: “Throughout the past few months we have experienced low case rates across Dorset, but the situation has changed in the last couple of weeks and cases have risen quickly.

“This is also happening across the wider South West region and England but case rates in the BCP Council area have more than tripled since last week, and the Dorset Council case rate is almost triple last week’s as well.

“We currently still have a low number of COVID19 patients in hospitals in Dorset. We will monitor this closely over the coming weeks, but we expect the link between cases and hospitalisations to be weakened due to the vaccination rollout.

“At the moment our case rates are highest amongst younger, largely unvaccinated age groups.

“Data shows that the Delta (Indian) variant is more transmissible than previous variants, and it is quickly becoming the dominant strain of COVID-19 in the UK. In line with this, we have seen an increase in Delta variant cases locally over the last few weeks.

“Due to the increase in cases and the higher transmissibility of the Delta variant, it’s more important than ever to keep playing your part in stopping the spread of COVID-19.

“Get both doses of the vaccine to make sure you get maximum protection against serious illness.

Keep doing regular rapid tests to check you’re not infectious, and self-isolate if you get a positive result or develop any symptoms.

“Remember the guidance on hands, face, space and fresh air, to keep yourself and your loved ones safe.”

COVID case numbers in the local area continue to remain low, with the Lyme Regis, Charmouth and Marshwood Vale area recording fewer than three cases in the seven-day period up until June 18.

The area did report three cases as of June 15 – the first time it has been three or above since early March – but this has since reduced to ‘fewer than three’ again.

In small areas where there fewer than three cases, full figures are not released as to protect the identity of individuals.

There are still ‘fewer than three’ cases in many surrounding areas, including Axminster; Seaton; Burton Bradstock & Chideock; and Bridport South & West Bay. Uplyme, Kilmington & Colyton had four cases in the seven-day period up until June 18, an increase

Working Lyme to Five IF you were in Lyme Regis about 40 or so years ago, you may recall a fire in Coombe Street when a house was burned down and all of us who were listening to Janis’ story unfold, whilst enjoying a delicious meal at the Millside Restaurant, compliments of the Coombe Street Gallery (CSG), joked it was a King Alfred moment, but a feral ferret in the attic chewing the electric cables was far more entertaining, though possibly not for the ferret who was presumably fried.

Talking of wild animals, have you seen the mammoth in the bookshop window? We had children’s book illustrator Adam Beer in residence for a day as part of the promotion of Anna Kemp’s story ‘Mammoth’. He told us it was the first time he has taken on such a huge task; it was definitely a big draw and the books flew off the shelves, or should that be ‘charged’?

We were one of the first shops to get Meghan Markle’s hardback children’s book, ‘The Bench’ and having mentioned it on our social media, I was convinced it would be like the launch of a new Apple product with people queuing overnight to buy it. I couldn’t have been more wrong, it is still sitting there, quite literally.

Anyway, since the demise of the Tourist Information Centre, for some reason we get the interesting tourist phone calls at the CSG, some a little more unusual than most.

“Hello, can you tell me, are the shops open in Lyme?”

“Um… yes.”

“So they’re not closed and boarded up, there are still some shops open?”

“No, they are not boarded up, yes, they are all open.”

“Oh good, it’s just that the last town I went to was completely closed, it was pretty de-

pressing. But that’s great to hear you’re open.”

I wasn’t sure if there was some kind of parallel universe opening up and there was another Lyme Regis somewhere else where the tumbleweed rolled down Broad Street getting caught on rusty bumpers of long abandoned cars.

When I assured her the town had not been boarded up and everything was open, she got very excited at the prospect of visiting us.

She sells seashells on the seashore. Just one of the many rhymes I remember from my school elocution lessons and seemingly something for a young entrepreneur to think about because one of our lovely customers asked how much the tall jars of shells in the window were, she wanted something from the seaside to take home and she hadn’t managed to find a single shell on the beach.

But she was mightily disappointed when I explained they were not for sale as they were actually holding up the glass shelves. I think she just needs to look a bit harder.

On the same day another customer asked how much the tables were, the ones displaying the salad bowls and trivets. Sue told me she struggled to find them herself, so I guess that customer is going to have to look even harder than the seashell seeker.

I’m looking forward to hearing more stories from Janis, I’m pretty sure I won’t have to dig too deep to uncover some real gems, probably easier than finding seashells on the seashore.

Sophia Moseley

of two on the previous week; Beaminster, Maiden Newton & Halstock had five, an increase of two; and Bridport North also had five, an increase of three.

You can find out more details on COVID case numbers in your local area at https://coronavirus.data.gov.uk/ The delay in easing of lockdown restrictions has affected some Lyme Regis events.

Lyme Regis Football Club has since postponed its biggest fundraiser of the year – the annual Sausage & Cider Festival – from July 3 to July 31.

The Woodroffe School announced this week it had been forced to cancelled its Year 11 and sixth form proms at Symondsbury Tithe Barn, although it is now hoped alternative events will be held at Lyme Regis Football Club if restrictions are eased on July 19 as planned.

The Lyme Regis branch of Cancer Research has postponed its community lunch, which was set to take place on July 18, and the return of live music at the Nag’s Head has also been delayed until restrictions are further eased.

8 Friday, June 25 2021

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Hollywood star spotted filming Jane Austen movie

DAKOTA Johnson and another actor shoot scenes for the new adaptation of ‘Persuasion’ on the historic Cobb wall in Lyme Regis AMERICAN actress Dakota Johnson, known for her role in the ‘Fifty Shades of Grey’ movies, was spotted filming a period drama in Lyme Regis last week.

Crews have been filming scenes for Netflix’s “modern and witty” adaptation of Jane Austen’s ‘Persuasion’, a novel partially based in Lyme Regis, this week.

Dakota, who plays the story’s heroine Anne Elliot, was seen filming on the historic Cobb wall.

She is the biggest film star to be seen in Lyme Regis since the filming of ‘Ammonite’, which brought Kate Winslet and Saoirse Ronan to town in March 2019.

Horse-drawn carriages and other film props were also seen in the harbour area, and the film crews took over sec-

tions of Holmbush and Monmouth Beach car parks and the newly-extended slipway, which is said to have heightened tensions regarding increasing parking issues in the area.

Lyme Regis’ harbour consultative committee chairman Chris Turner said: “There were lots of cameramen and vehicles and a few people got a bit stressed about it, but there was plenty of space for everyone in the end.”

‘Persuasion’ is the story of Anne Elliot, a young woman persuaded not to marry the man she loves as he has not yet made his fortune.

During the Napoleonic Wars, Captain Wentworth is successful and is rewarded for his role. Years later, they meet again as their friends and family holiday together in a trip

FILM crews took over the Cobb harbour last week and horse-drawn carriages were spotted in Monmouth Beach car park

Photos by Richard Austin

to Lyme Regis.

The story includes a famous scene in which character Louisa Musgrove falls from steps on the Cobb.

Previous adaptations of the book have been filmed on the harbour wall.

Author Jane Austen visited Lyme Regis on two known occasions, in 1803 and 1804.

In ‘Persuasion’, she describes “the principal street almost hurrying into the water, the Walk to the Cobb, skirting round the pleasant little bay, which, in the season, is animated with bathing machines and company… are what the stranger’s eye will seek.”

Photos by Victor Sciberras

Friday, June 25 2021 9

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Relax and dine with us CHARMOUTH BAKERY MINI LOAF £3 | VG Rapeseed oil balsamic vinegar or salted butter/vegan spread

OLIVES £3 | VG

GARLIC PIZZA BREAD £6 | VG Add cheese or plant based cheese

HUMMUS & FLAT BREAD £6 | VG Mixed leaves

SMALL OR LARGE PLATES PILOT BOAT SALAD £7 | £12 | VG

Mixed leaves, sundried tomatoes, olives, sour dough croutons, red onion Add cajun chicken, crayfish tails, smoked salmon seitan

Chorizo, salami, prosciutto, cheddar cheese, cornichons, olives, walnuts, remoulade, bread

SALT & PEPPER SQUID £7 | £14 paprika mayonnaise, mixed leaves

HERBY NEW POTATO SALAD £7 | £12 Spring onions, olives, chicory, asparagus, pine nuts, herbs, lemon garlic oil Add cajun chicken, crayfish tails, smoked salmon seitan

FISH

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CHARCUTERIE BOARD £10 | £18

PILOT BOAT KEBAB £7 | £14 | VG Flatbread, remoulade, onion, chilli sauce, red cabbage, garlic mayo Choose seitan or chicken Large portion with fries WHOLE TAILED BREADED SCAMPI £7 | £14 Tartare sauce, mixed leaves Large portion with thick cut chips

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BRODET £16

POMODORO £12 | VG

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PLANT BURGER £14 | VG Brioche bun, plant based patty, tomato relish, gherkin, gem lettuce, skinny fries Moving Mountains @Burger TM

SEAFOOD £18

Shellfish & crustacean selection, shallots, garlic, cherry tomatoes, white wine butter sauce

TODAY’S LOCAL CAUGHT GRILLED FISH £18

PILOT BOAT BURGER £14 Brioche bun, tomato relish, gherkin, gem lettuce, skinny fries

