Three Cups protesters dismiss claims over stabilisation delays

But they have dismissed claims by Palmers that they had been “thwarted for nearly 20 years” by lack of funding for the town’s stabilisation works.

A letter by Palmers Brewery’s agents, Humberts, stated that prior to the completion of the stabilisation works in 2007, West Dorset District Council had been unwilling to allow any form of development on the Three Cups’ Broad Street site, which has stood empty for over 20 years.

Chairman of the Lyme Regis Hotels and Restaurant Association David Parker, who lives next to the Three Cups, and Marcus Dixon, from Lyme Regis Development Trust, who are both keen to see the Three Cups re-open as a hotel, have criticised Palmers’ statement about the stability of the land.

Mr Parker said: “The actual footprint of the building, as well as mine, is perfectly stable. The only instable areas are the garage, car park and garden. It is absolutely not a good enough reason to keep the building empty, unless they were going to take down part of the hotel and rebuild it into the car park.”

Campaigners, who have recently formed the Three Cups Hotel Action Group, have also criticised Palmers’ statement that all attempts were being made to ensure there is “no significant time delay” in repairing maintenance problems.

Mr Parker added: “There is one particular problem at the moment with a loose drainpipe, which is quite a hazard. The back of the building has had holes in for several years, which are leaking water, and Palmers obviously know about this but because it is not visible from the street they haven’t repaired it. Our local MP Oliver Letwin would also dispute this.

“It is quite painful to live next to a deteriorating eyesore. When I moved in 10 years ago it wasn’t so bad but in the past couple of years it’s gone quite downhill.”

West Dorset District Councillor Daryl Turner also disagreed with this statement when the letter was read out at a Lyme Regis Town Council meeting.

He said: “There is a drainpipe that has come right away from the side wall and when we spoke to Palmers about it they said a builder would be fixing it immediately, but it is still not fixed to this day. All they have done is move the fencing from the front of the building to the side, right next to David Parker’s front door. If it is not fixed soon we shall be taking this to health and safety.

“There are also two large holes in the side of the building, which doesn’t seem watertight to me. We need to go to health and safety with these issues to make someone jump because they are dangerous.”

Also present at the council’s meeting was 10-year-old Leon Howe who organised last weekend’s protest march to turn the Three Cups back into a hotel.

Leon said: “I don’t think there is enough hotel space in Lyme Regis and I don’t want to be my mum’s age when it is still empty. I’ve learnt a lot about the history of the building and I think if it were open, people would like to come to the town to see it.”

Mr Dixon also spoke at the meeting and asked the town council to host a second public meeting on the future of the Three Cups to clarify the district council’s and Palmers’ thoughts on the building.

Councillor Sally Holman gave an update on the work of the Three Cups Hotel Action Group. She said the next step was to organise a comprehensive petition and the group wanted to translate the public’s concern into valid planning arguments, in case Palmers apply for change of use of the building.

The Mayor, Councillor Michaela Ellis, said: “You have to look at the business side of it. If they say it is not viable to re-open as a hotel, then they’ve looked into it. Would you be throwing money at your business during this economic climate?

“There have been other hotels in Lyme Regis that we have fought and fought to keep and they’ve turned into apartments. If they’ve turned into apartments, there must be a reason for it.”

Councillor Owen Lovell said: “Everyone wants something useful to be done with the Three Cups and the public meeting chose a hotel. That’s fine but we need to speak to Palmers and we need to know the full planning rules and regulations of the building.”

Councillor Lovell proposed that the town council hold a private meeting with Palmers and West Dorset District Council planning officers with full planning guidelines to discuss the future of the building, which was agreed.

A second public meeting will follow the council’s meeting.

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