18th April 2012

LYME REGIS: Council get tough on seafront

Traders will now pay for alfresco dining

By Philip Evans

AFTER years of protracted negotiations over the management of the seafront in Lyme Regis, the town council is about to introduce tough new measures to control trading activity on Marine Parade.

Negotiations with Dorset County Council and West Dorset District Council have concluded with Lyme Regis Town Council taking control of the seafront following the signing of the long-awaited tripartite agreement. Some seafront businesses, especially at the Cobb end, already pay a fee for using outdoor areas of the seafront for trading under licence.

Following extensive consultation over traders’ requirements, the council will be issuing five more licences to businesses at the western end of the Marine Parade sanctioning tables and chairs on the upper parade.

Alfresco dining

Approval was given at last week’s meeting of the Strategy and Policy Committee for the placing of 39 tables and 149 chairs on the seafront for alfresco dining.

The businesses have enjoyed free access to the seafront for many years free of charge because the ownership of the Marine Parade had never been established.

But under the tripartite agreement, the control of the seafront has been placed in the hands of the town council who will now make a charge for the facilities.

Businesses at the Cobb end of the seafront, including By The Bay restaurant, Jane’s Café, the Harbour Inn and the Beach House Café, have paid for the privilege of using public land as extensions to their business.

Now Largigi Thai restaurant and café, the Bay Hotel, Surfside ice-cream shop, The Alcove and the Old Boat House will have to do likewise.

Largigi and the Bay Hotel have both been given permission to have ten tables and 40 chairs outside their premises, extending onto the parade by 3.5 metres. Surfside will have 13 chairs, The Alcove ten tables and 26 chairs and the Old Boat House nine tables and 27 chairs.

The cafes and restaurants will pay £120 per cover, discounted by 50 per cent for the first year and there will be a charge of £10 per chair for Surfside, also discounted down to £5 for the first year.

In recent times councillors have expressed great concern about the congestion and inconvenience caused to pedestrians, especially those with push chairs, by the number of tables and chairs at the narrowest point at the eastern end.

In allowing the tables and chairs to be placed on the seafront, the council has to ensure that a pathway 1.8 metres wide is left for pedestrians and councillors discussed whether it would be better for the street furniture to be placed against the walls of the buildings rather on the seaward side.

Councillor Michaela Ellis drew attention to the “real bottleneck” at the eastern end of the parade where double-buggies found it difficult to get through.

She also advocated putting the tables and chairs back against the walls so that people could admire the sea view when walking along the seafront.

The Mayor, Councillor Sally Holman, said she did not think people would sit at tables along the wall as they would nt be able to look out over the sea.

Councillor Lucy Campbell pointed out that the railings along the parade acted as an aid for people to walk but were now blocked off by the tables and chairs

Councillor Lorna Jenkin was happy with the tables and chairs along the railings as people walking along the seafront were able to look over the people.

Councillor Anita Williams thought there would be problems with entrances to the various properties if the tables and chairs were placed against the wall. On balance she thought it was better to leave the tables and chairs along the railings and review the matter next year.

• DURING the public forum section earlier in the meeting, Brendon Cable, owner of the Bay Hotel, adressed councillors of his application for an awning outside his Marine Parade premises.

Mr Cable started work on the awning believing he had approval but was ordered to stop work by the town council as they had not granted permission.

Mr Cable had sent an email to all councillors copying correspondence between him and town clerk Mike Lewis which showed that it had been agreed the question of the awning would be dealt with in a side letter when the licence for tables and chairs outside the Bay was issued.

Mr Cable believed that he could go ahead with the work having received this communication from the town clerk and having received planning permission from West Dorset District Council.

Before the tripartite agreement, he had also been informed by Dorset County Council that he could get permission for the awning by the granting of a £35 licence.

Mr Lewis confirmed that he had agreed with Mr Cable for the matter to be dealt with under a side letter.

Mr Cable explained the circumstances leading up to him starting work on the awning and emphasised that he would not have commenced had he not believed he had permission.

He concluded by telling the council: “I do hope I continue to have the support of the town council to continue improving the facilities for visitors to Lyme Regis and to maintain local jobs.”

Councillor Daryl Turner said the information contained in the email trail between the town clerk and Mr Cable should have been placed before the council when the awning was original discussed. He could quite understand why Mr Cable went ahead and, pesonally, he had no issues over the awning.

“The Bay Hotel employ local people and we should support this 100 per cent,” he added.

Councillor Anita Williams said it was “incredible” that they had found themselves in such a position and they should ensure that it “does not happen again”.

She said: “I do not have any issues with the canopy and anything that helps to keep people here in the rain should be encouraged.”

Councillors unanimously agreed to allow the awning to go ahead but Mr Cable did not win support for his application to place decking under the awning.

Councillor Turner backed the proposal, saying it was no different than the decking on the raised level outside the By The Bay restaurant which was owned by the council.

Councillor Ellis disagreed, saying the raised level outside the By The Bay was not used as much by the public. She said every business on the seafront would be asking for decking if they gave approval.

LYME REGIS: Council get tough on seafront

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