BEEF RAGU £16

Thick cut chips, crushed peas, tartare sauce

Today’s market fish, potato, tomato and parsley stew, bread

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Brioche bun, seitan chicken patty, spicy mayonnaise gherkin, gem lettuce, skinny fries Add to your burger cheddar, Dorset blue, goats, plant based cheese, bacon, plant-based bacon, caramelised onions £1.50 each

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Thick cut chips, Diane sauce, mixed leaves

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MEDITERRANEAN £14 | V Mozarella, tomato sauce, olives, capers, red onion, sun-dried tomato, artichoke

PEPPERONI £13 Mozarella, tomato sauce

WALNUT, CARAMELISED RED ONION & GOATS CHEESE £14 | V

SPICED BEEF £14 Mozarella, chillis, spring onions, tomato sauce

TODAY’S SPECIAL PIZZA

DORSET HAM & MUSHROOM £13 Mozarella, tomato sauce

SIDES THICK CUT CHIPS £4 SKINNY FRIES £4 BABY MIXED LEAVES £4 BUTTERED NEW POTATOES £4 NEW POTATO SALAD £4 SEASONAL GREENS £4 REMOULADE £4

Mozarella, tomato sauce

CRAYFISH £14 Mozarella, tomato sauce, olives, spring onions, crayfish tails CRAB £16 Mozarella, garlic butter base, local crab, parmesan, chillis, spring onions, rocket

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SEITAN £14 | V Mozarella, tomato sauce, seitan, sweetcorn, red onion

HUMMUS & ROASTED PEPPER £7 | VG Charmouth Bakery bread

HANDPICKED LOCAL CRAB £12 Charmouth Bakery bread

SMOKED SALMON & CREME FRAICHE £7 Charmouth Bakery bread

Booking essential - www.thepilotboat.co.uk or email - reservations@thepilotboat.co.uk

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10 Friday, June 25 2021

villagenews

UPLYME PARISH COUNCIL NEWS UPLYME Parish Council returned to face-to-face meetings at Uplyme Village Hall earlier this month and hope this will now continue in line with COVID restrictions after months of Zoom meetings.

Both the full council and the Planning Committee paid their respects to the late Cllr Brian Mason, who served on the council actively for many years and died last month.

Congratulations were also given to Cllr Chris James, who was appointed to continue as parish council Chairman, Cllr Paulene Frost as vice-chairman, and Cllr Andy Turner as chairman of the Planning Committee.

Members welcomed new councillor Paul Oakley who was coopted at May’s annual meeting of the council.

There are still three vacancies on the parish council, following the death of Brian Mason and resignations of Becky Turner and Dave Ostler.

Commenting on the recent resignations, parish clerk AnneMarie Bates said: “We would like to take this opportunity to thank them both for their commitment to the parish council and for all that they have done for the community.”

The parish council is now going through the casual vacancy process and it is hoped one of the seats will be filled in July and the other two in September.

Join the council A parish councillor is a volunteer who represents and is a voice of the community.

Collectively the parish council makes decisions for the benefit of residents, provides facilities (i.e. children’s play area, open spaces, cemetery), services (i.e. flood/snow emergency team), communicates with other authorities and outside bodies including highways, is a consultee for planning applications and is involved with housing needs and the Neighbourhood Plan.

Above are just some of the areas the parish council is involved with; it is a fulfilling and interesting role. The full council meetings are held in the evening on the second Wednesday of each month except August, and planning on the last Wednesday of the month with some additional meetings as required and other committees ad hoc during the year.

If you are interested in becoming a parish councillor, visit www.uplymeparishcouncil.org for more information, or contact the clerk on clerk@uplymeparishcouncil.org or call 07413 947 067.

The parish council is also look-

ing for a volunteer tree warden and anyone interested should get in touch via the contact details above.

Parish council grants Every year, the parish council awards grants and the following local charities and organisations have received a grant: Uplyme Parish Church Magazine (£300), King George V Field (£520), Citizens Advice Bureau Bridport (£250), Uplyme Help at Hand (£100), Axe Valley Ring & Ride (£200).

Dog mess Unfortunately, there appears to be an ever-increasing amount of dog mess left on footpaths and grass verges especially on the River Lim Walk.

Please pick up after your dog and use the dog and rubbish bins.

The parish council will be putting up signage, please help us keep Uplyme clean and tidy.

Housing Needs Survey Uplyme Parish Council decided to carry out a Housing Needs Survey to assess the future local housing need, 30 per cent of the surveys delivered were returned and the results collated in a report which can be viewed on our website.

Parish councillors are very pleased with the report and would like to thank Devon Communities Together who facilitated it.

This report will be considered in the future and will assist with the Neighbourhood Plan Review.

Planning There has been lots of planning applications for which the Planning Committee has conducted site visits and made representation to East Devon District Council.

The outcomes can be found on our website under the planning minutes or via East Devon District Council website under ‘Planning’.

Audit Every year, the parish council has an internal audit and external audit and this is currently being completed.

The internal audit is now on the council website for resident’s perusal.

Highways If you have any issues with footpaths and highways this can easily be reported to Devon County Council online via the website www.devon.gov.uk/roadsandtransport/report-a-problem/ Upcoming meetings The next full council meeting will be held on Wednesday, July 14 at Uplyme Village Hall starting at 7.15pm.

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Keeping active at Charmouth Primary

THE children of Charmouth Primary School took part in a fun filled active week just before half term.

The week started with Paralympian David Hill, who grew up near Exeter, inspiring the children aged 3 to 11 with his experiences, challenges and skill.

Throughout the week, children took part in a number of different activities at school and off site.

A short coach trip to Bridport enabled children from Year 1 to Year 6 to take part in bouldering at Rockburn, a short walk from the school took even the youngest nursery children to the Charmouth Lawn Bowls Club to have a go at lawn bowls, and the range of activities in school and with visitors included football, athletics, street dance, circus skills and ultimate frisbee.

Having a go at new and different activities gave the children of Charmouth Primary School the opportunity to challenge themselves by trying things they hadn’t before, support and encourage each other to go higher than they thought they could, celebrate individual achievement and work independently, in pairs and in teams.

One of the visitors leading an activity commented: “The children were a pleasure to coach. Everybody had a go and did their best. They are a credit to the school.”

The school last had an Everybody Active Week two years ago and had

planned for this to be an annual event.

The pandemic prevented such a week last year, but also stopped many of the trips and visits that would usually go ahead.

Headteacher Laura Cornish said: “It has been a real pleasure to see all the children have a go at new and different activities, particularly after the challenges of the last year.

“They have encouraged and supported each other to really be the very best versions of themselves.”

Parents were equally delighted that, particularly after the restrictions faced through the pandemic, children had the opportunity to work together in different ways and experience a

range of activities.

One parent commented: “The children have had such an amazing time and thrived with all those brilliant activities.”

During the second half of the summer term, there continues to be a range of activities and visits planned for the children of Charmouth Primary School, including the older children taking part in an activity day and going sailing, children in Year 3 and 4 visiting Abbotsbury Gardens, children in Year 1 and 2 visiting Axe Valley Wildlife Park, animals visiting the children in nursery and reception, beach school and assemblies led by the RNLI, NSPCC and the Charmouth Green Group.

Charmouth Gardeners to host annual flower show CHARMOUTH Gardners are looking forward to getting back to normal following the coronavirus pandemic, and are planning their annual flower show on Saturday, August 14.

The event will take place from 2.30pm at both St Andrew’s Community Hall on Lower Sea Lane and Charmouth Village Hall on Wesley Close.

Exhibits will include flowers, fruit and vegetables, home produce, photography, children’s sections and handicrafts including needlework, woodwork, knitting and painting.

Entrants are welcome for all classes, although fruit and vegetable produce must be grown within a 10 mile radius of Charmouth.

Free show schedules and entry form detailing all classes, which are also free to enter, will be available from Fortnam Smith & Banwell estate agent’s office in Charmouth from mid-July with details of where to return entry forms by August 11.

Entry to the show on the day is £1 for adult, to cover both halls, and children go free.

Friday, June 25 2021 11

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Trying something new at Lyme Regis Community Workshop

O

THE finished product – my handmade teak bowl

NE of the things I love most about my job as a local newspaper editor is the opportunities and experiences it offers me – often things I would never have otherwise experienced.

Some of these things have been rather glamorous – attending drink receptions on Royal Navy ships and even a trip to Lyme’s twin town in Bermuda.

And others – like last week’s activity – require hair scraped back, sensible footwear and a willingness to throw yourself into something completely different.

This was a visit to Lyme Regis Development Trust’s new Community Workshop, where anyone can try their hand at wood turning and basic carpentry skills.

When I mentioned that I had been invited to give it a go, there were a few sniggers among those who know me well as a completely impractical, awkward left-hander.

My family has always called me ‘cack-handed’; I write upside-down (not a helpful skill for a reporter!), people often wince when I use a kitchen knife and I’ve even been known to struggle with a tin opener!

My grandad, on the other hand, was a very talented carpenter, disappearing into his garage for hours to create incredibly intricate and decorative clocks, furniture and ornaments.

My mum is also a dab-hand at DIY but, sadly, I didn’t seem to inherit their genes.

I did wonder what my grandad would have made of me as I tentatively arrived at the Community Workshop, tucked behind The Hub in Church Street, and was intro-

LymeOnline editor Francesca Evans gives wood-turning a go at the new Community Workshop duced to my teacher John Brown.

