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FOR LYME REGIS, UPLYME & CHARMOUTH ● FORTNIGHTLY ● MARCH 20 2020 ● www.lyme-online.co.uk
Lyme’s youngest councillor wins chairmanship THE youngest ever member of Lyme Regis Town Council, Kelsey Ellis, has won her first chairmanship. Councillor Ellis, aged 20, was elected chairman of the Tourism, Community & Publicity Committee last Wednesday. She previously served as vice-chairman under former councillor and deputy mayor Jeff Scowen, who resigned from the council in December last year. Councillor Ellis won a seat on Lyme Regis Town Council in May 2019, when she was just 19, becoming the authority’s youngest ever member. She is the daughter of fellow council member and former mayor Councillor Michaela Ellis. REPORT, PAGE 9
Charmouth consulting on Neighbourhood Plan AS Lyme Regis residents and businesses face what is being described as the most challenging period during peacetime, this stunning shot of the Cobb by Richard Austin reminds us of the town’s natural beauty and that the sun will always rise again
We’re all in it together
OVER the past four years a dedicated team of local volunteers, working on behalf of the Charmouth Parish Council, have been developing the village’s draft Neighbourhood Plan, reflecting the wishes of the people who live and work in the area. This is now ready for public consultation. Residents and those who work or run businesses in Charmouth parish will have the opportunity to comment on the draft plan from Friday, April 3 for a six-week period. REPORT, PAGE 8
COMMUNITY SPIRIT SHINES IN CORONAVIRUS OUTBREAK LYME Regis residents and businesses have come together as the coronavirus epidemic starts to take hold of the town.
Following Prime Minister Boris Johnson’s announcement on Monday evening, advocating more stringent ‘social distancing’ measures to prevent the spread of COVID-19,
FRANCESCA EVANS
francesca@lyme-online.co.uk Lyme has seen its spring events calendar decimated, while some local attractions, amenities and businesses have temporarily shut their doors, including the Marine Theatre, Lyme Regis Museum and Woodmead Halls. Lyme Regis Town Council has suspended all meetings and schools are
expected to close today (Friday). But amid concerns over Lyme’s elderly population and the effects on local businesses and tourism, community spirit has come to the fore. A new group called ‘Lyme Regis Community Support’ has been set up on social media site Facebook, to coordinate offers of help and support for the elderly and vulnerable during the coming weeks.
Local residents Victoria Cottle, Grace Herbert, Becky Lippett and Cheryl Reynolds have taken the lead on the community effort to help those in need. They have asked residents to volunteer as a ‘person of contact’ for their street or area, to look out for elderly or vulnerable neighbours. Volunteers can then use the Face-
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