A REGULAR market in Lyme Regis, investment in town bus shelters and installing a ‘Changing Places’ facility.
These are the top three priorities of local residents and businesses who took part in our consultation exercise, Community Conversation.
Lyme Regis Town Council carries out a major public consultation on its future projects and objectives every few years, with the last one taking place in 2023.
The consultation aimed to gather feedback on some ideas the council already has and to invite suggestions from the community, helping the members to make more informed decisions.
More than 200 people responded to the consultation, with other views and ideas gathered at in-person events, including an open afternoon at Woodmead Halls, visits to local schools, and sessions at community hubs such as Talking Café.
The suggestion for a regular market in Theatre Square was the most popular idea, with almost 85% of respondents supporting this.
The town council is already in discussions with Dorset Council about the use of Theatre Square, and possibly Gun Cliff Walk, for a weekly market.
Nearly 80% of you wanted to see further investment in town bus shelters, including upgraded shelters and real-time passenger information displays, while almost 75% of respondents supported a ‘Changing Places’ facility, a larger, more spacious and better equipped toilet for people who need extra support.
The council would like to make the Cemetery Chapel more accessible to residents and visitors, including use for small ceremonies, remembrance events and heritage activities, and almost 71% of you supported this idea.
There was strong support for more picnic benches in the town, with one suggestion for wheelchair-friendly seating, as well as a majority in favour of a digital Gateway Card, the residents’ discount scheme which currently relies on a physical card.
Our ideas for a memorial tree in the gardens, where residents can remember loved ones with an engraved stainless steel leaf, and for a publicly-accessible boules area in the seafront gardens were also well supported.
Just over half of respondents thought removing the precept, the element of the council tax paid to the town council, and a town council app to help residents better access local services were a good idea.
Proposals to develop environmental education opportunities within the gardens, such as interpretation boards, nature trails, and interactive features, and a new children’s play area in the gardens also received support from over half of respondents.
Some of your own ideas included a splash zone in the gardens, a sensory trail in the gardens, better waste management, toilets in Langmoor Gardens, extending the two hours’ free parking for residents, changing and shower facilities for swimmers, extension of the town bus service, and secure lockers on the beach.
All the feedback and new ideas will be considered by the council as part of its 2027-28 budget-setting process, which will include agreeing projects for the year.
Members will start these discussions at the Full Council meeting on Wednesday 14 October, when a draft budget will be considered, with projects being agreed at the Full Council meeting on Wednesday 18 November.