John is a retired woodwork teacher – and I later discovered father of my former Woodroffe School teacher Alan Brown – and gave me a quick introduction to the machinery and showed me some of the items other ‘students’ had made, including a selection of wooden bowls, plates, egg cups, ornaments and tools.

He quickly put me to work on my own project making a small, teak bowl on the lathe. John was a very patient and kind teacher, helping me throughout and encouraging me to show the machinery who was boss!

I was a little nervous, and John noted that I did find working the lathe a bit awkward as a left-hander, but for a first attempt I don’t think I did too badly and I grew in confidence during my two-hour session.

At the end I was delighted to take home my little bowl and carried it around for the rest of the day proudly telling anyone who would listen that I had made it by hand.

Built and run entirely by volunteers, the community workshop is open to anyone interested in learning and developing new, practical skills.

It is fully equipped with all the machinery needed to complete wood-turning and carpentry projects for beginners, right through to intermediate, and possibly even

GETTING to grips with the lathe at Lyme Regis Community Workshop notice on Tuesday evenings and professional standard.

Lyme Regis Development Trust is weekends. So what are you waiting offering courses for beginners but for? If I can do it, you certainly can!

For further details visit those with experience can rent the space and use of the machinery for www.lrdt.co.uk/lymeregiscommunityworkshopemail or email a nominal fee.

The courses take place every day, Dorothy Wood on lymeregisworkmorning and afternoon, and with shop@gmail.com

FROM SUNRISE

TO SUNSET

Marine Parade, Lyme Regis, Dorset, DT7 3JH Follow us on social media @swimlyme | 01297 442668 | info@we eswim.co.uk

12 Friday, June 25 2021

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A pub at the heart of the Lyme Regis community UNDER the new ownership of landlord Tony Allen, the Nag’s Head in Lyme Regis is keen to put itself at the heart of the local community.

Tony, originally from Manchester, has worked in IT security throughout his career but bought The Nag’s Head in Silver Street after moving to Lyme Regis and “falling in love” with his local.

He bought the Nag’s in September last year, fearing the historic pub would otherwise be turned into holiday accommodation – perhaps not the best timing with a second national lockdown just around the corner, but Tony has made the most of the enforced closures over winter.

Six letting bedrooms above the pub have been given a modern makeover and a new lounge bar upstairs, known as ‘The Green Room’, opens onto a balcony with stunning views over Lyme Bay. The Green Room is available for local groups, clubs and meetings, and will soon be hosting the restart of darts, which was put on hold during the pandemic.

In October, Tony appointed Louise Powell as manager to join the familiar faces behind the bar, and she has plenty of ideas for special events to get the community as involved as possible at the pub.

Every Thursday will be charity night at the Nag’s, with events including quiz nights and

FRANCESCA EVANS

francesca@lyme-online.co.uk

boozy bingo, each week for a different cause and suggestions of local charities to support are welcome.

The popular meat draws are also back on Friday evenings and live music will return every Saturday night when coronavirus restrictions have been fully lifted.

The Nag’s will also be getting involved with local events such as Lifeboat Week, raising funds for the RNLI at its annual summer barbecue, with meat donated by Lyme Regis Butchers, and a practice run for the Yard of Ale competition, with ale donated by Otter Brewery.

The Nag’s Head is one of very few local venues to show all major sporting events on its three television screens with Sky and BT Sports available, and is currently showing the UEFA European Championships.

The pub has also recently launched a menu of classic basket meals, available Thursdays to Sundays, and its new ‘gin trees’ are proving especially popular with more summer drink specials coming soon, including pitchers of Pimm’s and cocktails.

You can stay up to date with all events and offers at The Nag’s Head by following the pub on Facebook or Instagram, or you can book the letting rooms via booking.com

THE team at The Nag’s Head in Lyme Regis, including new landlord Tony Allen (second right) and manager Louise Powell (far left). Below, the new Green Room lounge bar upstairs, available for use by local groups and clubs

THE beer garden and balcony offers stunning views over Lyme Bay

A FAMILIAR face, long-standing barmaid Meg Bond has returned following maternity leave

THE Nag’s Head offers ample seating inside and out

Double catch of awards for Lyme Bay Fish Shack FAMILY business Lyme Bay Fish Shack is celebrating after a double catch at the Fishing News Awards 2021.

The business, run by husband and wife team Nigel and Corinne Birt, was named Independent Fresh Fish Retailer of the Year, and their son Sam, aged 17, won the Trainee Fisherman of the Year award.

The team said they were “delighted and super proud” to receive the awards, adding: “We would like to thank all the people who voted for us and are customers who love what we do. A big thank you also to our amazing staff who make up a great team.

“We are so lucky to have are shop based at the amazing Millers Farm Shop, thank you to

you guys for all your continued support over the years.”

The awards were organised by The Fishing News, a weekly newspaper and website which has been providing the latest news, features and nostalgia from the commercial fishing industry since 1913.

Lyme Bay Fish Shack was launched in 2012 with its boat KT-SAM E 10, run by Nigel and son Sam, working out of Lyme Regis. They pot for lobsters and crab, use static nets for Dover sole, plaice, etc, and rod and line for bass, pollack and cod.

Over the years they have expanded to a new shop and prep room at Millers Farm Shop in Kilmington, which was built in 2019.

Friday, June 25 2021 13

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Resident claims council is ‘hiding information’ over seafront roof resurfacing

LYME Regis resident Nigel Ball described the quality of the £650,000 resurfacing of the seafront roof area as ‘shocking’ A LYME Regis resident has said he is “deeply disappointed” by the way he has been treated by the town council, after raising questions about the £650,000 resurfacing of the flat roof area above Marine Parade.

Nigel Ball, who keenly follows the business of Lyme Regis Town Council, submitted a Freedom of Information request more than two months ago, asking questions about the resurfacing of the area above SWIM, the Amusement Arcade and Antiques & Craft Centre on the seafront – the most expensive project the council has undertaken since the Marine parade shelters were revamped in the early 2000s.

Local authorities are required to respond to formal Freedom of Information requests within 20 working days but, in a letter read at this month’s full council meeting, Mr Ball said it has now been 70 days and he had not received any response.

His request followed some concerns raised about the resurfacing work and installation of glass balustrades along the edge of the roof, one panel of which was smashed by a stone just months after being installed, with some shattered glass falling onto a family below.

Mr Ball had requested that the council provide him with letters send to architects to tender for the work relating to the resurfacing, as well as a copy of pre risk assessment from the architect and glazier.

In his letter to the council, which was read during the public forum in Mr Ball’s absence from the meeting, he said: “The shelters roof no doubt look the part. But we all know now we have a very expensive job on our hands to put things right, shelling out more money for an independent glaziers report.

“The roof surface is shocking and ponds badly. With modern levelling method this should have been perfect, but not to be. The contractor needs to come back and address the problem.

“This surface will not last if it is sat in water, it will become a problem.

“I have taken great interest in the shelters roof project, but rarely get listened to or acknowledged. It is a great shame that £660,000 has been wasted on a job that leaves the council in a mess, and a risk to us all.

“You, the council, are lucky that people cannot meet close together in numbers. The shelters glass would stick pressure of people under load, but not if hit by a hard object, as this has already happened showering

FRANCESCA EVANS

francesca@lyme-online.co.uk glass onto the Marine Parade and the general public.

“You as council need to get on and resolve the problem of the glass. We have a busy season ahead, you have known about the problem since the incident with the stone hitting the glass.

“The clock is ticking and I am watching what your next move will be.”

Commenting on the lack of response to his Freedom of Information request, Mr Ball said he would be information the Information Commissioner’s office of this, adding: “It is clear that Freedom of Information is not adhered to by this council. Even if you ask, you do not get.”

He continued: “Things are being hidden about the shelters roof project. For a council that wanted transparency in all they do, I don't think so, do you? Maybe the councillors show this, but certainly not evident from some officers.”

Mr Ball finished his letter by saying that the issue had “once again highlighted a few more issues originating from the depths of the [town council] office, which are out of our strong and passionate councillors’ control.”

In response, Cllr Michaela Ellis said she was concerned that the information requested had not been sent to Mr Ball.

Cllr David Sarson added: “Seventy days is a very long time. Is there any excuse for it?”

Councillors were told that this could be discussed further when the matter of the flat roof area was raised in exempt business, when the press and public are excluded from the meeting.

Speaking after the meeting, town clerk John Wright said: “The request involves complex issues which affect third parties and which are now the subject of further investigation by an independent ‘expert’.

“We apologise to Mr Ball for the delayed response to his request for information, but he will receive a response within the next few days.”

Following some claims that the council would charge for Freedom of Information requests, Mr Wright added: “The council can only charge for Freedom of Information requests when costs exceed £450. This is outlined in the Freedom of Information Act and referred to in the council’s information policy.”

Catholic church completes £250,000 restoration project WORK to restore the exterior and interior of the St Michael and St George Roman Catholic Church in Lyme Regis has been completed.

The historic Grade II listed church, built in 1835, has been given a complete refurbishment for £250,000.

Parish priest father Anthony Cockram said: “I was delighted to celebrate the first mass on June 10 following the restoration work to the exterior and the wonderful redecoration and rewiring of the interior.

