LymeOnline Digital Edition - September 4 2020

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CHEF PREPARES F O RESTAURAN R T OPENING PAGE 13

Man charged after assaulting female walker A MAN was arrested in Lyme Regis last Saturday evening after assaulting and threatening a woman walking on the coast path.

Police received a report at about 3pm on Saturday, August 29 that a woman who was walking alone on the South West Coast Path, just outside Lyme Regis, was approached by an unknown man who assaulted her and threatened to cause her serious harm.

REPORT, PAGE 7

Pedal power at the Co-op!

STAFF at the Co-op in Lyme Regis and supporters have raised more than £1,000 for mental health charity MIND, by cycling 970km - the equivalent of Land’s End to John O’Groats - on cycling machines in store. Pictured above are Co-op team manager Nicky Hutchings with local youngsters Joshua and Jacob Denning and Millie Hutchings, who took part in the challenge. See page 7 for full story.

Committed to going green

Tourist Information Centre closes down STAFF from Lyme Regis Tourist Information Centre were given a fond farewell on Friday, as the office closed its doors permanently.

Dorset Council and Lyme Regis Town Council have said they are in “active discussions” about a future tourism service in the town, but the current office at Guildhall Cottage in Bridge Street has now closed.

REPORT, PAGE 3

Uplyme heads to semi-finals UPLYME & Lyme Regis Cricket Club are heading to the Devon League semi-finals this weekend after completing their league fixtures undefeated, with another impressive win over Ottery St Mary last weekend.

REPORT, PAGE 23

COUNCIL MOVES FORWARD PLANS TO BECOME CARBON NEUTRAL LYME Regis Town Council reaffirmed its commitment to ‘go green’ and become carbon neutral by 2030, after calls for it to take more immediate action to tackle climate change.

Councillors considered a complex 30-page report on environmental

FRANCESCA EVANS

francesca@lyme-online.co.uk issues at its latest virtual meeting, and approved several policies which will help them meet their carbon neutral target.

The decision came after several environmental campaigners called for more urgent action from the council, which declared a climate

and ecological emergency in 2019.

Speaking during the public forum of last week’s meeting, Turn Lyme Green member Polly Benfield said she acknowledged that the council had been dealing with issues surrounding COVID-19 in more recent months, but “climate change is still with us”.

She added that there was a lot Lyme Regis could do as a commu-

nity to tackle the issue and said there was an “overwhelming need” for the council to take a lead on this.

Jo Smith Oliver, chairman of Turn Lyme Green, pointed out that it had been a year since the council had declared a climate emergency and she spoke in favour of recom-

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LymeOnline

Published by Lyme Regis Media Limited Hyper-local website and fortnightly newspaper serving the communities of Lyme Regis, Uplyme & Charmouth.

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 Contributors: Philip Evans philip@lyme-online.co.uk Richard Austin edit@lyme-online.co.uk Regular Columnists: Sophia Moseley, Marine Theatre Peter Lacey, Tales of Lyme’s Past Production: Jackie Evans jackie@lyme-online.co.uk

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Council takes action on environmental promise CONTINUED FROM FRONT PAGE mendations in the report which would help reduce carbon emissions.

She added that “creative thinking leads to fast results” and she hoped the council would work together with Turn Lyme Green and other environmental groups to “adapt to new ways of living”.

“If we don’t we will get left behind, which is not a great advertisement for Lyme Regis,” she added.

Local horticulturalist and keen follower of council matters, Nigel Ball, said he was largely in favour of the policies suggested to tackle climate change, but he added that the council needed to be prudent and sensible in these challenging financial times.

A letter from environmental campaigner Tracey West was also sent to the council in advance of the meeting. At 11 pages long the full letter was not read out, but in it she wrote: “Apathy, inaction and tardy implementation of low hanging fruit is no longer acceptable. Climate action needs to be a high priority - it poses a danger to our lives, our homes and our future.

“People in the town are looking to you for inspiration, for suggestions and for assistance to effect sustainable living changes in their personal lives and their businesses too.

They need guidance, information, education and financial support.

“Lyme Regis Town Council, if you think COVID-19 has delivered you a challenge or two to mitigate, you ain’t see nothing yet.”

The Mayor of Lyme Regis, Coun-

cillor Brian Larcombe MBE, said that some people had indicated that there had been some inactivity on the council’s part in dealing with environmental issues and he felt this was unfair.

He said that everyone in the community had a part to play and that the town council would do everything it could, but some things were outside its remit and it could not tell residents what to do.

“We have control over our own areas and a persuasive element. We cannot do everything but we do understand the part we can play,” he added.

“I think we have been unfairly judged in one or two comments from people who want us to do it all when it’s just not within our gift.”

‘No-brainers’ Councillor Belinda Bawden, who has been fronting the campaign for the council to take action against climate change, said she felt these comments had been misunderstood and no one was expecting the town council to do everything.

Councillors then started to consider the lengthy report, but many expressed confusion about some of the recommendations, in particular a suggestion that members undertake carbon literacy training.

This would be run as part of the Carbon Literacy Project with training undertaken by Councillor Bawden, who said she was fully qualified. It would help give councillors an awareness of the carbon dioxide costs and impacts of everyday activities, and the ability and motivation to reduce emissions on

an individual, community and organisational basis.

The council’s operations manager Matt Adamson-Drage said that undertaking the training could only be seen as a good thing for the council, and described most of the other environmental recommendations as inexpensive “no-brainers”.

Commenting on the training, the mayor said: “If it helps up to understand other recommendations with more knowledge, that’s fine.”

Councillors agreed to the training and almost all other recommendations put forward, including: ● Setting interim carbon neutral targets of 10 per cent reduction per year leading up to 2030 ● Draw up and launch the first net zero plan to achieve the ambition of carbon neutral net zero ● Annual corporate environment and sustainability reporting to commence in 2021 ● Draw up relevant environmental legislation list and keep it updated ● Commence work to be accredited to at least BS8555 phase three and engage an environmental consultant/auditor ● Carry out an environmental aspect assessment and carbon footprint of the council’s activities and services ● Review the council’s Environmental Policy ● Include a header on every council agenda reminding members to consider the council’s commitment to become carbon neutral by 2030 when making decisions ● Work with Dorset Council to help undertake carbon footprinting for

Lyme Regis ● Identify and source environmental funding ● Review the climate action and environmental initiatives list from November 2019 ● Move to green energy tariffs ● Implement a green contractor preferred scheme ● Implement green ESG investments and banking Other proposals which were considered more expensive or complicated included introducing electronic ways of working and paperless agendas for all councillors, introducing an electrical bike rental scheme and an electric/hybrid car club scheme. It was agreed that these recommendations could be considered at a future date, possibly when the council was in a healthier financial position.

Speaking at the meeting, Councillor Bawden announced she had just received news of an exciting environmental project currently under discussion with the Woodland Trust and Lyme Garden Growers.

This would be a community-led project based on Woodland Trust land in central Lyme Regis, with full details to be announced soon.

Speaking after the meeting, Rikey Austin, who founded the Garden Growers group, said they were still waiting for a firm agreement from the Woodland Trust before making an announcement, but all interested parties from across the community would be consulted and involved.

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Supporters say farewell to Tourist Information Centre staff as it closes STAFF from Lyme Regis Tourist Information Centre were given a fond farewell on Friday, as the office closed its doors permanently.

Trudi Robson, Miranda Horsfield and Fiona Common were presented with bouquets and thanked for their dedication and service at a socially-distanced gathering outside the Marine Theatre.

Dorset Council and Lyme Regis Town Council have said they are in “active discussions” about a future tourism service in the town, but the current office at Guildhall Cottage in Bridge Street has now closed.

The closure comes after Lyme Regis Town Council, which owns the building, terminated the lease for the Dorset Council-run Tourist Information Centre, as it plans to take over the space to expand its offices.

Dorset Council then ran a public consultation on the future of the Tourist Information Centre, saying its preferred option would be to close the facility, which costs £87,000 a year to run, and no longer provide a face-toface service.

A total of 1,128 responses were received, mostly from individuals and some from local businesses and organisations. The responses showed “overwhelming” support for a continued face to face service. Many suggested the service should be run from the Jubilee Pavilion on Marine Parade instead.

The two councils have said they are now holding discussions again over the future of the service.

Since announcing the closure, LymeOnline has been inundated with comments from the public, describing it as “short sighted” and a “disastrous move for Lyme Regis”.

Pedestrian hit by car in King’s Way POLICE are investigating after a pedestrian was hit by a car in King’s Way, Lyme Regis, on Friday, August 28.

Police were called to the scene at 8.50am following reports of a collision involving a pedestrian and a blue Ford Fiesta.

The pedestrian – a man aged in his 40s – sustained serious injuries and was taken to hospital for treatment. His condition was not life-threatening.

The road was closed to allow for an examination of the scene to be carried out.

Police Sergeant Lee Savage, of the traffic unit, said: “An investigation is underway to establish the full circumstances surrounding this collision.

“I would like to hear from anyone who may have witnessed the collision and has not already spoken to police.

“I am also appealing for any motorists who were in the area and may have captured the incident on dashcam footage to please get in touch.”

Anyone with information is asked to contact Dorset Police at www.dorset.police.uk, via email SCIT@dorset.pnn.police.uk or by calling 101, quoting incident number 28:102.

Alternatively, or alternatively to stay 100 per cent anonymous, contact the independent charity Crimestoppers online at Crimestoppersuk.org or call freephone 0800 555 111.

TRUDI Robson, Miranda Horsfield and Fiona Common from Lyme Regis Tourist Information Centre, pictured with bouquets at their farewell party One wrote: “So wrong, so short sighted.

Thanks to all the staff who work there - you have always been brilliant - helpful, knowledgeable, friendly and cheerful - you deserved better.”

Another commented: “Just crazy! Why is something like the Tourist information Centre not affordable in such a busy tourist town?”

The Tourist Information Centre has actually been closed to the public since lockdown restrictions came into place in March with staff working from home, but it was hoped the facility would reopen.

Tourism enquiries can still be made by calling 01297 442138 or emailing LTIC@dorsetcouncil.gov.uk

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NEWS ONLINE: Catch up with A round-up of the top stories from our website

Masterchef presenter spotted filming in Lyme ‘MASTERCHEF’ presenter John Torode was recently spotted filming in the Lyme Regis area. The Australian celebrity chef is best known in the UK for presenting the BBC’s cooking reality show ‘Masterchef’ alongside Gregg Wallace. He was seen cooking on Cobb Gate shingle beach and filming at Lyme’s world-renowned Boat Building Academy to film, as well as visiting nearby Seaton Tramway for a segment on ITV’s ‘This Morning’.

Lost portrait of lifeboat hero presented to volunteer crew Cart Road to reopen to vehicles TEMPORARY pedestrian and traffic measures put in place across the Dorset Council area to help with social distancing will start to be removed as the summer season draws to an end. No set date has yet been given, but the closure of the Cart Road will come to an end as visitors numbers reduce, meaning those with a blue badge will once again be allowed to park on the seafront.

A 50-year-old pencil portrait of a much-decorated Lyme Regis lifeboat crew member has been presented to the town’s RNLI volunteers by the artist’s grandson.

Mark Shephard’s grandmother, Camille Moore, lived in Yawl, Uplyme, when she is believed to have drawn the portrait of John Hodder during an art class at The Woodroffe School in the 1970s.

Mr Shephard kept the portrait in the loft of his home in Godalming, Surrey, but when he saw the name John Hodder on the back, and the obvious signs that the

subject was a lifeboat crew member, he decided to contact the RNLI and return the picture.

