11th April 2012

LYME REGIS: Councillors dismiss adventure trail book as 'too commercial'

By Francesca Evans

SUGGESTIONS to create an adventure trail booklet to sell to visitors in Lyme Regis failed to win town councillors’ support.

Councillor Rikey Austin put forward the idea of creating a 32-page adventure trail map, based on the new town map by artist Keith Robinson, at last week’s Tourism and Advertising Sub-Committee meeting. However, other members expressed concerns about the price of the project and thought it was “too commercial” for the town council to manage.

Councillor Austin explained that the book would cost an upfront payment of £3,000 to the artist, a further three per cent royalties cost from sales, and 50 pence each to have printed. It would be sold in the Tourist Information Centre for about £3.99 to £4.99 and would guide families around the town as they solved clues about local landmarks.

When councillors raised concerns that it was too commercial for them to run, Councillor Austin argued: “People come to Lyme an pay to park their car. I don’t see how this is any different.”

The Mayor, Councillor Sally Holman, replied: “Yes, but they get a service. They get somewhere to park their car.”

Councillor Austin: “They get a service with this, they get a book.”

Councillor Holman: “I think there is a difference.”

The Mayor also described the idea as “old fashioned” and said she didn’t think people would be drawn to it.

Sub-committee member Wayne Bradbury, who represents the hoteliers, said he thought paying the £3,000 upfront would be “quite a risk”.

Councillors Anita Williams and Chris Clipson agreed that they liked the concept but would like to see it done on a much smaller scale, using the free traders’ map as an example, and aimed more at children or school trips.

Councillor Clipson also expressed concern over the suggested selling price of £3.99 to £4.99, saying that it was “quite a big chunk out of people’s pockets”.

Councillor Austin said they could look at a cut down version on a smaller scale, but added: “I don’t have a problem with this council putting out something that gets people around the town and pays for itself.”

Councillor Williams asked if the council could fund such a commercial enterprise. The town clerk, Mike Lewis, said he would like to speak to the artist Mr Robinson, as the proposal did not fit in with the council’s original agreement with him when he produced the town map.

It was agreed that Councillor Austin would look into alternative costings and cut down designs and come back to the council.