“It is almost exactly four years since the parish commissioned a survey aimed at seeking grants to help with the costs of the work.

“Now, at last, we can give thanks that its peaceful beauty and stability will be enjoyed by many generations to come.”

Father Anthony went on to thank the many people, parishioners and others who had helped to “bring this wonderful church back to its former glory”.

The cost of the project came to £250,000, towards which several charitable organisations and the town council contributed a total of £200,806 with the balance being covered

through donations, fundraising and parish savings.

Generous grants were made by Historic England Culture Recovery Fund, Dorset Historic Churches Trust, Lyme Regis Town Council, Allchurches Trust Ltd, Charlotte Marshall Charitable Trust and Axe Vale Festival Ltd. Some further works still need to be done, such as repairs and redecoration of the main entrance door, replacement of the long glass window in the bell tower and repairs to the two leaded glass windows on the north elevation of the church, which will cost in the region of £25,000, but it is hoped to address the first two items in the autumn and the leaded windows next year.

The church can be viewed externally at any time and the doors will be open during the day for visitors to view the interesting and beautiful interior as soon as COVID regulations permit.

Meanwhile mass is celebrated every Thursday morning at 10am and each Sunday at 11am, although spaces are currently restricted.

timeoutinLyme

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ARTS | MUSIC | THEATRE | WHAT’S ON | COMPETITIONS

Marine Players return to stage with ‘The Haunting of Hill House’

A

FTER months of delays during the coronavirus pandemic, the Marine Players were finally able to return to the stage this month with their production of ‘The Haunting of Hill House’.

Originally a novel by Shirley Jackson, this horror has gone through many adaptations for film and television, most recently for the popular Netflix series, and this stage adaptation was created by F. Andrew Leslie.

It was a long wait for director Steve Miller and the cast in bringing their production to audiences. Rehearsals started in 2020 and the play was initially meant to be staged last November, but was delayed several times due to the pandemic, with the cast having to hold many rehearsals via video conferencing app Zoom.

Finally they were given their chance to spook socially-distanced audiences at the Marine Theatre this month – and how great it was to enjoy some live entertainment once again.

And it seems all that extra rehearsal time paid off, with the small cast delivering the dialogue-heavy script word-perfectly.

With a single, simple set as the backdrop, sound and special effects were cleverly used to build suspense throughout the play, without the audience ever physically seeing whatever it was that was haunting Hill House – and I admit, I did have to cling on

THEATRE REVIEW

By Francesca Evans

to my friend on one or two occasions.

Of course, the reactions of the talented cast also added to the drama and special mention must go to Siobhan McCoulough, playing the nervous Eleanor Vance, whose ear-piercing screams would send shivers down the spine of even the most stoic sargent major.

Alongside Siobhan, the cast included many experienced local stage performers, including Brian Rattenbury as Dr Montague and Jon Doody as Luke Sanderson, who brought some welcome light humour to the production; Pearl Marsland as Mrs Montague and John Gooden as her doting companion Arthur Parker; Juliet Henham as the stern Mrs Dudley and it was good to see Jodie Glover, usually seen in musical productions, let her acting skills shine in a more dramatic role as Theodora.

Crew: Stage Manager - David Ruffle; Assistant Stage Manager - Kath Gigg, Claudia Marshall, Karen Hull, May Robinson; Sound and Lighting Design & Operation Steve Miller, Ian Saunders; Publicity & Publicity design - David Ruffle and John Gooden; Set Design; Erection & Painting members of the cast and society; Special Scenic Effects - John Gooden; Programme - Fred Humphrey and John Gooden.

Theatre and football club join forces to host open-air production of ‘Macbeth’ THE Marine Theatre and Lyme Regis Football Club have teamed up to host the Lord Chamberlain’s Men, the UK's premier, all-male theatre company presenting Shakespeare as he first saw it.

Residents and visitors will be able to enjoy a production of ‘Macbeth’ as it was first performed – in the open air with Elizabethan costume, music and dance.

The performance will be held on Thursday, September 2 at Lyme Regis Football Club’s Davey Fort ground in Charmouth Road, to allow for the large authentic set built on site, although the event is being organised by the Marine Theatre.

The Lord Chamberlain's Men have direct links to the Bard's history and will be per-

forming his greatest tragedy, ‘Macbeth’, a play of supernatural magic, vaulting ambition and an examination of the dreadful consequences of the insatiable lust for power.

Tickets cost £10 and an outdoor bar at the football club will open at 6pm for a 7pm start.

This is part of a series of COVID-safer outdoor events organised by the Marine Theatre, which include a visit from the popular HandleBards cycling theatre company, which has already sold out.

Another highlight is a performance of Oscar Wilde's comic masterpiece ‘The Importance of Being Earnest’ that takes place on Wednesday, July 28 at Theatre Square.

Full details and tickets for all events are available from marinetheatre.com

Shanty singers making most of outdoor rehearsals

SIOBHAN McCoulough as Eleanor Vance, pictured above left with Jodie Glover as Theodora. Below left, Brian Rattenbury as Dr Montague and, below right, Jodie with Jon Doody as Luke Sanderson

LOCAL shanty singing group the Lyme Bay Moonrakers have been finding different outdoor venues to rehearse in lately. They are pictured above singing the Wellerman Shanty in a wildflower meadow and the following week they were outside the farmer’s barn. Group member Phil has kindly been allowing the group to use his fields and barn until they can rehearse indoors again. If you are interested in joining, visit the group’s website www.lymebaymoonrakers.org or email lymebaymoonrakers@gmail.com

Friday, June 25 2021 15

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MARINE THEATRE EVERYTHING IS GOING TO BE OK

LYME REGIS COMEDY CLUB B WITH JAKE L AMBERT SATURDAY 24 JULY £10 advance

THE LORD CHAMBERL AIN’S MEN: MACBETH THURSDAY 2 SEPTEMBER From £10 advaance

THE IMPORTANCE OF BEING EARNEST WEDNESDAY 28 JULY Fr om £10 advance

L AID BL AK FRIDAY 3 SEPTEMBER £14 advance

BROADWAY AND BEYOND FRIDAY 13 AUGUST £19 advance

RACHEL SER RMANNI THURSDAY 25 2 NOVEMBER £14 advance

TICKETS: MARINETHEATRE..COM OR 0333 666 3366.

Booking fee applies. 10% of f for members.

16 Friday, June 25 2021

How we can play a part in protecting the environment

THE second in a series of ‘Help Our Planet’ talks will concentrate on how everyone can play a part in protecting our environment.

In a talk named ‘Citizen science can help our planet’, Professor Jenny Preece of the University of Maryland, a leading authority on human computer interaction and editor in chief of the Citizen Science journal, will explains how we can all – young and old – play a vital part in protecting the environment.

Jenny’s talk will be presented on screen at the Marine Theatre in Lyme Regis at 7pm on Thursday, July 1, followed by a panel discussion with her via video conferencing app Zoom.

Tickets for this event are available at www.marinetheatre.com

Lifeboat crew portraits on display at Town Mill gallery

AN exhibition featuring the volunteers of the Lyme Regis lifeboat crew opened this week at the Town Mill’s Courtyard Gallery in Lyme Regis.

The exhibition will be open daily from 10am to 4pm and includes portraits of many of the crew by professional artist Maria Barbashina, who has joined the lifeboat crew herself since taking on the project.

The exhibition will be open for one week and admission is free.

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

www.lyme-online.co.uk

Second complaint against councillor dismissed by Dorset monitoring officer A SECOND complaint about the behaviour of Lyme Regis town councillor Belinda Bawden has been dismissed by Dorset Council’s monitoring officer.

A second complaint against Cllr Bawden (pictured) was submitted by chair of community interest company LymeForward, following a public falling out in April.

In a report, Cllr Bawden – who was then the council’s representative on LymeForward – expressed concerns about a “lack of governance” and high turnover of volunteers, staff and directors within the organisation.

In response, Ms Davies said she had been the subject of an “unremitting campaign of serious victimisation, intimidation and persecution” by Cllr Bawden since taking over as chair in March 2020.

She made an initial complaint to Dorset Council’s monitoring officer Jonathan Mair to this effect, but this was dismissed in May with Mr Mair saying there was no evidence to support it.

Ms Davies has since submitted a second complaint, accusing Cllr Bawden of “dishonesty, bias and victimisation”.

In her complaint, Ms Davies pointed out that Cllr Bawden represented seven local organisations on the council, and clearly had close contact and input with all of these except LymeForward, and she had not shown interest in meeting.

Referring to Cllr Bawden’s report on LymeForward which started the dispute, Ms Davies said: “The style and presentation of the LymeForward report is blatantly at odds with the tenor of the other five external reports. It is factually incorrect, subjective, emotive and libellous. It makes a number of

FRANCESCA EVANS

francesca@lyme-online.co.uk

unfounded allegations, assertions and generalisations.

“This latest demonstration of Cllr Bawden’s approach to LymeForward, released into the public domain, needs to be investigated with regard to dishonesty, bias and victimisation.”

She added that, following the ruling on the first complaint, the directors of LymeForward felt there was further supporting evidence of Cllr Bawden’s “intimidatory behaviour and performance”.

Ms Davies said she would not accept a personal apology from Cllr Bawden and called for a disciplinary investigation and public apology.