Mr Hodder, 76, was unable to attend the presentation, but said: “I am very grateful to Mr Shephard for his donation of the portrait and would like it to remain at the lifeboat station as a reminder of my years of service with so many superb colleagues.”

Mr Hodder served with the RNLI in Lyme Regis for 20 years and was recognised for several acts of courage during rescues at sea.

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Town Mill seeking new volunteers THE Town Mill in Lyme Regis and its galleries are looking for more volunteers who are passionate about history, art or simply enjoy interaction with other people. The mill is looking for front of house roles which involve welcoming visitors and explaining a little about the mill history, as well as selling its award-winning flour which is milled on the premises. The historic attraction is also looking for tour guides and art gallery stewards but is currently unable to train new millers due to COVID-19 safety regulations.

Friday, September 4 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 Uplyme: an idyllic escape from summer crowds

Busy Bank Holiday for emergency services

Lyme Regis Library to reopen this month

IT was a busy start to the Bank Holiday for volunteers from Lyme Regis coastguards and lifeboat crew. Emergency services were first called to a search for a missing vulnerable person in the Burton Bradstock area, who was found after several hours, and the lifeboat was then called to a report of persons in the water and a dive boat in trouble - all were found to be safe and well.

DORSET Council’s remaining 11 libraries that have been closed since the beginning of the pandemic are set to open their doors from next week. This includes Lyme Regis Library, which will open on Monday, September 7. Customers will be able to browse the shelves and use the public computers, which will be available for a 45-minute session and should be pre-booked.

EVER since I was a little girl, my family have described me as a “beach bum”.

Growing up in Lyme Regis, I wanted to spend every spare minute on the beach. My older brother and sister never seemed so keen and I couldn’t understand why, but fortunately my friends shared my love of sand, sea and sunshine, and every school holiday would be spent on the seafront. Sandcastles, swimming, ice creams and the arcade - what else did we need?

Quite the opposite, a country girl is something I’ve never been described as, but this summer, with such big crowds descending on Lyme and no major events for me to cover on the seafront, I have found myself escaping for a little bit of peace and quiet in neighbouring Uplyme more and more frequently.

During lockdown I made the most of the local countryside, exploring woodlands, quiet lanes and footpaths around Uplyme that I had never trodden before. And even as restrictions were lifted, the pull of idyllic Uplyme has kept me away from the beach this summer.

The Talbot Arms in Uplyme has implemented some of the best COVID safety measures I have seen in the local area, while still offering a warm welcome to all.

With their expansive beer garden and sunny paddock, the village pub has quickly become a favourite summer haunt for my friends and I, with many a bottle of prosecco popped in what we have affectionately come to know as ‘The Pod’ - that’s the new, wooden snug in the garden.

We have also spent many summer afternoons at Uplyme & Lyme Regis Cricket Club, support-

ing the team through their sensational season, which has seen them undefeated in their league fixtures and heading to the semi-finals against Feniton tomorrow (Saturday) - see page 23.

And we’ve not been the only ones; the cricket club has attracted some record crowds this season, thanks in no small part to Tyler Wellman’s incredible performance hitting three consecutive centuries.

I even popped out to Venlake with Dad for the recent Bass Bottle clash between Uplyme and Lyme Regis (see page 24). Now, I may have spent my summer across the Devon border but, you know what they say - “once a Seasider, always a Seasider” - so of course I was cheering for Lyme during this feisty match.

Football will soon be returning to the Davey Fort in Lyme Regis, with the club having made the most of lockdown by widening its pitch, improving car parking facilities and generally giving the site a spruce up. We can’t wait to welcome back supporters!

So I guess I’ll be spending more time on my old stomping ground now that summer is coming to a close, and if major events and festivals return next year I’ll be back on the beach with my camera.

Nevertheless, I’ll always think of Uplyme with a little more fondness after our summer ‘out in the sticks’, and I’m sure I’ll still pop to the Talbot for a prosecco or two.

Francesca Evans, Editor

The

Woodmead Halls YOUR LOCAL COMMUNITY HALL

Scouts prepare for new socially-distanced term IT was smiles all round last week for the 1st Lym Valley Scouts, as they prepared to return for a socially-distanced term. A small number of the Scouts have been busy testing out new ways of carrying out activities and having fun at the same time in preparation for all members to return. They’ve also been practicing putting up outdoor shelters as they cannot meet inside under current coronavirus restrictions.

Museum to host new art exhibition Wedding Venue | Corporate Events Clubs & Organisations | Children’s Parties Fitness Classes | Concerts & Shows

The perfect venue for every occasion!

LYME Regis Museum will be reopening for the first time in six months on September 8, and one of its first events will be an art exhibition in the Rotunda Gallery. The museum will be re-starting its series of solo art exhibitions organised by Lyme Bay Arts, starting with Allan Punton’s exhibition ‘Chroma’. See page 7 for full details on museum opening.

For further details or to get in touch, vist woodmeadhalls.co.uk

6 Friday, September 4 2020

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

www.lyme-online.co.uk

philip@lyme-online.co.uk

Covid must not dictate our future T

HE summer of 2020 is one we will all want to forget. We thought it would be the summer when no one wanted to visit our town which in recent times has emerged as one of the most popular resorts along the south coast.

And for the first few weeks of lockdown due to the coronavirus pandemic, that was undoubtedly the case.

When lockdown was introduced in March, with shops, pubs, cafes, restaurants all having to close, we feared the worse.

We knew there would be casualties but they have been few and far between; to a large extent these were nullified by the generous financial support from the government.

Most of all, we have been thankful that we are living in the South West where there has been fewer cases and deaths than any other region of the country.

So you have every reason to thank whatever God you worship for that one undeniable fact we live in one of the safest places in England.

As someone in the high risk category with a lot of living left in me (hopefully), I give thanks every day. I admit there were times when I was scared witless.

During a 76-day lockdown I wrote a 1,000-

word daily blog on the battle against COVID-19 and how the town was coping - 176,000 words, a small book.

It was my intention to have kept the blog running until the contagion was no more and then publish a book on how a small Dorset town survived the pandemic.

The trouble was I was overdosing on bad news and it was starting to affect my ability to cope.

So I decided to get back to my proper job.

I didn’t realise until I stopped the blog how many were reading it and that some were relying on my musings rather than watching the disturbing television coverage.

There were, of course, some who disagreed with my views vigorously but many others have since stopped me, even some of those who usually cross the street when they see me coming, and said how much they appreciated it. I am grateful for that.

What has amazed me is how Lyme has bounced back since lockdown was eased and how many people have converged on the town during the few weeks of lovely weather.

True, it was a different crowd than might otherwise have been on holiday in more, shall we say, racy resorts.

Not all of them were very pleasant with a great deal of abuse being handed out to those working in our hospitality and retail outlets. The pubs and cafes went to extraordinary lengths to keep

their customers and staff safe but on certain days no one would have believed the contagion was still raging across the world.

This week things have quietened down and our traders will be hoping for an Indian summer so they can recoup some of their lost business earlier in the summer.

Whilst business has not been so profitable during the last couple of peak months, it has not been as bad as many expected.

The numbers of people descending on Lyme and the resulting traffic congestion, the worst I can remember, is undoubtedly going to lead to debate and argument over whether Lyme will

fully recover and, if so, how will that be approached. I think we must make sure that whatever decisions and courses of action are taken we don’t allow the COVID experience to dictate how the town moves forward in the future.

The volume of visitors, with all the negative matters this has in toll, has to be addressed at some time in the future.

We must remember we are only the custodians of Lyme’s greatest asset - the town’s sheer beauty - and not the creators. We owe it to those who have gone before us and those that will follow, that Lyme’s unique attraction has to be protected.

Is this Lyme’s utopia?

We will miss the TIC girls MUCH sadness in Lyme last week, especially among the holiday traders, when the Tourist Information Centre closed its doors for the very last time.

The writing has been on the wall for some time after Lyme Regis Town Council gave Dorset Council, which was running the TIC, notice to quit their premises in Guildhall Cottage because they need the downstairs area to conform to disability regulations with no access for wheelchair users in their

advantage digital print

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offices above.

There are very few such facilities run by councils these days with so much instant information being available online.

It was likely Dorset Council, expecting a £43million deficit this year, would have closed the TIC, said to cost £87,000 a year.

It is said that both councils are in discussion over the future of the service but whatever conclusion they arrive at, the TIC as we know and love will not return.

The service has been brilliantly run by Trudi Robson, Miranda Horsfield and Fiona Common and it’s a shame their services have not been retained in some format.

At LymeOnline we would like to thank them for their kindness shown to us in promoting our paper. In the two years we have been going, they have distributed thousands of our papers and magazines.

Other organisations in the town will miss them as well, especially the Marine Theatre for operating a booking services, and the accommodation operators for helping to fill their rooms.

I WAS astonished to open my Twitter account this morning and see that Dorset councillors are considering increasing their expenses. If it happens, it will add £101,000 per annum to the council’s costs at a time when they are predicting a deficit of £43million and sacking staff (aka the TIC at Lyme to save operational costs of £87,000).

In the real world virtually everyone in the private sector has had to take a salary cut.

I don’t underestimate the amount of time councillors spend running Tory-controlled Dorset, but if they think the council taxpayers of Dorset are going to accept this they are more out of touch with these difficult times than I thought possible.

THIS is how Cobb Gate will look if a radical rethinking of Lyme’s traffic issues comes to fruition.

Vehicle free streets, wider pavements, grassy banks. What the Royal College of Art describe as “Lyme Regis Utopia”.

We publish another “utopia” vision on page 12, showing the other side of the square.

We were also sent another photo described at “Lyme Regis Dystopia” (definition - “an imagined state or society in which there is great suffering”).

We are not publishing that after the summer we’ve had. We have suffered enough.

This is all part of a project led by the Royal College of Art to reimagine public spaces and transport systems in the light of the coronavirus pandemic.

Lyme is one of three rural communities in

the UK for a research project which is being championed by town councillor and environmentalist Belinda Bawden (see page 12).

The Royal College of Art is asking for residents to send in their views. To date, 38 people have taken advantage of this invitation.

This will certainly be considered as “utopia” by many, locals and visitors alike. How nice it would be to be abe to wander around the streets of Lyme without choking on vehicle fumes and taking our lives in our hands.

I am not so sure some of the traders would think it a utopian solution, however, and I predict some interesting debate in the offing.

But one question has to be asked in these days of cut backs and high unemployment, how much will all this cost and who will be paying for it?

Come on Lyme. Give us your views.

Friday, September 4 2020 7

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Pedal power raised £1,053 at the Co-op!

STAFF and supporters at Co-op in Lyme Regis have pedalled their way from Land’s End to John O’Groats without even leaving the store and they raised more than £1,000 for charity along the way.

The staff at Co-op challenged themselves to a charity cycle for their chosen national charity MIND, which supports those with mental health problems, having completed a marathon-length walk up and down Lyme Regis seafront last year.

This year they wanted to push themselves even further, and store manager Karl Josko chose the Land’s End to John O’ Groats route, a distance of 970km as the crow flies.

Over 7 days they pedalled on cycling machines in store, and were even joined by some members of the community some members of our community, with special mention going to three local youngsters who took part - Joshua and Jacob Denning, who raised £300, and Millie Hutchings, who raised more than £100.

The total raised came to £1,053 for MIND. Pictured right is Co-op team manager Nicky Hutchings with Joshua and Jacob Denning and Millie Hutchings.

A MAN was arrested in Lyme Regis on Saturday evening after assaulting and threatening a woman walking on the coast path.

Police received a report at about 3pm on Saturday, August 29 that a woman who was walking alone on the South West Coast Path, just outside Lyme Regis, was approached by an unknown man who assaulted her and threatened to cause her serious harm.

