Monmouth beach is the battle ground
THE first salvos have been fired in what I predict will be long and awkward negotiations.
The first meeting took place between Lyme Regis Town Council and West Dorset District Council last week over the future management of one of the town’s most lucrative areas – Monmouth Beach.
Looking at Monmouth Beach, you wouldn’t think it was worth much. It’s not the prettiest area of Lyme, despite its proximity to the town’s biggest asset – The Cobb.
It’s a mish-mash of car parking and boat parks, as well as playing home to the bowling club, power boat club and boat academy. At the western end caravans and chalets dominate the skyline. None of it is very pretty but the area contributes huge amounts to the economy of Lyme.
An uneasy truce over who runs what has hovered over Monmouth Beach since 1974 local government reorganisation spurned our two local councils.
The big prize, of course, is the car parking revenue. At present the town council own and run the Cabanya car park (that’s the one on the right going westward just before the boat academy).
The town council also owns the bigger car park on the other side of the road but has leased this to the district for many years. Part of the deal was the district taking over the running of Lyme’s Tourism Information Centre, saving the town a good deal of money.
But that lease runs out in 2012 and it is rumoured that the town council will be taking it back. And the estimated £250,000 in car parking revenue that comes with it.
With that sort of revenue the town council could complete all its current projects – the Marine Parade shelters, new toilets in the gardens – and much more besides.
Last week’s meeting resulted in the district saying they did not want to renew the lease on another piece of land - the trailer park – behind the lifeboat station. And promptly served notice the next day (undue haste, wouldn’t you say?) on the sailing and power boat clubs to vacate their boat parks.
In a statement the district said the clubs would have to lease the land direct from the town council which should be simpler. Hmm? One problem. The district owns the frontage to the boat parks and could landlock them should they feel inclined to do so.
So who made the decision to give notice to the sailing and power boat clubs, who are rightly concerned for their future? The district council officers or the councillors? Lyme’s two district representatives were present at last week’s meeting but I understand neither of them knew anything about the leases being terminated.
That’s a big oversight or a mighty snub whichever way you look at it. Another fear locally will be the future of Lyme’s award winning TIC. If the town council take back the major car parking area on Monmouth Beach, will the district hand back the TIC to the town council.? Can the town council afford to run it?
These and many more will be the questions to be considered by both sides over the coming months.
The relationship between the two authorities has been fragile to say the least. The outcome from last week’s first tentative steps towards sorting out Monmouth Beach does not auger well for an amicable solution.
'Movember'
THERE’S been much talk of facial hair in the office this week. The young lads who work alongside me have decided to grow moustaches during November to raise money for research into prostate cancer. A good cause.
And as I am always dragging my staff into doing their bit for Cancer Research I feel obliged to take part as well.
I sported a moustache for most of the eighties and well into the nineties. When I finally exposed a clean-shaven top lip my eldest daughter Zoe did not speak to me for a week. She said I didn’t look “like Dad”.
Last year I attempted to grow a goatee beard which turned out to be a bit of a comedy. But I’m going to have a go at growing a moustache for the cause. We’ve all put in a fiver and anyone who laughs will be asked to contribute a similar amount.
EVENT OF THE WEEK...
NO significant event to comment upon this week but there’s one this coming weekend which I commend to you - the annual Festival of Remembrance organised by the Lyme Regis branch of the Royal British Legion, to be held at the Woodmead Halls on Saturday (starting at 7.30pm).
I have compered this event for many years and will be back on stage again this Saturday. I’m more than a bit anxious about this because for two out of the past three years I had to cry off at the last moment having been taken ill. Vice-chairman David Manners stood in on both occasions and did a splendid job.
But the Legion have kindly asked me to do it again so I hope they have the St John Ambulance standing by!
I have written many times in this column about my admiration for the work of the Legion, especially in Lyme. Although I’ve never served in the Armed Forces, I am a member of the Lyme branch and I would encourage others with a non-military background to do likewise.
Membership secretary David Humphreys will be present at the festival and will be hoping to sign a few up on the night.
With our young service men and women putting their lives on the line every day in foreign parts, the work of the Legion has never been more crucial.
Please give them your support.
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