However, Mr Mair has now dismissed Ms Davies’ second complaint, saying that both he and an independent person appointed to look into the case agreed there was no evidence to support her latest claims.

He added that he will not accept any further complaints from Ms Davies on this subject.

In response to the decision, Cllr Bawden said: “Dorset Council's monitoring officer and independent person have found no evidence to support the second complaint against me by “Sue Davies, chair of LymeForward.

“As this is the second allegation with no supporting evidence, Sue Davies will now be blocked from making any further complaints on this.

“It is unfortunate that Sue Davies chose to circulate an edited version of the monitoring officer's first decision to all councillors except me, and that councillors have been sending or making similarly false accusations publicly

without copying me in or discussing their concerns with me.

“I hope now that both complaints have been found to lack any evidence and that Sue Davies is been blocked from further action to Dorset Council, councillors will also stop amplifying these vexatious allegations.”

After the monitoring officers first decision was discussed by the town council, Cllr Bawden said she had been made to feel “distressed, embarrassed and unsafe” at meetings and had asked for urgent attention to be paid to councillors’ behaviour.

She added that she would no longer be attending council meetings until the issue was addressed, but she has since been present at meetings.

Sue Davies declined to make any further comment following the monitoring officer’s decision.

Welcome Back

COMMUNITY LUNCH

POSTPONED

NEW DATE: JULY 31st, 2pm - 11pm Lyme Regis Football Club, Charmouth Road Wide Selection of Local Ciders Bars & Pimm’s Tent ● Award-Winning Lyme Regis Butchers Sausages on the BBQ ● Live Music & Entertainment All Day ● Bouncy Castle & Ice Cream Truck ●

● Fully-Stocked

No tickets needed - entry by purchase of £2 reusable festival cup on the gate All proceeds in aid of Lyme Regis Football Club... come and support the Sea-Ciders!

Due to the extension of lockdown restrictions, the Lyme Regis branch of Cancer Research UK has postponed its Welcome Back Community Lunch until a later date to be announced soon

Look out for more announcements on future events!

For ticket enquiries call branch chairman Philip Evans MBE on 07796 951 991

www.lyme-online.co.uk

thegreenpage

Friday, June 25 2021 17

‘Drop in for a visit, but don’t drop your litter’ HIGHWAYS ENGLAND CAMPAIGNING AGAINST ROADSIDE LITTER AS SOUTH WEST PREPARES FOR SUMMER AS drivers take to the South West for their ‘staycation’ holidays, Highways England is issuing advice to keep the region’s roadsides clear of litter.

Litter on the majority of A-roads in the region is the responsibility of local authorities to clear, but in order that it can be collected safely Highways England often teams up with councils to co-ordinate any necessary closures.

Reducing the amount of roadside litter not only improves the lives of both communities and motorists, but also provides a significant saving to local authorities in terms of time and money spent on clearing rubbish from the roadsides.

Now Highways England is calling on drivers to do their bit to reduce litter levels following the completion of a big regional effort during the Great British Spring Clean.

Chris Regan, South West Head of Service Delivery for Highways England, said: “Littering is a social problem across the country and our priority, working closely with our partners, is to keep our roads safe and well maintained for drivers and neighbouring communities.

“Roadside litter is not just unsightly but it’s a threat to wildlife and the environment and

it can also be a safety hazard for drivers, can block drains and picking it up puts roadworkers at risk.

“Litter collections on our A-roads are the responsibility of local authorities and hopefully we can get the message across that litter not only impacts people’s lives but also has a significant economic impact for our councils across the region.”

At the onset of the pandemic last year, Highways England funded and delivered a scheme to install bins and signage in a number of laybys on routes across the South West, but local authorities, including smaller funded district and city councils, are still reporting a staggering amount of litter being cleared around their roads.

This year alone, Devon authorities have spent about £7million keeping the county clean, and the Clean Devon Partnership is working with businesses and residents to tackle this anti-social habit.

Highways England, via its contractors, collected 800 bags of litter from the verges of the A30 and A35 in East Devon and Dorset during the Great British Spring Clean.

Work in other South West counties has included the following: ● Wiltshire Council has collected 2,215 bags of litter and 22 vehicle tyres (around 29

tonnes of rubbish), including 981 bags from the A36 and A303 ● An estimated 20 tonnes of litter, tyres, car bumpers and signage were swept and removed from Cornwall’s trunk roads in a six-week clean-up that started in midApril. ● Dorset Council has embraced the Great British Spring Clean with a Litter Free Dorset campaign, including Love Your Verge and Roadside Litter initiatives ● Plymouth City Council has collected over six tonnes of waste from verges along the A38 and slip roads – a stretch of just eight miles ● Gloucester City Council picked up just over a tonne of litter from the A40 this spring And over the last month, Highways England has also swept up sackfuls of litter from its motorways in the South West – 300 bags along the M4 and 200 bags from the M5.

Mr Regan added: “As pandemic restrictions are eased, we appreciate a lot of people will be heading to our beautiful part of the world – and our advice to drivers is clear: don’t drop litter.

“Please use any bins provided in lay-bys, heed the signage, and keep a bag in your car to store litter until you can dispose of it responsibly.”

Electric charging points can benefit the whole town New chairman for THERE aren’t many charging points in Lyme Regis, so to make it easier for electric vehicle (EV) drivers in or visiting Lyme Regis, Turn Lyme Green member and town councillor Rob Smith made his home charging point available to drivers and he’s learnt and gained a lot from his generosity.

“More people are driving electric vehicles, and Lyme’s one public charger (Charmouth Road) is proving unreliable.

“Although my home charger is much slower – perhaps taking four hours to charge a car – visitors using my EV car charger were able to pop into Lyme, enabling them to help support local businesses too.

“When I first announced this there was the occasional driver who would take up the offer. As news has spread this has increased considerably.

“I’ve been able to help Lyme residents and visitors alike. Everyone I have met has been delightful.

“If you have a charging point at home, I can whole heartedly rec-

ommend making it ‘discoverable’.

“My most recent visitor, an 80year-old gentleman, could have driven his plug-in hybrid on petrol, but he was making the effort to find a charging point to minimise his petrol use.

“I asked what motivated him. His reply was simple; he had grandchildren and was concerned for the environment. And when he gets home, he’ll make if charging point discoverable too!

“It’s important to note that for as long as Lyme Regis lacks car charging infrastructure, some EV drivers are going to avoid the town, visiting places that better cater for their needs.

“We do look forward to many new public charging points in Lyme Regis. Hopefully EV drivers will feel more confident to come and more people will be persuaded to make the switch. And our air will be cleaner too.

“But I do hope a few EV drivers still find their way to our charge point – it has been very enjoyable sharing our power with them.”

LymeOnline is proud to support local environmental campaigns and organisations. Find out more at lyme-online.co.uk/ environmental-policy

Turn Lyme Green

AFTER four years in the role, Jo Smith Oliver has handed over the chairmanship of Turn Lyme Green (TLG) to Laura Noel.

Laura has always been a TLG supporter, and has long family associations with Lyme Regis, and has lived here for 20 years.

Keen on a ‘green’ agenda, Laura believes that each of us can make a difference by focussing on our own carbon footprint.

She has worked on making personal changes on "how I live, eat, shop and travel".

Laura adds: “It might be difficult to change the world, but we all have the possibility to change ourselves and collectively that effort would make a huge impact".

Laura also believes that politicians need to play a key role in leading change.

“Lobbying them is important to encourage them to have the guts to do the right thing on climate change and biodiversity,” she said.

“I am so impressed by the energy and multiple skillsets of TLG activists and supporters, and I look forward to being a member of the team.”

TLG is glad they’re not losing Jo Smith Oliver, she will continue her involvement and is launching a new initiative of nature and tree walks here in Lyme Regis.

18 Friday, June 25 2021

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PROMOTED CONTENT

LYME REGIS TOWN COUNCIL Park and ride will be up and running for summer holidays PARK and ride will return for the summer holidays – all being well.

The council has traditionally paid for the service, run by First Group, usually starting at Easter, running during school holidays, at busy weekends and throughout the summer holidays.

The service didn’t run at all last year due to the pandemic and the prospect of being able to run at all this year has been very uncertain.

This is because social distancing rules previously meant the double deck buses could only run at a significantly reduced capacity, making the service financially unviable.

While the council is pleased to subsidise the service for the benefit of the whole town and to help reduce town centre traffic, the risk was too great in the early months of this year.

We’ve held off making a decision on whether to run a summer service for as long as possible in the hope the restrictions would be sufficiently eased.

This approach paid off as the rules about so-

cial distancing on public transport changed recently, considerably increasing the number of people who can travel.

Not only does this improve the financial viability of the service, it also means we can provide a better service as it will reduce waiting times at peak periods.

As such, the council has made the decision to run the park and ride, from the usual Charmouth Road site, from July 24 to September 5.

We will also increase from two buses on weekdays to three buses at weekends to further improve the service.

The timetable for the service will be made available on our website.

Hopefully this will reduce some of the congestion and parking chaos we’ve seen in the town centre over recent weekends and bank holidays, while also providing a boost to local businesses as more people will be able to visit the town.

Council reluctantly turns down cinema rebuild offer WE have reluctantly turned down the offer of taking on the rebuilding of Regent Cinema.