It was reported that members of the public disturbed the man and he made off toward the Charmouth Road area in Lyme Regis.

The woman did not sustain any serious injuries.

Shortly after 8pm officers arrested a 29-yearold man in the town and he has now been charged.

Anyone who was in the area at the time and has any information that could assist the investigation into this incident is asked to contact Dorset Police at www.dorset.police.uk, via email 101@dorset.pnn.police.uk or by calling 101, quoting incident number 29:263.

Last chance to have your say on Charmouth Neighbourhood Plan THERE is just a week left for Charmouth residents to have their say on the draft Neighbourhood Plan.

Public consultation on the draft plan will end on Friday, September 11 at 5pm.

For people who live, work or run businesses in Charmouth parish, this is your opportunity to comment on the plan, which includes 22 draft policies covering: Heritage and History, Assets and Amenities, Natural Environment, Local Economy, Housing, Getting Around and Energy Efficiency, and Coastal Change.

The neighbourhood planning regulations require the draft neighbourhood plan proposal to be the subject of a pre-submission consultation

Man charged after assaulting and threatening walker

before it is submitted to Dorset Council for independent examination.

A copy of the draft Neighbourhood Plan is available to be viewed online at www.charmouthparishcouncil.gov.uk/charmouth-nhp with an online response form or, alternatively, a copy of the draft plan can be arranged to be delivered to those Charmouth residents without internet access.

Residents who would like to borrow a copy are requested to telephone 01297 561024 and arrangements will be made for a loan paper copy (with comments form) to be delivered and collected to your home address. All paper copies of the plan will be quarantined beforehand so will be

Lights, camera, action...

safe to handle.

All responses received by the above date will be considered by Charmouth Neighbourhood Plan Steering Group and may be utilised to amend the draft plan. Following this, a consultation statement including a summary of all comments received and how these were considered will be made available for viewing, along with the amended Neighbourhood Plan.

The Steering Group have also been holding phone-in sessions for residents to ask questions on the plan. Two remaining phone-in sessions will be held between 10am and 12noon on Saturday, September 5 and from 7pm to 9pm on Thursday, September 10 by calling 01297 561024.

PAU L S

Museum to reopen LYME Regis Museum will reopen for the first time in six months on Tuesday, September 8.

After the first week, the museum will be open four days a week Wednesday to Saturday and visitor numbers will be limited to no more than 16 at a time due to restricted space.

To comply with COVID-19 regulations, screens have been installed at the reception desk, floor stickers will direct visitors around a one-way system and there will be plentiful hand sanitiser around the museum.

All visitors will need to wear masks and contact details will be taken for the NHS Track and Trace system.

The museum has already restarted its regular fossil walks for socially distanced families/bubbles of up to six. They are also able to take groups of 30 children onto the beach.

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Council considers whether to go ahead with annual grants

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LYME Regis Town Council is considering whether or not to offer community grants to local organisations this year, due to increased financial pressures caused by the coronavirus pandemic.

Almost 30 local organisations have already applied to the council for grants up to £1,000 each, but members considered last week whether or not they should go ahead with the grants.

The council had already reduced its budget for local grants from about £130,000 to £80,000 this year. This was split into £60,000 for term grants, given to organisations over a five-year period, and £20,000 for smaller community grants, applied for on an annual basis.

The term grants were allocated in February, when councillors struggled to reach a decision on how to allocate the £60,000, as 18 organisations applied for a total of more than £167,000.

After a lengthy debate, just seven organisations were awarded grants – the Marine Theatre, LymeForward, The Hub, B Sharp, Bridport & District Citizens Advice Bureau, Axe Valley and West Dorset Ring & Ride and Lyme Regis Museum.

The community grants, for which local groups can apply for up to £1,000 each, were due to be allocated in April but the meeting was cancelled due to the coronavirus pandemic.

The 29 organisations which had already applied were told the council would be in touch when face-to-face meetings resumed, at which point they could either continue with the same application, submit a new application or withdraw.

As face-to-face meetings have still not resumed, and taking into account the council’s strained financial position following lockdown, members were also given the option of scrapping this year’s community grants during a virtual meeting last week.

However, members have not yet viewed the ap-

FRANCESCA EVANS

francesca@lyme-online.co.uk plications and Councillor Michaela Ellis suggested they should at least look at them first before making a decision, adding: “Some of these organisations are in dire need of funding because of COVID.” Deputy town clerk suggested that the council should first contact all organisations which had applied and ask if they still wanted their application to be considered. The Mayor, Councillor Brian Larcombe MBE, pointed out that in previous years a lot of applications had been for specific events, most of which had been cancelled this year.

It was agreed to contact all those who had applied and then to consider any remaining applications, although the council has not committed that it will definitely hand out funds.

Due to a loss of revenue during lockdown, and an expensive essential maintenance project on the flat roof above SWIM, the Antiques & Craft Centre and Amusement Arcade on Marine Parade, the town council has seen its reserves drop significantly this year.

Once considered a “rich council” with reserves of about £1.3million, in April these had dropped to £969,794, largely due to the Marine Parade project, and as lockdown took hold the figure was expected to drop by more than £900,000 to just £67,000 by the end of the financial year.

However, in a more recent report, town clerk John Wright said the figure at the end of the financial year was now expected to be just under £200,000.

He said the council’s financial outlook had improved as facilities and car parks reopened, but the council would still have to make some “difficult decisions” to get reserves back to a healthy level.

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Friday, September 4 2020 9

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Lifeguards rescue unresponsive boy from water LIFEGUARDS in Lyme Regis rescued a boy who was having seizure in the water whilst bodyboarding on Sunday, August 23.

The RNLI lifeguards found the boy floating face down in the water, but he was still breathing.

Whilst on routine water patrols at Lyme Regis beach, a member of the public alerted the lifeguards to his grandson who was in significant difficulty in the water.

Lifeguard Simon Davis recognised the severity of the situation and ran into the water immediately, managing the casualty’s airway and requesting prompt assistance from the beach lifeguard unit.

The casualty was initially unresponsive, but breathing. However, due to him being face down in the water it was possible he could have swallowed a lot of water. Simon, along with members of the public, recovered the casualty from the water.

RNLI senior lifeguard, Ben Greenslade, ran down to the shoreline with the crash bag and Simon immediately administered oxygen and put the casualty in the recovery position to help maintain his airway.

At the same time Lyme Regis lifeboat crew volunteer Mark Houghton phoned for an ambulance and took the spinal board to the beach.

Ben was communicating with Solent coastguard as well as managing the busy beach, taking down the red and yellow flags. He made a public announcement that they were temporarily closing the beach and encouraged everybody to vacate the water.

Whilst Simon was treating the casualty, Mark also assisted the lifeguards and helped clear the beach for the air ambulance to land.

Both the air and land ambulance arrived at the scene and, with assistance from the town

council’s beach attendant and deputy harbourmaster, kept the beach clear. The casualty was then transported on the spinal board to the land ambulance.

Lyme Regis coastguard also responded after the air ambulance had left the scene and were able to clear a route for the land ambulance to make their way to hospital. At this point, the boy was stable and transferred to the care of the critical care air ambulance doctor.

Lifeguard supervisor Dominik Fajkiel said: “Rescues of this nature highlight the importance of swimming at a lifeguarded beach and keeping an eye on your family. If it wasn’t for the lifeguard’s quick reaction on Sunday, the outcome could have been totally different.

“It doesn’t take a lot of water to get into your lungs before it becomes critical. Luckily we had help from the nearby Lyme Regis lifeboat chairman Mark, who is kindly helping our lifeguards at weekends, along with members of the public.

“All of the tasks involved during this rescue are vital – including providing casualty care, moving the casualty, requesting other emergency services, and clearing the beach for the air ambulance to land safely.

“Alongside making sure the rest of the beach is not neglected, this is not an easy task on a busy summer’s day. We are extremely proud of all involved, including the people who volunteered their time to help.”

PICTURED top right, Lyme Regis RNLI lifeguards Ben and Simon alongside volunteer Lyme Regis lifeboat chairman, Mark Houghton, who helped with the incident (photo by Dominik Fajkiel). Below right, the air ambulance lands on the beach to assist the casualty (photo by Rob James)

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10 Friday, September 4 2020

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Excitement builds as ‘Ammonite’ trailer released

AWARD-winning actress Saoirse Ronan plays Charlotte Murchison

AREAS of Lyme Regis, including Coombe Street, were transformed into an 1840s set for the film Photos by Richard Austin

EXCITEMENT is mounting for Mary Anning biopic ‘Ammonite’, following the release of the official movie trailer last week.

The trailer for ‘Ammonite’, based on the life of Lyme Regis fossil hunter Mary Anning, was posted on YouTube, showing Oscar-winning actress Kate Winslet as the working class palaeontologist and Saoirse Ronan as Charlotte Murchison, a privileged young woman sent to convalesce by the sea.

Directed by Francis Lee, best known for his acclaimed debut ‘God’s Own Country’, the movie will explore the themes of class and same sex relationships with the two women developing an intense bond.

Recently speaking of his interest in Mary Anning to film magazine Empire, Lee said: “The image of her struck me very strongly. Totally working-class woman, born on the bones of her arse, yet somehow she managed to rise to be the leading palaeontologist of the century.

“I’m very fascinated by deep, intimate, human relationships. One of the things I really look for in stories is to be able to explore a romantic relationship between two people of the same gender where the main issues aren’t around the difficulties of sexuality.”

Areas of Lyme Regis were transformed into an 1840s set for the filming of ‘Ammonite’ last March and residents will recognise many backdrops in the official trailer, including the historic Cobb harbour, beaches and the fossil shop at Bell Cliff, which has been renamed Anning’s Fossils since filming took place.

Kate Winslet can be heard talking in a thick West Country accent, which she was reportedly given lessons on at Lyme Regis Museum.

‘Ammonite’ was initially expected to be released earlier this year but was delayed due to the coronavirus pandemic.

It was selected for screenings at the prestigious Cannes, Telluride and Toronto film festivals this year and will now be released on November 13.

It is expected to create a tourism boom for Lyme Regis, similar to that caused by the release of ‘The French Lieutenant’s Woman’ in the 1980s.

You can watch the full ‘Ammonite’ trailer on the LymeOnline website lyme-online.co.uk or via YouTube.

Council to take ‘comprehensive look’ at residents’ parking scheme

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ABOVE, Kate Winslet as Mary Anning films scenes on the Bell Cliff steps with Saoirse Ronan (photo by Richard Austin). Left, the star meets local schoolchildren while on set (photo by Janet Wraith)

LYME Regis councillors have agreed they need to take a comprehensive look at residents’ parking in the town.

The issue was raised when residents of Avenue Road put in a request to the town council to introduce a residents’ parking scheme, similar to that already in place in nearby Anning Road and South Avenue, due to the increased difficulty in finding spaces outside their homes.

Dorset Council is the highway authority and would make the final decision on any such matter, but would not do so without the support of the town council.

Councillors said they sympathised with the residents of Avenue Road, but were concerned that introducing residents’ parking schemes to street after street would have a “knock-on effect” in other parts of the town.

Councillor Cheryl Reynolds, a resident of Manor Avenue, said that if a residents’ parking scheme was allowed in Avenue Road she would be requesting the same herself for Manor Avenue, North Avenue and Bay View Road, where it was also difficult to park.

“It will just snowball,” she added.

FRANCESCA EVANS

francesca@lyme-online.co.uk

She said she believed part of the parking problem was that many houses on the residential estate were being used as holiday rentals and Airbnbs, which she did not think was allowed in ex-council houses.

Councillor Stan Williams said the entire residents’ parking scheme had been flawed since it was digitalised, adding that many Anning Road residents had told him it was no longer effective.

