Time for action on Three Cups

There was standing room only as more than 200 protesters packed  the town’s Woodmead Hall – and unanimous and noisy approval for a motion that West Dorset District Council “should compulsorily purchase the Three Cups Hotel and that its use is continued as a hotel.”

At the end of the meeting residents queued to put their names forward to form a fighting committee to campaign for the historic hotel to be restored and reopened.

At the start of the meeting West Dorset MP Oliver Letwin said it was very clear the time had come for a change.

He said: “Palmers seem to accept this but we cannot wait for ever for something to be done. We need someone to set a timetable which certainly cannot be another 20 years from now.

“The district council must set a deadline and take action if nothing is done by that deadline.”

Marcus Dixon of the Lyme Regis Development Trust told the meeting: “Enough is enough.

“It is time something was done.

“Wages round here are 17 per cent below the national average.  We do not want this hotel to be turned into apartments. This will cost the Lyme Regis economy millions.

“The town can no longer afford to have this building there doing nothing beyond being an eyesore.”

John Grantham, Founder of the Community Alert on Pubs group which has been leading the campaign to restore the Three Cups outlined the problems with the building at present particularly the danger of falling tiles and the fire risk from intruders breaking in.”

David Parker, chairman of the town’s hotel and restaurant association, who lives next  to the hotel, said hooligans high on drugs had been breaking in to the building and this was “very frightening”.

On one occasion when fighting had broken out police had arrived in force to deal with the problem.

His big fear, he said, was fire.

“If that happened my wife and I would die and the fire would also sweep on down Broad Street.

“We are in difficult times. I love Lyme Regis. It is a high quality  tourist resort and people I speak to cannot believe this hotel has been left like this for 20 years.

“I know of several people who would love to buy it and turn it into a really high quality hotel bringing jobs and prosperity to Lyme.”
Among those is said to be local chef Mark Hix who would run it as a top quality restaurant and “boutique” hotel.

Michael Turner QC, who has been helping residents in Toller Porcorum fight for the reopening of their village pub, said the district council had powers to compulsorily purchase the hotel on several grounds.

They would then be free to sell it on to a buyer prepared to restore it as a hotel the next day.

Under the Local Government Act of 2000 they could do anything that was required to promote the  economic, social and environmental well-being of the community.

They also had powers to protect listed buildings.

If these powers were used to compulsorily purchase  the building from Palmers compensation would be worked out on its value in its current state, not on its potential as a business he added.

Prospective Liberal Democrat Parliamentary Candidate Dr Sue Farrant told the meeting  it was “absolutely tremendous to see so many people here.”

She said : “I hope this is the beginning of a people’s revolution on this issue. It is very useful to hear from Michael Turner on the legislation available. Thequestion is where on earth has the council been over the years. They have obviously been asleep on the job.

“We have been patient for far too long. The time for patience is at an end. It is time for a huge push to make the council get something done.”
After the meeting John Grantham said a core group of 14 had been formed and would be holding its first meeting on Saturday with Oliver Letwin in attendance.

West Dorset District Council and Palmers were both invited to the meeting but did not attend.

The council sent a statement  in which it said that repairs had been carried out on the buiding to their satisfaction.

It added that Palmers had opened discussions with the council with a view to preparing a planning application for the site.

The statement added: “The council is pleased  that the owners are formulating proposals which will return to use this listed building.”

A Palmers representative has  been reported as saying this will be as shops, apartments and a “top name” restaurant.

PICTURE: MP Oliver Letwin addresses the meeting

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