The owners, WTW-Scott Cinemas, said it was highly unlikely they would be in a position to consider rebuilding the cinema for a considerable length of time.

They suggested the building and land could be passed to us to become a community asset and we would take on the rebuild.

This is something we have thought long and hard about as we recognise the value and importance of the cinema to the town.

While the council has supported the owners in their endeavours to rebuild the Regent Cin-

ema since its destruction by fire in 2016, we don’t feel our role can extend to taking ownership of the site and assuming the risk and responsibility for the repair and reuse of the cinema.

That is a matter for either an experienced cinema operator, a commercial developer or another organisation whose aims and objectives are more closely aligned with that role.

The council continues to give generous support to many other local organisations and groups and we very much hope the cinema can be rebuilt and retained in its former use.

Mayor and deputy formally elected THE mayor and deputy mayor have been formally elected to lead the council.

Cllr Brian Larcombe was nominated as mayor and Cllr Kelsey Ellis nominated as deputy mayor in April, but they aren’t officially in post until the first meeting of the new council year.

Both councillors were installed in their civic roles at the annual meeting of the council at

the end of May. Cllr Larcombe is now in his third year as First Citizen, while Cllr Ellis takes on the role for the first time.

We would normally hold a traditional mayormaking ceremony in May, but the restrictions made this impossible, so it is hoped we can hold a more low-key event in the autumn to celebrate their appointments.

Covid roadmap delay will have little effect on services THE pause at Step 3 of the government’s Covid-19 roadmap will mean very few changes for the council.

Most of our services and facilities are already up and running, with some extra safety measures in place, but some operations will remain affected until at least July 19.

This means the council office remains closed, council meetings will continue to take place in the Pine Hall at Lyme Regis Baptist Church, and function rooms such as the

Guildhall or Langmoor and Lister Rooms will not be available for hire.

While there is no longer a legal maximum number of people who can attend weddings and funerals, the numbers are determined by how many people can be safely accommodated with social distancing in place.

This means the cemetery chapel will now be available for funerals with up to 13 mourners, and we will continue to allow 28 guests to attend weddings at the Guildhall.

Spring wildflowers back in full bloom THE colourful wildflowers are out in force in Langmoor Gardens once again. We introduced a wildflower bed last year and the response from the public was overwhelming – everyone told us how much they loved it. The wildflowers with the Cobb in the background probably became the most photographed view in Lyme last year! Not only does it look beautiful, but more importantly, it supports us in our wider environmental aims.

European funding to be spent on beach accessibility matting EUROPEAN funding will help us support the re-opening of the town by providing beach accessibility matting.

The Welcome Back Fund is providing councils across England with funding from the European Regional Development Fund (ERDF) to support the safe return to high streets and help build back better from the pandemic.

We applied to Dorset Council, which is delivering the projects on behalf of town councils, and were suc- AN example of the beach matting at Weymouth cessful in obtaining funding to improve beach accessibility.

We’ve already bought three beach wheelchairs, including one floating wheelchair, WE apologise that two pieces of equipment which people can hire out for free for the day. are out of action at the play park.

However, users have told us it can be difficult The zip wire and basket swing at Anning to get down to the shoreline due to the soft Road play park have been closed off for resand and the number of people to navigate pairs and we know how much the children through on a busy day. are missing them.

Beach accessibility matting will not only help Please rest assured the parts have been orwheelchairs traverse the sand, but also dered but are taking longer than expected to pushchairs and those who find it difficult to walk arrive. on uneven surfaces.

They’re due to be delivered the week of 28 We’ll be placing 25 metres of matting on Front June and as soon as they’re here, we will get Beach and 25 metres on Monmouth Beach, them fitted. hopefully in time for the peak season.

Play equipment out of action

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Friday, June 25 2021 19

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Step forward for skatepark as town council promises 'substantial sum' AXMINSTER Town Council has reaffirmed its commitment to providing a new skatepark in the town, saying it will pledge a further “substantial sum” to the project.

The old skatepark at Cloakham Lawn was closed down in September 2019 as it required significant repairs and, not being owned by the local council like skateparks in many other towns, it was liable for all its own costs and maintenance, including insurance.

Axminster Town Council and East Devon District Council are now working together to move forward the much-anticipated replacement skatepark.

Members and officers from both authorities have recently held two site visits at Cloakham Lawn Sports centre, which is now the preferred site for the replacement park.

It was previously suggested that the skatepark could be built on the former Millwey Rise football pitch but this is a strategic asset of East Devon District Council’s and will likely be sold for housing development.

The design of the new skatepark will be similar to the Maverick designs (pictured) released in 2016, with ramps made of poured concrete rather than wood and metal as seen at the old park.

At last week’s town council meeting, members agreed to four proposals regarding the skatepark, put forward by the Mayor of Axminster, Cllr Jill Farrow.

The proposals reaffirmed the council’s support for the project, which it said was evidenced by the allocation of £150,000 from Section 106 funding from local developers.

Members noted this money had to be spent within the next 15 months to avoid being returned to the developers.

Members agreed that the best and most timely way of delivering the new skatepark was to site it at Cloakham Lawn Sports Centre, with land offered on a long lease to East Devon District Council at a nominal rent, and then leased to Axminster Skatepark Community Interest Company also for a nominal rent.

This would mean that the skatepark would be eligible for capital funding from East Devon and, if the project were to be delivered through the district council, any VAT due would be reclaimable.

It also means that the project may be considered to be permitted development, and would

THE deep respect in which the community of Axminster and district holds for the Bounds family was much in evidence last Friday, when hundreds turned out to bid farewell to one of the town’s much loved sporting characters, writes Philip Evans.

Adam Bounds was cruelly struck down by a brain haemorrhage two weeks ago at the age of 41. Although he lived in Bristol, Adam collapsed at his family home in Axminster. His death caused shock waves throughout the district with dozens of tributes appearing on social media.

He was laid to rest yesterday at the East Devon Crematorium at Whimple following a funeral service in the Minster Church in Axminster.

Only a limited number of family and friends were allowed in church for the service, conducted by the Rector, the Reverend Clive Sedgewick, because of the COVID-19 regulations.

But waiting to greet the funeral cortege as it arrived outside the church were hundreds of people crowded onto the Minster Green and around Trinity Square, many of them representing the football community of Axminster and district. wearing their football shirts or club ties.

Family members were visibly moved when they saw the number of people who were pre-

sent to pay their last respects, some of whom were in tears, Adam was a football fanatic, having played for Axminster Town and Uplyme, and the coffin was draped with a Liverpool FC and an England shirt. His father Les has been connected with Axminster Town all his adult life as a player, committee member, chairman and now a trustee at Tiger Way. But there was more to Adam than football. He had a great zest for life and had a wide circle of friends in and around Axminster and Lyme Regis.

Adam’s son Owen paid a touching tribute to his father in church and when the family emerged from the service, Les, Owen and brother Jaimie, and other members of the family, were applauded as they made their way back to the funeral cars.

It was obviously a traumatic experience for the family seeing how many of Adam’s friends were present to say their final farewells.

But they conducted themselves with great dignity and were able to express their thanks when they gathered later at Axminster Town Football to exchange stories about how Adam lived his life to the full.

Adam, who would have celebrated his 42nd birthday on Saturday, would have loved it.

Hundreds pay their last respects to popular character Adam Bounds

If you have a story for the Axminster or Seaton areas, call 07810 221 420 or email francesca.evans@nub.news

therefore not require planning permission.

The town council also resolved to pledge a “substantial sum” to the project.

As it will not be payable until the 2022/3 financial year, the amount to be drawn from council reserves or added to the council tax precept will be decided at a meeting in October.

Finally, it was agreed to instruct the town clerk to advise East Devon officers and Axminster ward members of the town council’s decisions, and to request they make every effort to ensure that action be taken swiftly.

Cancer charity to host open day for its third anniversary

AXMINSTER and Lyme Cancer Support is celebrating its third anniversary with an open day on Monday, July 26.

The charity's founder Mary Kahn said: "We are celebrating three years since our first drop-in in October 2018 and are amazed at how Axminster and Lyme Cancer Support has grown in such a short time.

"This is for all our community. This is an opportunity to share and discuss your ideas and feedback on what we have done and what we are planning."

The charity will be showcasing all aspects of its work to support those affected by cancer at the open day, with light refreshments available throughout the morning and more in-depth round table discussions in the afternoon.

The event will be held at Uplyme Village Hall from 10.30am to 2.30pm on Monday, July 26.

Those interested in attending should email support@axminsterandlymecancersupport.co.uk to register your interest or book online at http://axminsterandlymecancersupport.co.uk/product/alcs-open-day26th-july/ To book online, select the July 26 date, click 'check availability', click 'checkout', enter your details and then tick the terms and conditions and request confirmation.

You will then get confirmation on screen and via email.

A national network of h hyperlocal news websites, now covering the 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

20 Friday, June 25 2021

FLASHBACKS with Richard Austin

www.lyme-online.co.uk

Tales from behind the lens of our award-winning photographer

■ THE Falklands War 25th anniversary commemorations in central London, with former Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher standing out among the military personnel and royalty in her bright pink ensemble. She is pictured above with Air Chief Marshall Sir Jock Stirrip, Prince Charles and Prince Andrew, watching skywards from the top of the Mall as the Red Arrows fly overhead. London was awash with military and former military. The march past in front of the Queen was a moving sight as regiments were denoted by the colour of their berets. I did wonder just what was going through the mind of Margaret Thatcher; the Falklands was considered her “triumph” by some, and cemented her reputation as the 'Iron Lady', but probably the toughest thing in the world is sending men into war knowing that some wouldn’t come back.