“It’s very complicated and it will be difficult to keep everyone happy,” he added.

Members agreed that a comprehensive review of the whole residents’ parking issue was needed, rather than looking at one specific road. The council will now be requesting an urgent meeting with Dorset Council’s communities highways officer to discuss the issue further.

SHOULD MORE ROADS BE RESIDENT-ONLY PARKING? Email edit@lyme-online.co.uk

Council to continue funding ‘essential’ town bus LYME Regis Town Council has upped its funding for the town bus service by £1,500, describing it as “essential” for many residents.

The 71 town bus service has been operated

by Go South Coast, also known as Damory, for the past three years at a fixed cost of £12,000, with the town council meeting the whole of this cost.

Last week, councillors were informed that the cost of providing the service for the next 12 months would increase to £13,500.

However, members were adamant that they should still fund it, describing it as an “essential service” and a “lifeline” for many residents, particularly the elderly and those who live on the outskirts of the town.

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Parish church to host first Sunday service ST Michael’s Parish Church in Lyme Regis will be hosting its first Sunday service since lockdown restrictions were eased this weekend.

The Eucharist service will be held this Sunday (September 6) at 11am and all are welcome to join.

Heidi Meritt of St Michael’s Parochial Church Council said: “A lot of planning has gone into this service to ensure the safety and comfort of all those attending and if all goes to plan there will be a second service towards the end of the month, details of which will be confirmed later.”

To ensure preparations for the Sunday service can be carried out safely, the church will not be open today (Friday) for private prayer. Instead, it will reopen next Wednesday (September 9) for this purpose.

Additional post office service in Charmouth AN additional Post Office service will be operating every Friday at Charmouth Village Hall in Wesley Close.

Since the village lost its dedicated post office last year, a weekly outreach service has been operating at the library on Thursdays.

The new service at the village hall will be held in addition to this, open every Friday from 10.15am to 1.30pm, starting on Friday, September 11 and running until Christmas.

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Royal College of Art outlines vision for ‘Lyme Regis Utopia’ AFTER announcing Lyme Regis was one of three rural communities chosen for a prestigious research project, the Royal College of Art has created a visualisation of what might be possible in the town, described as a ‘Lyme Regis Utopia’.

This major new research project, led by the Royal College of Art (RCA), aims to reimagine public spaces and transport systems in light of the coronavirus pandemic.

The COVID-19 pandemic has highlighted the current fragility of our interconnected world; from the importance of our local communities to the impacts on global trade, jobs and our natural environment.

In response to this and wider challenges about the future, designers from the (RCA) – supported by the professional bodies and private organisations – have come together to seek a better way forward.

Together with partners from councils, civil society and charities, the RCA has connected with three rural communities around England so that they can understand their beliefs, feelings and knowledge about their towns.

The three communities are Biggleswade in Bedfordshire, Haltwhistle and surrounding parishes in Northumberland, and Lyme Regis.

The college will be using residents’ experience and knowledge to develop a set of tools that will help them to reimagine how they can build their community together, improve the ways they get around their town as

well as beyond and how they might share their ideas about the future in more collaborative and supportive ways.

In Lyme Regis it is hoped the project could help find solutions for one of the town’s biggest issues - traffic congestion and lack of parking.

The RCA has now released its findings so far, based on contributions from 38 people. The findings outline benefits and disadvantages of living in Lyme Regis as outlined by those who have contributed to the research project so far, as well as their hopes and concerns for the future.

Based on these findings, the RCA has created a visualisation of a ‘Lyme Regis Utopia’, which shows an image of the Cobb Gate area adapted with open green spaces, wider pavements and limited traffic to create a “bustling public realm”.

In contrast, the RCA has also created a ‘Lyme Regis Dystopia’ based on people’s concerns, showing the same area of Cobb Gate with packed crowds, busy roads and no green space.

Outlining their hopes and ambitions for the community, those taking part in the project listed green, clean and inclusive spaces; more social activities including leisure and sport; better transport connections and reduced traffic in the town centre; affordable housing for young generations; not to become overly reliant on tourism; a solution to litter problems; and a greater variety of jobs.

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COULD THIS BE THE FUTURE? A ‘Lyme Regis Utopia’ showing the Cobb Gate area as imagined by the Royal College of Art research project The main issues raised were regard- how technology was affecting their ing traffic, congestion and parking, lives. with Broad Street and Church Street The Royal College of Art is still keen the main areas of concern, as well as to hear from more residents, espeenvironmental issues and isolation. cially younger residents or those who Out of those taking part so far, 82 don’t normally get involved in comper cent said they were worried about munity activities or planning the fuenvironmental issues, 79 per cent about the state of the economy, 74 ture of the town.

To find out more about the project per cent about social issues such as isolation, 39 per cent about political or to share your thoughts, email differences and 32 per cent about oliver.winter@network.rca.ac.uk

LymeOnline Letters

Send your letters to francesca@lyme-online.co.uk

GET INVOLVED WITH YOUR COMMUNIT Y PAPER

‘Our lovely little town is sinking’

■ I REFER to your front page headline ‘We need more police’ (LymeOnline, August 21).

Surely this is a joke gone very sour? ‘More police’? Lyme now has none!

Some time ago we (the residents of Lyme Regis) were told that our council rates were going to be increased to help pay towards more policing. We are already amongst the highest rate payers in the country.

Did we get more policing? No! In fact we now have none - our police station is now closed.

So as a result you never see a single policeman in Lyme. Our tourist slogan should be ‘Come to Lyme to do your crime’. Any one

committing a crime or anti-social act knows that there will be a very long delay before any police arrive from Bridport or any where else where there is a 'bobby' with nothing to do.

Lyme has already opened its doors and welcomed all those to come here and spread their coronavirus. This lovely little town of ours seems to be sinking more and more and one day will no longer be a ‘lovely little town’ when it's gone, it’s gone.

Those in charge and who make the decisions seem to be non caring about what Lyme is turning into - how sad.

Raymond (a resident of this lovely town)

■ AFTER visiting my parents’ grave this week at Lyme Regis cemetery, I was disappointed to find that due to an adjacent plot being prepared for an internment, the gravedigger had driven a mini-excavator over the top of my parents’ grave, left track marks and gouged out chunks of grass.

This is the second time that this has happened. After the first occasion, we tidied the gravesite and put down grass seed. The Lyme Regis Town Council staff cut the grass and all looked neat and tidy. Now once again it resembles a piece of scrubland.

On the first occasion I contacted the local

undertaker highlighting this problem but he didn’t have the decency to reply.

Unfortunately, the adjacent plot belongs to a large, local family. It seems to me that they get more consideration being a money spinner for the funeral company; that said, it does not give anyone the right to run roughshod over an existing grave.

A bit more thought, consideration and respect from the gravedigger about someones final resting place wouldn’t go amiss.

More respect needed at cemetery

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The views expressed in letters are those of the author and not necessarily of this newspaper

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Friday, September 4 2020 13

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Much-anticipated Robin Wylde restaurant to open this month HARRIET Mansell, the chef creator of acclaimed Lyme Regis pop-up Robin Wylde, will be opening her own permanent restaurant in Lyme Regis this month.

Originally from Sidmouth, Harriet competed in the BBC’s ‘Great British Menu’ earlier this year, and is now making the final touches to her permanent Robin Wylde restaurant in Silver Street, just a few doors from its original home.

With a philosophy embedded in celebrating the diversity and abundance of West Country produce, Harriet will bring Robin Wylde to life once more – but this time the restaurant is here to stay, set to open in former pottery workshop Whoopsadaisy later this month.

As inferred by its namesake Robin Wylde - a pseudonym which evokes connotations of luscious and wild countryside combined with a sense of adventure and old English charm - Harriet’s culinary style takes inspiration from the natural world.

Experimentation with raw ingredients, to include pickling, preserving and fermentation, also play a prominent role in Harriet’s recipes.

Harriet opened the original Robin Wylde popup in April 2019, which was a sell-out for its entire six-month residency at The Pop-Up Kitchen in Broad Street.

As word of the Robin Wylde experience spread through Dorset and beyond, only six weeks after opening Harriet was asked to take part in the 2020 series of the BBC’s ‘Great British Menu’, where she competed in the South West heat.

In a similar style to its first incarnation, the

restaurant – which will seat up to 32 covers - will provide a nine-course tasting experience, alongside optional pairings of low intervention and West Country wines.

Highlights from previous menus include dishes such as celeriac with hazelnut, cured egg yolk and Dorset truffle; baked River Teign oyster with wild garlic and apple; and gooseberry mousse with butterscotch.

Drawing on the West Country’s enviable array of natural ingredients and producers, the menu – which will change approximately every six weeks – in particular will shine a light on the region’s world-class seafood, incredible locallygrown produce that benefits from the southerly climate, sea herbs and seaweeds and more.

Alongside its wines, Robin Wylde will offer diners a broad selection of other drinks to include ales, ciders, spirits and meads.

Harriet’s career in the food world began at a young age, propelled by her first job at a fruit and vegetable store.

Working various part-time restaurant jobs through her teen years, after graduating from Cardiff University in politics and history, she completed her Cordon Bleu culinary training.

Harriet’s first job in a professional kitchen saw her working for fellow West Country chef Mark Hix, at his London-based Champagne and Oyster Bar in Selfridges.

In 2014, Harriet began a three-month stage Noma in Copenhagen – an experience which opened her eyes to a whole new world of flavour and ingredients.

Following this she completed a couple of stints in high-profile London kitchens as well as a brewery, whilst also working towards her qualifications as a sommelier.

The next five years saw Harriet work on some of the world’s most prestigious superyachts, where she cooked on board vessels in the Mediterranean, the Caribbean and the Seychelles for clients such as the Qatari Royal Family and the Murdochs.

In early 2019 she returned to the UK to begin Robin Wylde in its first inception at The Pop-Up Kitchen, and last October Harriet began drawing up plans to make it a permanent venture, which is now becoming a reality.

Bookings lines will open around the first week of September and tables can be reserved up to three months in advance at Robin Wylde, 63a Broad Street, Lyme Regis.

Lunch will be served Thursday to Saturday with one sitting at 12.30pm (aperitifs served from 12noon), and dinner will be Wednesday to Saturday with one sitting at 7.30pm (aperitifs served from 6.45pm) The full Robin Wylde tasting experience is priced at £60pp + £45pp for the optional wine pairing. Dietary requirements are catered for.

For more information, visit the website www.robinwylde.com

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Local Rotary Club plays part in Africa being declared polio-free THE Regis Rotary Club of Lyme Regis has played a role in a significant global public health achievement, as the World Health Organization (WHO) has officially declared its Africa region as wild polio-free.

Polio is a debilitating disease mainly affecting children, which can cause paralysis and even death.

This incredible milestone is the result of decades of effort from Rotary Clubs and volunteers around the world, who have fundraised, campaigned and worked tirelessly since Rotary pledged to rid the world of polio more than 30 years ago.

The Rotary Club of Lyme Regis has played its part by organising a number of events over some years to raise awareness and funds for the Rotary International Polio Plus appeal.

A major contribution to this effort has been made by local Rotarian Mark Tredwin, who has raced his ‘Purple for Polio’ car around the country as well as appearing at many both national and local events, leading to him being awarded the Rotary Club’s prestigious Paul Harris Fellowship.

The Lyme Regis club has also planted with the support of the Town Council our ‘ Purple Crocus garden’ in Langmoor gardens.

The certification comes four years after Nigeria, the last polioendemic country in Africa, recorded its final case of wild polio and now means out of the WHO’s six regions, five of those – accounting for 90% of the world’s population – are free from polio.

