25th January 2012

LYME REGIS: County council has 'let itself down' with Church Street closure signage

Trader's complaints over lack of 'business open as usual' signs on approach to town

By Francesca Evans

DORSET County Council has “let itself down” according to the chairman of the recently reformed Lyme Regis Traders’ Association, who has complained that local businesses are suffering due to a lack of signage regarding the Church Street road closure.

Tony Colston, who owns By The Bay restaurant on Marine Parade with wife Stephanie, has spoken out about the lack of “Businesses Open as Usual” signs on the approach to Lyme Regis, which is currently enduring an eight-week closure of Church Street for repairs to the Guildhall and Hub youth club roof.

In a phone call and email to the county council, Mr Colston pointed out that there were at least four signs advertising the road closure on the Sidmouth road, none of which before reaching Ware Cross, just outside Lyme, said businesses were open as usual. He asked the council to put these signs in place “as a matter of urgency”, adding: “It’s tough enough surviving winter in Lyme already, without the road being closed and inadequate signage.”

In response, Dorset County Council’s street works co-ordinator, John Alford, said a “Businesses Open as Usual” sign would be placed alongside the road closure sign at Boshill Cross, near Seaton. However, Mr Colston argued that he would like to see further signs at Westhayes Caravan Park near Rousdon and at two junctions in Rousdon. He also asked that the county council place the signs before the end of the week, pointing out that the road closure was already in its third week.

“Common sense would tell me to put a ‘Local Businesses Open as Usual’ sign alongside every road closure sign,” he added.

Mr Alford replied: “It is not possible to sign every junction on the diversion route. Whilst I acknowledge your concerns, the diversion route is intended primarily for ‘through-traffic’. This traffic will pick up the ‘local businesses open’ message at the key points of the diversion route, and make a decision there.

“Local people will be aware of the closure, and its location, through the press release and their own experience, and know that they are still able to access the major car parks in the town on their side of the closure.”

Speaking to the View From Lyme Regis, Mr Colston added: “I think there are businesses who have noticed how much slower it is in the high street at the moment and it is unfortunate that the signage has not gone according to plan.

“At Boshill Cross there are three huge signs that say the road is closed and only tiny ‘Business Open as Usual’ sign, which is on the wrong side of the junction and tucked away. I’m not convinced that that’s quite as clear as it should be.

“At Ware Cross, I think the ‘Business Open as Usual’ sign was put there by a local person. The council have now put one there too but I think they’ve let themselves down. It would be good if they could get it right.

“The road is obviously closed through half term as well, right through February, and I will be going back to Mr Alford and put this case to him. Why not just put equal signs up?

“If the council could put up one sign that said road closed and another of the same size that said businesses were open as usual, that is all it would take and I don’t see why they can’t do that.”

PICTURE: CHAIRMAN of the recently reformed Lyme Regis Traders’ Association, Tony Colston