COLLECTOR’S COIN, silver proof Battle of Hastings 50p coin, mint condition and certificated, £95 - 01297 560934 (evenings only).

ITEMS FOR SALE

COLLECTOR’S COIN, Beatrix Potter 50p coins with Peter Rabbit and Benjamin Bunny, £5 each 0 01297 560934 (evenings only).

CHEST OF DRAWERS, large with four fullwidth drawers and two small drawers, pine effect, very good condition, £40 ONO, buyer to collect - 07500 656 049.

RARE POSTCARD, showing steam locomotive hauled train through Combpyne Woods, November 1935, extremely rare, £9 - 01297 560934 (evenings only).

MARTINA COLE BOOKS, ‘The Good Life’ and ‘Betrayal’, mint condition, £5 each or £8 for both - 01297 560934 (evenings only).

VACUUM CLEANER AND AIR PURIFIER, Filter Queen, very good condition, £50 ONO, buyer to collect - 01297 445788.

DOUBLE WARDROBE, oak effect, hanging rail and top shelf, very good condition, £40 ONO, buyer to collect - 07500 656 049.

DRESSING TABLE, light pine effect, two drawers and matching stool with drawer, very good condition, £25 ONO, buyer to collect 07500 656 049.

BOSCH 70 piece drill and screwdriver bit set, new/unused £19 - 07397 206 365.

COFFEE TABLES, antique pine, choice of two, £15/£10 - 07397 206 365.

Thomas, printed by Halsgrove, 2004 first edition, ISBN 9781841143359, as new condition, now a very scarce book, £39 - 01297 442627.

‘THE BOOK OF SEATON’, Ted Gosling, printed by Halsgrove, 2002 first edition, ISBN 9781841141923, as new condition, £34 01297 442627.

‘THE BOOK OF AXMINSTER WITH KILMINGTON’, Ted Gosling, printed by Halsgrove, 2003 first edition, apart from owner’s name on front fly leaf this is in as new condition, a very scarce book, ISBN 9781841142302, £39 - 01297 442627.

CONSOLE TABLE, pine, £20 - 07397 206 365.

‘THE BOOK OF LYME REGIS’, Rodney Legg, printed by Halsgrove, 2003 first edition, ISBN 978184114238, as new condition, now a very scarce book, £39 - 01297 442627.

‘THE BOOK OF UPLYME’, Gosling &

DIECAST

MODELS,

Bburago,

Mira,

Yesteryear, Ldl, photos available on request, reasonable offers - 07789 537 011 (Seaton).

HAND BASIN, white, £12 ono - 01297 678536.

PICNIC SET, navy blue, new, £12 ono 01297 678536.

MINCER SET, new, £12 ono - 01297 678536.

CARNIVAL PUNCH BOWL SET, £15 ono 01297 678536.

DOG CRATE, Ellie-Bo medium, H23.5” x L30” x W21”, black folding with steel nonchew removable tray, £20, buyer collects 07790 336 396.

DOG CRATE, Ellie-Bo extra large deluxe, H31” x L42” x W28”, black folding with steel non-chew removable tray, £35, buyer collects - 07790 336 396.

Submit your Items for Sale listings - free for any item up to £200 - by emailing edit@lyme-online.co.uk or post them to LymeOnline,Unit 5 Uplyme Business Centre, Uplyme Road, Lyme Regis, Dorset DT7 3LS

Friday, June 25 2021 21

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22 Friday, June 25 2021

classifieds&jobs ITEMS FOR SALE CAN THIS WEEK BE FOUND ON PAGE 20

Part Time Geology Curator

One day a week (hours to be negotiated) We’re looking for an experienced geologist with excellent knowledge of Lyme’s unique fossil heritage.

You’ll have a degree of higher qualification in a relevant science and have a thorough understanding of the care of geological collections.

You will also be a good communicator, able to work with our visitors of all ages in a range of activities, both in the museum and on the beach.

Applications should be by CV and letter to director@lymeregismuseum.co.uk from whom a job description can be obtained.

The closing date for this post is 5pm on Friday July 16th 2021.

Applications can be by either email or letter.

Lyme Regis Museum, Bridge Street, Lyme Regis DT7 3QA

To advertise your job vacancy, call Francesca Evans on 07810 221 420 or email francesca@lyme-online.co.uk

Items for sale listings are free for items up to £200 - see page 20 for details

FAIRFIELD D HOUSE Now under new Management

We are now recruiting for full & part-time ime staf staff and have the following exciting job opportunities: portunities: Full Time Maintenance Person (Monday-Friday) Monday-Friday) Head Housekeeper • Night and Day y Car Carers • T Twilight wilight If you enjoy working with people, have ave a kind, caring nature and are determined to make a positive dif difference to people’s lives, then please get in touch – full training provided. d.

For a Job Description/Application Form please lease contact us on

01297 443513 or email: admin@fairfieldhouse.co.uk fieldhouse.co.uk Fairfield House Residential Care Home, Charmouth Road, Lyme Regis DT7 3HH Visit our website: www.fairfieldhouse.co.uk ouse.co.uk

Axe Valley Academy Student Office Administrator 25 hours per week – 39 weeks (term time + Inset Days)

Student Office & SEND Administrator 20 hours per week – 39 weeks (term time + Inset Days) We are looking to appoint two administrators to work primarily in our Student Office to support staff and students in the use of photocopying, printing and administrative work.

Salary: NJC SCP 4-6 £18,933-£19,698 pro rata depending on experience

Further information about the posts and to apply please visit our website: www.axevalley.devon.sch.uk /information/vacancies This school is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and expects all staff and volunteers to share this commitment.

Lyme Bay Holidays is a family-run business with more than 40 years’ experience providing unique memorable holidays in the area.

An exciting full time employment opportunity to join our locally based team. We are looking for an enthusiastic and committed team member to provide a high quality standard of service for guests staying in over 330 self-catering holiday properties within Lyme Bay. If you have experience in the holiday industry or simply have a desire to work for fast moving and customer focused company, you could be the person we are looking for.

Housekeeping Administration Supervisor Join the housekeeping team in a senior administration position ensuring a smooth and efficient changeover of the holiday properties. This role would suit someone with a strong administration background who possesses excellent communication skills and has the ability to manage and coordinate a large team of cleaners and housekeepers. This role will involve working Monday to Saturday with a rota day off during the week.

Salary and remuneration subject to experience.

To apply for this role please send CVs to: admin@lymebayholiday.co.uk alternatively send to: General Manager Closing date for applications is Saturday July 3rd Lyme Bay Holidays Wessex House Lyme regis Dorset DT7 3LP www.lymebayholidays.co.uk telephone: 01297 443363

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Lyme Regis Amusement Arcade We are looking for a full‐"me member of staff for an all year round posi"on Part‐"me posi"on also available Please send CV to lraadorset@gmail.com or send to Lyme Regis Amusement Arcade, Marine Parade, Lyme Regis, Dorset DT7 3JH

WANTED: ADVOCATE / PERSONAL ASSISTANT

For a chronically ill bed bound lady in Charmouth; to facilitate and enable the management of all aspects of daily life.

We are looking for a highly compassionate, trustworthy and approachable individual who is confident communicating with a wide range of people including medical professionals, carers, local authority and family members.

You will have good literacy skills and be confident in the use of Word, Excel and social media, willing to learn about the complexity of the condition, and follow specific guidelines, such as being scent free due to hypersensitivities.

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Must have own computer/printer. Mobile phone supplied.

Excellent hourly rate. DBS check and references will be required. This is not a care role.

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Please apply in writing to Emma at riche1972@gmail.com by the 1st of July.

Interviews will be taking place in July, with a view to the successful applicant starting in the first week of September.

Friday, June 25 2021 23

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LymeOnline Sport

email your sports reports to edit@lyme-online.co.uk

sailing

Three firsts for Lyme sailors at the Dorset Triangle THE first away meeting of their centenary year saw a team from Lyme Regis Sailing Club at Castle Cove on Sunday, in a competition between the hosts, Sutton Bingham SC and Lyme.

In this more limited replacement for the former Lyme Bay Challenge, the three clubs each host a leg.

The top three results from each club team count in the overall results.

Four boats entered from Lyme. There were nine from the inland club and 17 from Castle Cove, making 30 dinghies in this threee-race series, sailed in very light winds never above five knots.

Lyme’s racing sailing secretary, Allan Tyler, who competed in his Fireball with crew Chrissey, commented: “We had a

mixed team, individuals strong in a variety of conditions. Winds were too light for the trapeze on the RS 800 for Cameron and Jake, so they couldn’t match up to their handicap.

“Star of the show was our Albacore, sailed

by Jerry Rook with ‘guest’ crew Graham Cook, himself a top Laser sailor, who took three firsts. Andy Robinson supported well in his Phantom which is a new class for him.”

Allan and Chrissey made third overall, Lyme scoring lowest to win the leg.