Globally, more than 2.5 billion children have been protected against the disease, which has re-

duced the number of cases by 99.9% from around 1,000 cases per day in 125 countries.

Lyme Regis Rotarian Peter Fortnam said: “This is a terrific landmark in the world’s battle to eradicate polio. Although it has been many years since polio has been present in the UK and Ireland, we are proud to have contributed to the global efforts to eliminate the disease for good.

“We remain committed to making the final, challenging steps towards making a polio free world a reality.

“If we don’t finish the job, it is estimated that, within 10 years, as many as 200,000 children annually all over the world could succumb to polio, including here in the UK. The virus can literally be a plane ride away so vaccination is so important.”

Despite this significant milestone being reached, the job to fully rid the world of polio goes on, as the virus continues to circulate in parts of Pakistan and Afghanistan.

In order to sustain this progress, vaccination programmes must continue to protect every last child and strengthen routine immunisation to keep immunity levels high, so the virus does not return to Africa or other parts of the world, including the UK. Rotary has directly contributed more than US$2 billion to ending polio since 1985. Every pound we now raise is matched 2:1 by the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation.

To get involved in Rotary and make a difference in your community and around the world, visit www.lymeregisrotary.org

Pupils past and present mourn much-loved teaching assistant GENERATIONS of pupils of St Michael’s Primary School in Lyme Regis have been saddened by the death of their “unofficial mum”.

Maralyn Rattenbury worked at the school as a teaching assistant and dinner lady for 31 years during which time she was much loved for the many kindnesses she showed to the children.

A private funeral service for Maralyn, 67, who died on August 11 after a brave fight against a debilitating disease, was held at St Michael’s Parish Church followed by a gathering of mourners at the Woodmead Halls.

In his eulogy at the funeral service, St Michael’s head teacher Nick Kiddle described Maralyn, as “a very special employee”.

He said she was full of kindness, caring and compassionate – “a person calm and reassuring in a crisis whose capacity to listen and understand always made you feel better”.

Mr Kiddle added: “She was the kindest person I ever met.”

Maralyn leaves a husband Phillip, three children, Glyn, Kathy and Hayley, and eight grandchildren.

In her younger days Maralyn was an enthusiastic member of the Lyme Regis Regatta Committee and she was also a big supporter of Lyme Regis Town Band.

KARA Marshall, care supervisor, with care home manager Sheena Lee and staff of Pinhay House, who are taking part in Alzheimer’s Society Memory Walk

Care home staff walk 500 miles to beat dementia CORONAVIRUS may have put a stop to large fundraising events taking place, but it hasn’t deterred many determined supporters from marching out to raise money in the battle against dementia.

The Alzheimer’s Society’s flagship Memory Walk events had to be cancelled this year, but the UK’s leading dementia charity has been calling on the public to take part in their own smaller walks to help raise money that’s needed more than ever.

In response, staff at Pinhay House Care Home near Lyme Regis have laced up their trainers and put their best feet forward, walking more than a staggering 500 miles between them to help the 850,000 people living with dementia in the UK. Kara Marshall, care supervisor at the home, said: “Many of our 23 residents are living with some form of dementia, so it’s a cause close to our hearts.

“When our manager Sheena Lee heard that Alzheimer’s Society were looking for people to plan their own Memory Walks this year, she thought it would be a great way to raise money – and the spirits of staff.

“So from August 1 to the end of the month, about 15 members of staff have been tracking their steps at work and home and – so far – we’ve clocked up over 500 miles between us.”

The call-out for walkers comes at a critical time for those people living with dementia, their family and carers.

Marion Child, head of region for Alzheimer’s Society said: “The coronavirus pandemic has hit people with dementia the hardest with a quarter of those who’ve died having dementia.

“People have told us that lack of social contact is taking a toll on their health and that their dementia symptoms have worsened during lockdown. Carers are feeling isolated too and are struggling to get respite.

“The needs of people affected by dementia has never been higher. Alzheimer’s Society support services have been used over half a million times since the pandemic began but we’re facing a shortfall of up to £45 million in income, as a result of coronavirus.

“That’s why we’ve been asking people to unite with us by taking part in their own Memory Walk to raise vital funds and we’re thrilled that Pinhay House Care Home staff

have risen to the challenge in such a big way.”

Care supervisor Kara added: “We’ve been in lockdown since March with only ‘window visits’ by family members allowed, so it’s been a strange and stressful time for everyone.

“Luckily, we’ve been completely coronavirus free, but it’s heartbreaking when residents just can’t understand why their family can come to the window, but can’t enter the home to be with them.

“The Memory Walk has given staff and residents alike a different focus and some fun, and we’ve become quite competitive – especially as one of our resident’s daughters has offered a prize of a stay in her villa in Spain to the member of staff who walks the furthest.

“The residents have been cheering us all on and have enjoyed some of the banter that’s been going on among staff.”

The charity says there’s still time for people to organise their own Santander-sponsored Memory Walk. Many people have arranged walks on 20 September, the day before World Alzheimer’s Day, but events can take place any time between now and October.

Marion added: “We need as many people as possible to take part. Money raised will help Alzheimer’s Society reach more people affected by dementia through services such as Alzheimer’s Society’s Dementia Connect support line, so they don’t have to face these challenging times alone.

“It’s free to sign up online, and you’ll find plenty of support on offer there to organise your own walk.

“You can choose a time and a place to walk– from lapping your garden or your local park to revisiting somewhere special that holds special memories for you and your loved ones. You can walk alone, with a four-legged friend, members of your household or another household – in line with latest government guidelines.

“Sign up now at memorywalk.org.uk and with every step, you’ll help change the lives of people affected by dementia.”

To sponsor the staff at Pinhay House Care Home visit www.justgiving.com/fundraising/pinhay-house-carehome

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

www.lyme-online.co.uk

thegreenpage

Friday, September 4 2020 15

Five reasons to grow your own!

WHAT better way can there be to stay healthy than eating a variety of the freshest fruit and vegetables?

Whether you have a large garden, a small terrace, a windowsill or just a flowerpot or reused plastic container it is possible to grow your own food.

Imagine how satisfying it would be to pick your own lettuce, pluck a fresh juicy tomato from a plant on the windowsill or get the spade out and dig up some nice fresh spuds for dinner.

Here are five great reasons to grow your own fruit and veg, whatever space you have available: 1) The fresher the better when it comes to eating fruit and vegetables as the vitamin content is highest when they are fresh and you can’t get fresher than picking your own veg and putting it straight on the plate.

Growing your own brings a variety of other health benefits too: digging and weeding is great exercise, any time spent outdoors is great for your physical and mental health and wellbeing, growing and nurturing plants from seed is extremely satisfying and rewarding.

2) You can reduce your food miles to footsteps! Less carbon footprint as no journey to the shop needed and no energy consumed from the producer to your plate.

3) Plastic free – no packaging required, apart from a few re-used containers to grow things in or keep things fresh in the kitchen, fridge or freezer: re-use all sorts of packaging for growing seedlings, such as yogurt pots, old vegetable trays, tetra paks, the list goes on!

4) No chemicals – the healthiest way for you and for the planet is to

grow your own organically. If you have grown it all you know exactly what you are eating and where it has come from.

5) It saves money – seeds can be bought or shared, each packet goes a long, long way, making it cheap and easy to eat healthily.

Swap with friends or neighbours doing the same, so seeds, plants and produce means a supply of free food!

With so many of us spending more time at home, it really is a great time to get started this year and there are lots of local community groups like Lyme Garden Growers, swapping seeds, plants, veg, fruit and lots of great tips and advice for anyone new to planting.

Get in touch with us to find out more about what’s going on in your local area turnlymegreen.co.uk Alison Johnson Turn Lyme Green

How to reduce our carbon footprint

LYME Regis Town Council reaffirmed its commitment last week to the climate and environmental action needed to work towards its target of net zero carbon emissions by 2030.

As part of the wider environmental action, the One Planet Working Group had organised a family workshop to explore home energy options in March, which had to be cancelled due the coronavirus pandemic.

Various organisations, including Magna Housing, the Dorset Green Living Project, Healthy Homes Dorset and local suppliers and environmental groups were due to attend and explain what they could do to help us lower our carbon footprints at home.

Social distancing and the continuing need to protect ourselves from COVID-19 means the workshop is unlikely to take place in the foreseeable future. Instead, here is a round up and an update of ideas to consider as the summer draws to a close and we start to plan for colder days ahead.

Green Power for Your Home Renewable electricity is the cleanest form of energy and is now cheaper to produce than fossil fuels. Increasingly, domestic users can save money by switching to renewable sources of gas and electricity.

There are a range of renewable energy suppliers – some are better than others.

Consumer watchdog 'Which?' compares which suppliers are most committed to renewable energy.

It is worth doing your homework first to work out what’s important to you. Some price comparison sites earn commissions from customers switching supplier and don’t always show all of them.

Here are a few comparison site links: ● www.consciouscreatives.co.uk/environment/top-5-renewable-energy-companies/ ● theswitch.co.uk/energy/providers ● www.moneysavingexpert.com/utilities/cheap-green-energy/ ● usave.co.uk/energy/green-energy-suppliers/ Many companies offer switching deals or

donate to a charity so it is worth shopping around before switching supplier.

For example, EcoTricity offers £60 to Lyme Regis-based reforestation charity, The Word Forest, or donates up to £60 to the South West Green Party.

As part of the Lyme Regis Home Energy workshop, 100 per cent renewable supplier Good Energy offers a generous incentive of £100 for households in the area to switch both gas and electricity to them.

Good Energy’s ethical values sit at their very purpose to help tackle climate change. Their CEO has made an interesting video which helps to describe how they are working towards a future zero carbon energy system for us all.

Good Energy was awarded ‘Which?’ magazine’s highest rating for ‘greenness’ in their independent report, ‘How green is your tariff’.

How to claim your credit: Your clean power referral code is: ‘Good Home’.

Call 0800 254 0034 (opt1) to get a quote for 100 per cent renewable electricity, carbon neutral gas or both or go to www.goodenergy.co.uk and input the referral code above when prompted at the end of sign-up process to get your £100 credit. This offer is subject to terms and conditions, which you’ll be able to view during the sign-up process.

Other initiatives to help reduce our carbon footprint include the Dorset Green Living Project, which encourages neighbourhood and community groups to get together to reduce their carbon footprints in a caring, sharing community.

Healthy Homes Dorset offers free impartial advice and support installing insulation or new energy systems. It is funded by Public Health Dorset, managed by Dorset Council and delivered by Centre for Sustainable Energy and Evolve Home Energy Solutions.

National initiatives include the Energy Saving Trust, offering independent, impartial advice on cutting bills and reducing carbon emissions at home.

Green Living provides free information, resources and advice from the Centre for

Alternative Technology.

There are also government grants available. For example, the Domestic Renewable Heat Incentive - Air Source Heat Pumps, and the New Green Homes Grant with up to £5,000 in vouchers There is a new. free government eligibility checker tool at www.simpleenergyadvice.org.uk/giving details on the most recently announced grants for insulation or low carbon heating in your home.

Money Saving Expert explains the scheme on the website www.moneysavingexpert.com/news/2020/07/hom eowners-to-receive-p5-000-vouchers-toimprove-energy-efficien/ Finally, the Priority Services Register is a free service provided by suppliers and network operators which offers advance notice of power cuts and priority support in an emergency - see the website www.ofgem.gov.uk/consumers/household-gas-and-electricity-guide/extrahelp-energy-services/priority-services-reg ister Locally, Turn Lyme Green and Plastic Free Lyme Regis continue their work towards a cleaner, greener future.

The One Planet Working Group is co-ordinating town council and community efforts towards our net carbon target and Build Back Better has local groups supporting community resilience and creating a shock- proof economy which can withstand the climate crisis as we recover from coronavirus.

In particular, the Community Support volunteers and Garden Growers group which brought together so many people from every part of town during lockdown, are both going from strength to strength, getting involved in the Royal College of Art community engagement and transport planning research and developing their activities to build even stronger community support and resilience.

Belinda Bawden One Planet Working Group and Lyme Regis Town Council

Eco-charity calls on local employers to help create new jobs

THE Word Forest Organisation is a small, international reforestation charity based at St Michael’s Business Centre in Lyme Regis.

They're on a mission to mitigate climate chaos by planting trees in the tropics, where they grow up to ten times faster than anywhere else on the planet.

According to a recent article in The Guardian, nearly half of the UK’s small charities working with the world’s poorest people expect to close within the next 12 months due to lack of financial support.

The charity moved into office premises in January as they were bursting out of a spare room in the flat of co-founders, Tracey and Simon West.

But during lockdown, the charity lost many of their income streams from face to face encounters at market stalls, community screenings of their documentary ‘#TreesAreTheKey’ narrated by Kate Winslet. Additionally, many supporters have had to cancel regular donations because they’re worried about their own financial security.

The Word Forest Organisation is determined not only to stay afloat through the COVID-era, but to expand, and they are hoping to use the government's Kickstart Scheme and possibly apprenticeships, to do it.

However, the charity has hit a stumbling block with the application process for the Kickstart Scheme and is now calling on other local employers to join forces to help create new jobs for young people.

Tracey commented: "We absolutely understand

why this pandemic has made everyone take a closer look at their finances and we’ve had to roll with it. The problem is, we were gearing up to move Word Forest up a notch by increasing our volunteer base and with additional funding, take on some staff.

“Our plans for creating employment in Lyme Regis had to go on the back burner. The workload has gone through the roof and our resources are stretched to capacity and our funding is currently supporting 1,500 people from the tree planting communities we work with, helping them keep starvation at bay.”

Education trustee Helen Roberts added: “This is desperately needed for the young people in our area and the government haven’t made it easy for employers to offer jobs.

“If 30 local employers could take on just one person, what a huge difference it would make to the youngsters of our town.”

Helen had been investigating apprenticeships to help with the charities wide variety of tasks, which would give somebody a good grounding for working in the Third Sector, but COVID put an end to those plans because the Word Forest couldn't afford to commit to paying even a nominal salary.

News of the government's Kickstart Scheme rekindled the idea of taking on staff. It will create new, six-month job placements for young people who are currently on Universal Credit and at risk of long-term unemployment. The job placements should support the participants to develop the skills and experience they need to find work after

completing the scheme.

Funding is available for 100 per cent of the relevant National Minimum Wage for 25 hours a week, plus associated employer National Insurance contributions and employer minimum automatic enrolment contributions. There is also £1,500 per job placement available for setup costs, support and training.

Kickstart is not an apprenticeship, but participants may move on to an apprenticeship at any time during, or after their job placement.

Tracey started the application process this week and was stopped in her tracks when she found out the restrictive terms and conditions. If you are applying for 30 or more job placements, you can apply directly. However, if you're applying for less than 30, you must go through a representative of a group of employers who can submit an application on your behalf, using other employers to create 30 or more job placements in one application.

Chairman of trustees Simon commented: “Everyone is clinging onto their jobs right now and it must be unimaginably stressful for school and college leavers too, trying to find anything, let alone a job they've studied hard for.

“We certainly can't employ 30 people and I doubt many employers around here could create that many new roles either.

“We want to help a few young, environmentallyminded people who want to get their foot on the ladder. We've got loads of ideas to help the charity get back on its feet but unless we can find other employers who want to work together to take on

30 between us - plus a lead representative who can champion the cause - we're stuck!"

Details of how you can take on a young person can be found at www.gov.uk/guidance/apply-fora-grant-through-the-kickstart-scheme If a single employer cannot provide 30 job placements, they can: ● Join a group of other employers, nominating a representative for the group to submit the application. ● Register their interest with existing representatives, such as local authorities, chambers of commerce or trade bodies.

The representative will check that your job placements are eligible for the Kickstart Scheme, and submit the application for funding on your behalf.

Tracey concluded: “Come on all you employers of Lyme Regis and the surrounding area, can we make this happen together? Can we find a way to help at least 30 youngsters in our town who desperately need our help, guidance and patience to teach and support them as they learn?

“We can offer two placements right now and if they're able to help us increase our income, we'll take more in the future with a view to making them staff. That's 28 left to find. Are you in?

“I've made an online form for local employers to get in touch and express their interest to have a Zoom to discuss it."

timeoutinLyme

16 Friday, September 4 2020

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

Win tickets to Deep Purple’s European tour!

LYME Regis rock star Ian Gillan, of Deep Purple fame, will be appearing on community radio station Lyme Bay Radio and is giving away two tickets to the band’s 2021 European tour to celebrate new album ‘Whoosh!’.

Formed in 1968, legendary rock band Deep Purple have produced 21 studio albums over the last 52 years, with Lyme Regis-based rock star Ian Gillan performing on 14 of them, including the band’s most recent record ‘Whoosh!’ which was released this month.

‘Whoosh!’ has been an instant hit with existing fans and new listeners alike, as it captures the authentic sound of a brilliant band at ease in their own skin, making great music that compels listeners to have fun and enjoy.

Much of the ‘Purple sound’ is due to the unmistakable vocals of Ian Gillan who brings a verve and majesty to the songs, worthy of his 55 years in the business and having turned 75 last week. ‘Whoosh!’ is testament to the fact that life experience counts.

In addition

WHAT’S ON IN LYME REGIS? As local events begin to start up again, the LymeOnline website has relaunched its What’s On section What’s On listings are free for non-profit and charity events, so if you have something coming up please get in touch and we will add it to our diary!

Send your What’s On listings to edit@lyme-online.co.uk

Find the latest local events at www.lyme-online.co.uk/events

to 14 studio albums with Deep Purple, Ian also performed on 23 ‘live’ Deep Purple albums, plus 12 with the band Gillan, seven solo albums, four with the Ian Gillan Band and one with Black Sabbath!

Online community radio station Lyme Bay Radio are delighted to announce that Ian Gillan will be doing a live interview with the station on Friday, September 4 between 4pm and 6pm, as part of the station’s ‘Finally Friday’ show with presenters Russ and Neil.

The show will be broadcast live at www.lymebayradio.com and Ian will be chatting about ‘Whoosh!’ and his career, choosing some music to play and answering questions.

Listeners will also be able to send in questions and messages for Ian via the Lyme Bay Radio Facebook page.

WIN TICKETS TO DEEP PURPLE 2021 TOUR Meanwhile, here’s a fantastic chance to win a pair of tickets to any gig on the Deep Purple 2021 European Tour (excluding October 7 2021 at the O2 in London) or one of two runner up prizes of a copy of the new

record ‘Whoosh!’, signed by Ian. For your chance to win one of these fantastic prizes just answer two simple questions: How many studio and live albums in total has Ian Gillan made with Deep Purple?

Which track from ‘Whoosh!’ and recent single release contains the lyric ‘All I’ve got is what I need’?

To enter, email you answers to edit@lyme-online.co.uk or write them on a postcard and send to LymeOnline, Unit 5 Uplyme Business Park, Uplyme Road, Lyme Regis, Dorset DT7 3LS. The closing date is 5pm on Monday, September 7 and winners will be announced on Lyme Bay Radio’s ‘Finally Friday’ show on September 11 and informed directly.

The winner will be chosen at random from all correct answers and the editor’s decision is final.

If you are interested in getting involved in Lyme Bay Radio and being part of the vibrant team, contact Chris Tipping, CEO of Lyme Regis Development Trust, which runs the station, at chris.tipping@lymebayradio.com or call 01297 445021.

Landmark Trust to take open days online NORMALLY in September, the Landmark Trust throws open the doors of many of its buildings across the country free to visitors, as part of Heritage Open Days.

Due to the current COVID-19 restrictions, this year the trust has made the decision not to open its properties, but instead will be holding its online Festival of Landmark from BELMONT House in Lyme Regis is one of more than 200 properties in the care September 11 to 20. of the Landmark Trust The festival can be enjoyed free through the Landmark Trust’s volved too.

The Landmark Trust is a charity that rescues website www.landmarktrust.org.uk. It will be a virtual feast, giving access through new and important buildings that would otherwise be exciting content on some of Landmark’s best lost. It takes on historic places in danger and loved buildings via podcasts, videos and we- carefully and sensitively restores them.

By then making them available for holiday binars.

Meet the people who care for these historic rental, the trust ensures they can be enjoyed sites as well as those who have been inspired by all, both today and for future generations. by them, delve into history, enjoy stories and It currently has more than 200 properties in songs, discover new visual arts and crafts, and its care, including Belmont House in Lyme meet some of the people behind the scenes at Regis, pictured above.

Belmont is a grade II listed maritime villa in Landmark. And the best news is that it can all be accessed without stirring from the comfort Pound Street, where author John Fowles wrote ‘The French Lieutenant’s Woman’ and of an armchair.

The trust will be releasing new content the former home of Eleanor Coade, the inventhroughout the 10-day festival period and live tor of Coade stone.

Many fine examples of the stonework can be events will need to be booked in advance. All content will be family friendly, and some will seen both inside and outside the house and a Victorian observatory tower in the garden is be flagged as specifically aimed at younger audiences so you can dive in and get the kids in- another highlight.

Friday, September 4 2020 17

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Lyme and lather: our town’s historic link to handwashing I

T seems much longer ago, but it was only in February that Boris Johnson first exhorted us all to wash our hands for at least 20 seconds to protect ourselves from transmitting the COVID-19 virus.

Roll on some six months later and there are varying opinions on what extra precautions we should or shouldn’t take in dealing with the coronavirus and trying to find a “new normal”.

One thing that we can probably all agree on though is that thoroughly washing our hands after activities like shopping is good basic hygiene and avoids spreading illnesses - even without a worldwide pandemic to encourage us.

It was not always the case though, and it is one of those quirks of history that Lyme Regis has a link with the national regime of hand washing!

If you walk around the town, you will encounter the Lister Gardens and the Lister Room. These are, of course, named after Baron Joseph Lister of Lyme Regis who was a pioneer of antiseptic surgery.

The excellent Lyme Regis Museum has researched the family connections with Lyme and their article on the Lister holiday home at High Cliff on the Sidmouth Road (The Listers at High Cliff) makes for fascinating reading.

The affection in which Joseph Lister held his holiday town is clearly reflected in his choice of title when he was elevated to a peerage by Queen Victoria in 1897.

In order to appreciate early 19th century hygiene (or rather the lack of it), we need only to consider what surgery was like back then.

Surgeons wore their everyday clothes, instruments were dirty, nurses and doctors rarely bothered to wash their hands and bed linen was not changed. Spectators could even watch in the public arena of the “operating theatre”.

Not surprisingly, the death rates were very high for even simple medical procedures, like repairing compound fractures, because of the likelihood of sepsis and gangrene from infection.

To make matters worse, anaesthetics were eventually introduced enabling the surgeons to attempt longer and more complicated procedures in this unhygienic environment - with

SCIENCE FEATURE

by Professor Glenn Patrick

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

The problem was that the medical establishment of the day believed that infection was caused by gases entering the wound. This miasma theory held that diseases were caused by “bad air” emanating from decomposed matter - and there was plenty of that about in Victorian times.

Attempts were made to keep the air fresh in the belief that the smell itself carried disease.