Allan commended the race management team and looked forward to the return leg at Lyme in the autumn when he hopes his team will do as well.

cricket

women’s football

First tied game in the East Devon Bash THE newly-formed East Devon Bash T-20 league has seen its first tied match.

In the second week of the pink ball competition, Kilmington Swingers and Seaton Pirates both hit 145 runs.

Seaton won the toss and elected to bat. They lost five wickets in the process but not before opener Josh Cann hit a brilliant 91 not out before being bowled by Oliver Reed. Only one other player, Ben Morgan (17), reached double figure.

The Seaton wickets were shared between Ollie Reed, Robert Crabb, Josh Short and Dean Wills.

Kilmington lost seven wickets in their 145-run innings with John Short top scoring on 45 and useful contributions from Tom Oliver (23 not out) and Sam Olive (22).

Ben Morgan was Seaton’s best bowler, returning figures of 3 for 19 off four overs.

In the other week-two game, Upottery Kestrels proved to be too strong for Rising Ottery Super Beavers.

Ottery won the toss and put Upottery into bat. In building a total of 175, they lost seven wickets but got a decent start from openers Jack Larcombe and Ryan Pulman, who both scored 42. James Mitchum weighed in with 47 useful runs.

Matt Jeacock returned Ottery’s

LYME sailors pictured at Castle Cove where they competed in the Dorset Triangle competition

best bowling figures of 2-23 off his four overs.

In reply, Ottery were sent packing in the 17th over for 83 with Jack Smith top scoring on 28.

The Uplyme Muffin Men v Honiton Hawks was cancelled because Honiton could not raise a team so the five points go to Uplyme.

Week Two League Placings Uplyme Muffin Men 10 points Kilmington Swingers 7 points Seaton Pirates 6 points Upottery Kestrels 5 points Honiton Hawks 0 points Ottery Rising Super Beavers 0 points Sidbury Moles 0 points ● The East Devon Bash is sponsored jointly by Nub News and the LymeOnline community newspaper and website.

Axe Ladies show the way WOMEN’S football has developed ten-fold in recent times, both professionally and at grass roots level.

Every professional club now has a ladies’ team and locally the sport gets stronger every year.

Nearly every panel of analysts now has a woman sitting alongside some of the greats from the world of football, giving their views. There are also a few women commentators. They do a great job.

Occasionally you may notice a bit of a grimace from Roy Keane, but not even Keano would dare to treat them other than with respect.

I enjoy watching women’s football. The standard is impressive and every time one of them gets knocked over, they get up and get on with the game rather than rolling around in agony like some of the prima-donna male players who act like they’ve been short by a sniper to influence the referee.

The game is now worldwide with

PHILIP EVANS

philip@lyme-online.co.uk international squads competing in their own world cup, etc, and spectator numbers are increasing all the time.

Locally, Lyme Regis FC was one of the first clubs to start a ladies’ section with the setting up of Lyme Lazers, which played for a couple of seasons in the Dorset Ladies League.

At the time the Seasiders were fielding four senior sides, as well as a number of youth teams, but Lyme’s woeful lack of pitches ultimately saw the Lazers joining forces with Axminster Town.

Seaton Town also have a very vibrant women’s section.

Axminster Town Ladies is now one of the most enthusiastic and well-run women’s sections in Devon and play a huge part in the running of the club at Tiger Way through fundraising.

Their next event - a six-a-side men’s and women’s tournament will be held at Tiger Way on Sunday, July 11 with registration for teams from 9.30 am. Teams must be made up of eight players with two rolling subs There’s prize pot which the winner of each competition getting £144.

Applications should be sent to axinsterafcevents@yahoo.com

bowls

Lyme club to host county semi-finals for men THE 63rd open tournament is under way at Lyme Regis Bowling Club, but with greatly reduced numbers of competitors.

Until Monday, the weather has been kind, if not all that warm with the rest of the week looking to be an improving situation. A full list of results will appear in next week’s LymeOnline.

Lyme Regis will be hosting the quarter and semi-finals of the men’s county pairs on Sunday, July 4. Spectators are welcome to what should be a feast of bowling from the county’s best bowlers.

Just one match to report, that being a fine win by Lyme Ladies in their League One fixture at

home to Sherborne.

Result Lyme 50, Sherborne 37 Ann Allman, Helen Dowling and Pam Weech 12-13; Nicky Driscoll, Alex Darvill and Angela Rattenbury 17-10; Judith Moffitt, Nola Stephens and Lesley Broom 21-14.

Follow local sport 24/7 on our website - www.lyme-online.co.uk

LymeOnline Sport

www.lyme-online.co.uk

Friday, June 125 2021 18

June 25 2021

cricket

Is Tyler warming up for another ton fest?

THIS is the question on the lips of all those who follow the fortunes of Uplyme and Lyme Regis Cricket Club.

Tyler, 21, became a batting sensation last season when he scored three consecutive tons for Uplyme, a feat that was unknown in local cricketing circles.

To add interest to his feat, it emerged during this spell that he was a third cousin on his mother’s side of the great English batsman and Test captain Ken Barrington who never managed three centuries on the trot.

Uplyme marked Tyler’s wonderful achievement by presenting him with a silver salver at their annual presentation night.

Uplyme ended last season, which was restricted by the COVID-19 regulations, by winning their tier mini league.

As a journalist and former player at Uplyme, I have followed cricket for a long time and I can’t remember every seeing a crowd that large for a village match.

And that too was very much down to the interest generated by Tyler’s amazing achievement.

So the question the Uplyme faithful are asking is can he do it again?

Surely that’s too much to expect but I wouldn’t put it past him.

By PHILIP

EVANS

It certainly seems that he is coming into form if his recent innings are anything to go by.

Tyler already has two scores of over 80 under his belt and in Uplyme’s last East Devon Bash T-20 fixture at Sidbury he blasted 112 off 53 balls, an innings which included no less than 14 fours and seven towering sixes.

Uplyme were the prime movers in launching the East Devon Bash series, which is sponsored by LymeOnline.

This format of cricket really suits the swashbuckling cricket played by the Uplyme team which has a very strong batting line-up after a number of new signings.

They knocked 282 runs off 20 overs against Sidbury and the bowled out the East Devon villagers for just 97 runs to head the East Devon Bash table after three weeks ● Uplyme featured in a friendly at the King George V playing field on Sunday against the Devon Medics.

Uplyme batted first for 169 all out with Harvey Brimicombe top scoring on 48. The Medics replied with a winning score of 172 for 8 with Brimicombe completing a good allround performance, taking 3 for 22.

TYLER Wellman acknowledges one of his three centuries at Uplyme last season

Peverell won the toss and put Uplyme, fielding a weaker side than usual, into bat. Openers Steve and Mark Batey went relatively cheaply, but Andrew Harrison, with a fine knock of 65, and another excellent innings from Tyler Wellman (87) got the scoreboard moving as Uplyme posted 237-7 off 45 overs.

Tyler’s innings was scored off of 87 balls (a run per ball) and

included 12 fours.

Sampford Peverell got off to a good start with 129 runs on the board before losing a wicket and went on to a winning score of 238-7 with two overs to spare.

All but one of the seven victims fell to Harvey Brimicombe, who finished with 6 for 39 in a careerbest nine-over spell.

This defeat sees Uplyme drop

All systems go at the Fort WITH the Euros in full swing and England through to the last 16, thoughts will soon be turning to next season’s local football - now just a few weeks away.

At the Davey Fort, home of Lyme Regis Football Club, much effort has been put in to making up for lost revenue whilst games were suspended and the clubhouse closed because of coronavirus.

The Seasiders were on the verge of completing their £150,000 development programme when recreational sport was brought to a shuddering halt by government restrictions.

The club went several months with no income but current and former players rallied round with sponsorship and donations to keep the Seasiders’ head above water.

The deficit has been more than met by using the pitch as a car park during busy periods and opening up the clubhouse for members and guests to watch the England games.

The club is now in a financial position to complete the development programme. The car park, which has been extended, will hopefully be resurfaced in September and the club is awaiting planning permission for a new groundsman’s hut to replace the rusty container at the far end of the Davey Fort. A new gate to the site will also be installed.

Although last season is one which all connected with football will want to forget, Lyme did enhance their reputation by finishing top of the Devon & Exeter Reset Premier Division (see below).

Devon & Exeter Reset Premier East

Uplyme surrender their top spot UPLYME and Lyme Regis surrendered their top spot in the Devon Cricket League Division D East with a second defeat on the trot, losing by three wickets in damp conditions at home to Sampford Peverell and Tiverton.

The two teams agreed to play through steady rain in the late afternoon creating conditions which did not help Uplyme in their bid to bowl out the visitors.

football

to second place in Division D East, nine points behind new leaders Alphington and Countess Wear, who had an 85-run victory over Barnstaple and Pilot, Uplyme’s opponents tomorrow (Saturday).

Uplyme trail by nine points and will be keen to narrow that gap when they make the long journey into North Devon.

Lyme Regis Feniton Kentisbeare Dawlish Utd Chard Town

P 8 8 8 8 8

W 6 5 2 2 1

D L 1 1 0 1 1 5 1 5 34

F 35 19 17 9 6

A 15 11 24 23 13

GD Pts 20 19 8 17 -7 7 -14 7 -4 6

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

Follow local sport 24/7 on our website www.lyme-online.co.uk