A remnant from this period is the naming of malaria (mala means bad and aria means air in Italian).

On becoming Professor of Surgery at Glasgow University, Lister became inspired by Germ Theory. Advanced by the French biologist Louis Pasteur, this theory conjectured that infectious disease is actually spread by microscopic organisms - or germs - which can be bacteria, fungi, viruses or other pathogens.

After experimenting with various substances, Lister developed his Antisepsis System and published it in a classic 1867 article in The Lancet entitled ‘On the Antiseptic Principle in the Practice of Surgery’. He recognised that microorganisms were the real culprit in infecting wounds and that these needed to be eliminated.

The Lister antiseptic system was based on weak carbolic hand washes for medical staff and carbolic acid baths for cleaning surgical instruments. Solutions of carbolic spray were also used to reduce germs in the air.

Although mortality rates plummeted, Lister’s application of Germ Theory was met with opposition and some surgeons thought that these precautions were unnecessarily expensive and complex.

Surgeons were just not used to using a scientific approach and some refused to believe in Germ Theory. Nonetheless, the statistics

spoke for themselves and gradually in the latter part of the 19th century good hygiene found widespread approval in surgery.

Hand washing in particular was seen as the single most important activity in preventing cross-infection, but even as recently as the 1980s hand hygiene was not perfect. This was due to the time it took healthcare workers to wash their hands thoroughly with soap and water in between attending patients.

With the rise of resistant infections like MRSA, the introduction of alcohol based hand rubs in the 1990s became an important tool that could be quickly applied. Today, we are now used to seeing hand gels readily available in shops and pubs as well as hospitals to supplement regular hand washing.

These days we readily accept the existence of germs even BARON Joseph Lister of Lyme Regis, a pioneer of antiseptic surgery though they are tiny - the SARS-CoV2 virus molecules.

The tails of the soap molecules pierce this (the cause of COVID-19) measures just 125 billionths of a metre in diameter! This is be- coating whilst the heads of the soap molecules cause using electron microscopes and even are attracted to water molecules meaning that particle accelerators we can actually “see” the virus gets split apart and flushed from viruses and bacteria, work out their structures your skin.

So, when we are all thoroughly washing our and then use this information to help design hands (or using hand sanitiser) to eliminate drugs and vaccines.

Such imaging also helps us to understand those invisible germs, it is well worth rememthe reason why a simple bar of soap is so ef- bering the role of Baron Joseph Lister of fective against the coronavirus. The virus is Lyme Regis who over 100 years ago intromade up of a central core of RNA and pro- duced the whole idea!

Pictured below, the Lister Gardens and Lister teins, which is then surrounded by a protecRoom are named after Joseph Lister tive coating made up of two layers of fatty

axminsternews

18 Friday, September 4 2020

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Sponsored by Axminster Nub News - axminster.nub.news

New Fiver Fest planned for Axminster TOTALLY Locally Axminster is set to launch a new ‘Fiver Fest’ initiative in a drive to win support for the town’s hard-pressed independent traders.

Axminster is one of dozens of towns across the country joining the latest high profile national campaign, which will run from October 10 to 24.

The local organising team is hoping for a string of good value offers to drive home the key message that if every adult spent £5 a week locally that they would otherwise have spent online or with national stores it would pump £1.8m a year into the Axminster economy.

“Many Axminster businesses were fighting to keep their heads above the water before coronavirus came along, so the imperative to support those who have come out the other side is a strong one,” says Barrie Hedges of the Archway Bookshop.

“It needs only a small change in individual spending habits to bring about a big shift in fortunes for the town you care about.”

There was gloom in the town when the owners of the department store which previously operated Trinity House announced its closure last November.

However, he building was bought by Axminster Property and is undergoing a swift transition, with eight of its nine potential shop and business units now taken or under discussion.

The Lou La Belle boutique, which opened in the first restored unit in June, has quickly become a success, and The Crafty Hobbit gift and

crafts shop is due to open next door in October.

Meanwhile, the popular Waffle Community House has announced its plans to take over the whole of the first floor with a much extended operation towards the end of the year.

Jane Rockett, of Axminster Printing, is one of the business people with confidence in the future of the town centre.

“The massive turnaround that is underway with the restoration of Trinity House has brought a new sense of anticipation to Axminster,” she said.

“We now need to turn that into a greater belief in the town as a whole – and with it a bigger shopper footfall.”

Jane and brother Keith Rockett are prime examples of the spirit that exists amongst Axminster’s independent traders. They kept their printing and stationery business going single handed through the early stages of the lockdown when there was no choice but to furlough staff and made home deliveries to those unable to collect.

The new Fiver Fest is open to any independent business in Axminster or the immediate area that sells to the public. Each business will be provided free-of-charge with point-of-sale posters to promote their chosen fiver offers.

Traders are being asked to sign up by 18 September and can do so by emailing totallylocallyaxminster@gmail.com.

Axminster Nub News is happy to give a free directory listing all all those taking part in the Fiver Fest. Simply visit our Local List page at axminster/nub.news/directory and click the black 'Nub It' button to submit your own listing details, or call Philip Evans on 07796 951991 for more details.

Town centre property goes on the market

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

A SUBSTANTIAL commercial property in the centre of Axminster has come onto the market after standing unoccupied for some time.

The property straddles Victoria Place and Trinity Square and was formerly occupied by McColl's newsagents.

Both units provide ground floor sales with upper floor offices, storage and staff facilities.

The property is available as a whole or separately and there is potential for other uses including residential.

The Victoria Place unit, with a price guide of £145,000, comprises a Grade II listed mid terraced period building with prominent frontage providing with main retail sales on the ground floor and ancillary storage.

On the first floor there are offices and staff room in with potential for residential accommodation subject to planning permission.. The second floor attic has been unused for some time but has potential for further accommodation.

The adjoining property - 3 Trinity Square (price guide £75,000) - adjoins Victoria Place forming part of the same terrace.

This period building had accommodation arranged over three floors suitable for a variety of retail, office or coffee shop/café on the ground floor and offices on the upper floors with potential for residential accommodation above.

The premises are located in the centre of the town close to a number of independent and national occupiers including Boots the Chemist, Costa Coffee, River Cottage Kitchen and close to the successful refurbishment of the former Trinity House department store by Axminster Property.

The sale of the property is being handled by estate agents Symonds & Sampson.

Development of this prime position would give a boost to the rejuvenation of Axminster’s main shopping area and would be welcomed by other town centre traders.

Anti-racism group hosts litter pick AXMINSTER’S United Against Racism Group held a clean up event last Saturday, sprucing up some of the more neglected areas of the town.

The group mainly focused on the Belle Vue footpath connecting the town centre with Tesco. These steps are used by many residents and can be dangerous and slippery due to a build up of moss and algae, a lack of adequate lighting in the darker months, overgrown hedges covering hand rails, and rubbish tossed into the gardens.

The litter-pickers gathered in the town centre and collected six large bags of rubbish on their walk.

Axminster Against Racism supporters said they were inspired to hold the litter-picking event by comments accusing the Black Lives Matter movement of dividing communities, vandalism and violence.

They wanted to look at ways the antiracism message could be brought into the community while also serving the community itself.

A spokesperson for Axminster Against Racism said: "It is very important to us that we continue to have a presence in the town.

We wanted to meet people and talk with them face to face about the issues around racism, while serving our community in other ways.

"Our public spaces are a gift and we should take better care of them. Protest comes in many forms, and for us it’s more important to have the conversation and stop pretending that discrimination doesn’t exist.”

Axminster crew help tackle hay lorry fire AXMINSTER fire brigade were among crews to tackle a major hay lorry fire on the A303 near Ilminster on Wednesday, August 26.

Crews from Martock and Yeovil were first to be called to the scene at 2.59pm to what was reported as a car fire.

On arrival, it was clear that a lorry carrying 20 tonnes of hay was well alight and further appliances were called from Yeovil, Crewkerne, Chard and a water carrier from Exeter.

The incident commander confirmed lorry well alight and requested a further 3 appliances and a telehandler to assist operations; these pumps came from Crewkerne, Chard and Yeovil and the telehandler from HQ in Exeter.

Axminster were called to the scene at 10.45pm to provide relief overnight.

The road remained closed for hours with the lorry eventually removed at 2.06am this morning. Crews continued to extinguishing approximately three tonnes of remaining hay using two main jets and drag forks.

The lorry and trailer were completely destroyed by fire.

Friday, September 4 2020 19

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FLASHBACKS with Richard Austin

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Tales from behind the lens of our award-winning photographer

■ SOMETIMES there are no words just an image that says it all. And so it was at RNAS Yeovilton when the families, along with the media, were invited to be present at the arrival of servicemen coming home from a war zone. The families were buzzing, especially the children who could see their dads emerging from the helicopter. Then, when it was safe, it was a race across the tarmac for that first hug in months with their dad, just as it was in the photograph. Believe me there was not a dry eye on the runway as families were complete again.

And of course, remembering those servicemen in recent times who did not come home. This picture of joy is the exact opposite to Brize Norton, where servicemen carrying coffins draped in the union flag emerged from the rear of the aircraft bringing back those servicemen who did not make it home to their families.

Dorset residents asked to look out for signs of ‘county lines’ drug dealing DORSET Police is asking local residents and holidaymakers to know the signs of ‘county lines’ and help keep Dorset safe.

Superintendent Rob Chalkley, of Dorset Police, explains: “County lines refers to a process where drugs gangs exploit children and vulnerable adults and make them courier drugs and money across the country from the gang’s base to customers in towns across Dorset.

“The ‘county line’ refers to the mobile phone line, which is the link for the drugs gangs to sell drugs.

“Dorset is always busy in the summer, but this year is busier than most as people look to enjoy a break following the easing of COVID-19 restrictions. We know children and vulnerable adults

exploited by gangs can get ‘lost in the crowd’ at this time of year, which is why we are asking for help to keep people safe.”

Some of the signs of county lines include children from outside of the area travelling long distances on public transport alone and paying for tickets with large amounts of cash, or children with multiple mobile phones, tablets or SIM cards.

Superintendent Chalkley continues: “Sometimes drug dealers will befriend a vulnerable person who lives on their own and take over their home and turn it into a drugs den. This is called ‘cuckooing’.

“Urban dealers often target homes of vulnerable people in small, rural and coastal towns

where they can set up shop and sell drugs. Signs of cuckooing include unknown or suspicious looking people coming and going from a neighbour’s house at odd times of the day or night.

“We are asking people to help us to keep Dorset safe. Please visit our website to know the signs of county lines and also keep an eye out over the busy summer period. If you see anything that doesn’t look right, you can report it to us via our non-emergency channels or you can report it 100 per cent anonymously to Crimestoppers.”

Martyn Underhill, Police and Crime Commissioner for Dorset, added: “Criminal gangs involved in county lines exploit some of the most vulnerable in our society. They think nothing of targeting children and vulnerable adults and

sometimes use threats of violence to coerce them into moving drugs across the country.

“County lines is a problem that is larger than the police and requires a response from a wide range of organisations. The public also have a role to play. By learning to spot the signs and reporting any suspicions they may have they can help protect victims of exploitation. As people enjoy the sunny weather and all that our beautiful county has to offer this summer, we are asking the public to keep a lookout for anything that could indicate exploitation in Dorset.”

You can find out more information and advice about county lines at www.dorset.police.uk/helpadvice-crime-prevention/safety-in-your-community/county-lines/

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ITEMS FOR SALE

WE ARE NOW ACCEPTING ITEMS FOR SALE AGAIN SEE PANEL ON RIGHT FOR DETAILS OF HOW TO SUBMIT YOUR LISTINGS CRIB, Mammas and Pappas crib, free to anybody who can use it or nominal £5 - 07554 664 652.

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‘BEAUTIFUL HOMELAND’, set of 6 books, first edition, 1920, illustrated in colour, by E.W. Haslehurst, £180 or £35 each - 01297 560707.

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LymeOnline is looking for more volunteers to deliver newspapers in their own street or area Due to the financial effects of COVID-19, we’ll be changing the way we distribute our free, fortnightly newspaper when it is relaunched on August 7th and we are now looking for more volunteers

WHY VOLUNTEER? Catch up with all the latest local news Get to know your neighbours Enjoy some regular exercise Help support this non-profit community newspaper

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LymeOnline Sport

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

cricket

Uplyme through to semi-finals in Devon cricket mini-league UPLYME & Lyme Regis completed their Devon Mini-League fixtures at Ottery St Mary last Saturday with another convincing victory to maintain their 100 per cent record.

It means they finish runaway winners of the East E 3 (Tier 5) division and now go into the semi-finals of the play-offs where they will meet Feniton in the Tier 5 semi-final.

Uplyme finished the league fixtures with 112 points, 57 points ahead of their nearest rivals Honiton.

Ottery won the toss and put Uplyme into bat. Openers Charlie Moss and Mark Batey, deputising for his brother, skipper Steve Batey, opened the batting but both were back in the pavilion without overworking the umpires.

That brought together Joe Elsworth and triple century-maker Tyler Wellman together and the Ottery fielders must have realised they were in for a busy afternoon.

The two of them took Uplyme’s score to 200 with no further loss of wickets off their allotted 40 overs.

Elsworth carried his bat for 108 including eight fours and three sixes and Wellman was undefeated on 45, including five fours.

In reply, Ottery never looked like

chasing such a high score, especially with Elsworth is fine form with the ball as well as the bat. He ended up getting the man-of-the-match award by taking 5 for 22 off six overs with his batting partner Wellman weighing in with two wickets.

Ottery St Mary 4 points; Uplyme and Lyme Regis 20 points.

Uplyme have got together their strongest squad for many seasons and based on talent they could have played in a higher tier. They will now fancy their chances of going all the way in Tier 5.

■ UPLYME & Lyme Regis made sure of their position in the Devon League mini knock-out rounds with another resounding victory.

They secured their position at the top of the East E 3 (Tier 5) division with an 89-run victory over Honiton who are their nearest rivals.

Uplyme won the toss at Honiton and decided to bat. The visitors were without their influential skipper Steve Batey so in-form batsmen Tyler Wellman, who has hit three consecutive centuries this season, was pushed up the order to open.

And just to prove that the game of cricket has no respect for those in good form, before he knew it Tyler

was making his way back to the pavilion without a run to his name.

It was left to opener Mark Batey (96) to steady the ship and steer Uplyme to a winning total of 229 for 5 off their 40 overs, failing to match his brother’s century last week by just four runs. Good support came from Joe Elsworth (37), Alfie Jacques (35) and Sam Farrow (26).

Willy Graham was the pick of the Honiton bowlers with figures of 2 for 47 off eight overs.

In reply Honiton never looked like challenging the Uplyme score and were all out for 140 with only Kieran Conway (37) and Willy Graham (19) putting up any resistance.

Sam Farrow was the pick of the Uplyme bowlers, finishing with figures of 4 for 29 off 5.2 overs with Sam Wooster and Harvey Brimicombe grabbing a couple of wickets each.

Honiton 5 points; Uplyme & Lyme Regis 20 points.

■ UPLYME & Lyme Regis continued their rich vein of form with a T20 victory over neighbouring Seaton at the King George V playing field.

Seaton won the toss and elected to bat, scoring 142 for 6 in their 20 overs.

Top scores came from Joel Seward (69 not out), Jack Dormor (36) and

UPLYME secretary Derek Wellman presents the man-of-the-match award to Joe Elsworth, who scored his maiden century and took 5 for 22 off six overs against Ottery St Mary. The game was sponsored by LymeOnline skipper Ben Morgan (26).

Ben Whittington was Uplyme’s most successful bowler finishing with figures of 2-17 off just three overs.

In reply, Uplyme knocked off the required runs (143) for the

loss of six wickets in 16 overs, with Bruce Maltby (45), Tyler Wellman (36) and Alfie Jacques (31) top scoring.

Joel Seward topped the Seaton bowling figures with 2 for 24 off three overs.

football

Seasiders in impressive pre-season form LYME Regis 1st team produced a simply breathtaking performance against Bovey Tracey, a team two divisions higher, to earn a thoroughly deserved 5-0 victory – and will feel they may have had even more.

Lyme were sharper from the moment the game kicked off and raced into a 4-0 lead by half time.

Fred Parsons poked home the first from a Rob Fellingham corner after just 15 minutes.

Joe Bond, who had just had aone-on-one with the keeper, made no mistake the second time as he latched onto a through-ball and rounded the keeper after 20 minutes.

Parsons converted the third, cooly side-footing past the keeper, before Sam Pollard Jones scored the pick of the goals when Bond picked him out at the back post and he produced a sublime first-time volley into the bottom corner.

The second half was more of the same as Bovey Tracey had no answer to Lyme’s slick passing game and the Seasiders continued to create a host of chances before Joe Urquhart scored the fifth, as he rounded the keeper and rolled the ball into the empty net on 60 minutes.

A great all round display from every member of the team and a

result which delighted joint managers Mark Bailey and Julien Simier.

■ LYME Regis 1st team put in an impressive performance when they met Bridport at St Mary’s in a pre-season friendly.

It was a tight affair for the first 15 minutes with the Bees working hard to contain a dangerous Lyme side.

As the game progressed the Seasiders began to dominate proceedings playing some very tidy football out from the back.

Keeper Chris Higgs, who as a youngster was on Exeter City’s and Dorchester’s books, looks like being Lyme’s number one glove man this season but was

forced off on 25 minutes with a tight half.

With no substitute keeper, Dan Rendall went between the sticks and pulled off a great save from a rare Bridport counter attack.

Freddie Parsons looked particularly dangerous and Bridport had their keeper to thank for keeping it at 0-0 at half-time.

After the break it didn’t take long for Lyme to break the deadlock as Tyler Wellman, the former Sidmouth and Axminster player who has committed to playing for his hometown this season, rose to force home a deflected cross in the 50th minute.

Lyme looked like they were

running away with it with a cross shot in the 60th minute to make it 2-0.

Newly arrived keeper Will Meech spilled a shot and then tripped the striker as he chased the rebound with Bridport putting away the resulting penalty.

But for the home team it was only a glimmer of hope as Sam Pollard-Jones smashed home Lyme’s third minutes later to complete the 3-1 scoreline.

Lyme were wasteful in front of goal but joint managers Mark Bailey and Julien Simier will be very happy with the amount of chances created and speed of football played

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LymeOnline Sport

24 Friday, September 4 2020

September 4 2020

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Uplyme & Lyme Regis Cricket Club Saturday, September 5 1pm start - away to Feniton (semi-final)

football

Feisty battle for the Bass Bottle PRE-SEASON ‘FRIENDLY’ FINISHES WITH SCUFFLES ON THE PITCH THERE have been many feisty encounters between neighbours Lyme Regis and Uplyme – but last week’s pre-season match for the Bass Bottle was up there among the most competitive.

Last season Uplyme, fielding the youngest team in the Perry Street League, struggled in Division One and it was a great credit to manager Stu Wooster for creating such a good team spirit and giving so many their first taste of men’s football.

That spirit has been inherited by a new management team of Steve Gillan and Pete Blandamer, who have taken over this season, and there’s a real air of rejuvenation at Venlake, much in evidence in this game with a large vociferous crowd watching this local derby and further demonstrated by the fact that this season they will be fielding two sides in the Perry Street League.

Lyme fielded their Rovers side, bolstered by a few regular Reserve team players, which will be playing in Division One of the Perry Street season, one above Uplyme – but there was very little between the two teams in this fiery encounter.

In fact, on clear-cut chances, Uplyme came out well on top, especially in the first half.

Uplyme were by far the best team in the first half, using the blustery conditions and long ball well. They are fit, quick and committed and having won all their pre-season friendlies before this game, they will be challenging for honours in Division Two if they can sustain this form.

In the vernacular of well used football cliches, Uplyme were definitely “up for it”. There’s always more at stake for this particular fixture.

It’s more than winning a silver bottle, presented to the Lyme club more than 40 years ago by Bass Charrington; it’s more about early-season bragging rights.

Uplyme started at a terrific pace and immediately put the Lyme defence under pressure, sending the

FEATURED GAME

By PHILIP EVANS home crowd into raptures when the impressive Lorcan Hankin slotted the ball home after a corner with the game less than two minutes old.

The Swallows maintained that pressure for much of the half and Hankin was unlucky not to have made it 2-0 when his long-range shot bounced off the bar after 17 minutes.

Lyme weathered the storm and started to compete with Cam Fowler levelling the score on 27 minutes when he steered the ball wide of Uplyme keeper Joe Clear after a Toby Fowler free-kick.

Uplyme, however, did not let their heads drop and were back in front within a minute when Oscar Sladen made it 2-1 from close range and that’s how the score stayed until half-time.

Tackles were flying in from both sides which prompted referee Lance Turner, who in his playing days turned out for both Lyme and Uplyme, to book Hankin, who looked fired up, for kicking the ball away before a free-kick.

In the second half Uplyme lost their shape a bit and Lyme started to assert themselves. Wally Blackmore was brought on to stiffen up the back-four, and can count himself lucky he was not yellow carded for one desperate tackle. As the game wore on, with Harvey Brimicombe working hard in mid-field, Lyme put the Uplyme defence under consistent pressure.

They lost Jonny Day who was red carded for retaliation, a decision which prompted a barrage of abuse from the home crowd.

The Rovers pressed hard for the equaliser and the Uplyme keeper Jo Clear pulled off two brilliant saves in the dying seconds before Lyme’s veteran goal-poacher Pete Peacock popped up to slot home the late

THE Uplyme squad line up before the Bass Bottle battle equaliser, as he so often does, much to the obvious delight of the Seasiders’ supporters.

With two of his key players missing, Uplyme manager Steve Gillan was pleased with the performance, although he thought it was their worst game of pre-season in terms of quality football. He picked out Hankin, George Symonds and

Johnny Harris for special mention.

Rovers’ manager Rob Larcombe was delighted to retain the Bass Bottle and was pleased his side competed well in the second half.

He picked out Brin Seward, youngster Josh Daines and Cam Fowler for special mention.

It was a pity there were scuffles between the players after the game,

Another good run-out for the Swallows UPLYME continued their pre-season programme of friendlies, this time against a very young and capable Perry Street Premier team, Hawkchurch, running out 4-1 winners.

Uplyme went behind to a simple goal after a very bright start, but it’s testament to this squad that they bounced back through Ben Prosser and then took the lead through Oli Alner debut goal at the back post from an excellent Prosser free-kick.

After half time, the quality continued and Uplyme hit the post twice and tested the keeper before Oscar Sladen scored two more goals.

The Swallows managed to miss two penalties before the end – one costing Sladen for his hat trick.

Overall, the Uplyme management team considered this to be a “very pleasing run out”, with great credit to Prosser and George Symonds, but the man-of-the-match went to Joe Cleere, a cool and calm goalkeeper who exudes confidence and allowed his colleagues to enjoy their attacking approach.

but tempers soon cooled and there were plenty of fist bumps as the two sides vacated the pitch.

CALLING ALL LOCAL FOOTBALL CLUBS

If you would like your matches to be featured on the LymeOnline website and in our print version, email your reports to Philip Evans at philip@lyme-online.co.uk

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

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