Lyme IS up for library fight!

ON last week’s front page I put up the following headline: “Is Lyme up for saving the library? It wasn’t popular.

I took a real kicking from one or two readers who condemned the negativity of my coverage of the public meeting held to co-ordinate opposition to the possible closure of the Lyme library as part of Dorset County Council cuts.

I had intended to write the following headline “Apathy over fight to save library” but I thought that was a step too far and unfair to those, like Wendy Davies, who had worked so hard to publicise the meeting.

I also wrote in this column last week that I left the meeting with the hump because I could not hear most of the dialogue due to the the lay-out of the seating.

I can’t blame Wendy for that as she did not expect such a good turn-out – over 100 residents attended.

Not her fault either than I have suffered from tinnitus for over 20 years and now have only 20 per cent hearing in one ear. That’s why I like to sit in front of an audience when covering events so people are talking at me rather than away from me.

This was picked up by one of my email critics who succinctly suggested that if I can no longer hear the discussions at public meetings, was it not time I considered retiring?

I posed the question of whether Lyme was up for saving its library because after a lively debate to which many contributed only two people put their names forward to serve on an action group – Rikey Austin and Lucy Campbell, both of whom might well think they are busy enough on other community initiatives.

I also noted that there seemed to be no real enthusiasm by those present to turn up at the library on Saturday morning which had been dedicated as a quasi-national “Save Our Libraries” day.

But I wasn’t the only person who was less than impressed with the enthusiasm of the protesters at the public meeting. Those who organised the gathering were also bit non-plussed by the reaction.

However, I am pleased to report that others did come forward during the week to sit on an action group and there was a wonderful turn-out at the library on Saturday morning, somewhere near 300 people, making it one of the biggest protest gatherings in recent times, certainly more than the Three Cups marches.

So perhaps the “Is Lyme up for saving the library?” headline might have done some good after all...

Jackie covered the Lyme protest as I popped over to Charmouth where the villagers turned out in force to demonstrate their support for one of the smallest libraries in Dorset by taking out dozens of books.

Even social activist and entertainer Billy Bragg, who lives at Burton Bradstock, turned up with his guitar to give his support to the protesting villagers.

“The things I do for international socialism,” he quipped as he signed autographs for the kids.

We are told that there is a good chance that the Lyme library will be saved (although not confirmed) and if that proves to be the case Charmouth may well face a bigger battle because they will still have a library outlet within three miles.

Parishioners in Charmouth already contribute - through the parish council supplementing staff costs at their library to the tune of £4,200 a year - so even more voluntary effort may be necessary to stave off total closure.

As for Lyme, it seems to me that the county has to give more serious consideration to the plan put forward by Lyme Regis Development Trust to re-house the library at St Michael’s Business Centre and put the Silver Street site to better use.

This could result in an improved service, with longer opening hours, rather than a lesser one

I think there is much credence also in the argfument put forward by Wendy Davies and others that the pain should be spread across all 34 libraries in Dorset and not just the 20 earmarked for closure.

Oh and by the way, sorry to disappoint, but I have no plans to retire quite yet – at least not until I go totally mutt and jeff!

Loss of jazz festival a real blow to the town

REAL disappointment in Lyme over the news that there will be no jazz festival in the resort this year.

The festival has become one of Lyme’s most popular attractions over the last 20 years, providing a welcome trading boost in the early summer.

The Lyme festival had also become a firm favourite with jazz aficionados, many of whom returned to the town year after year to savour the special intimate atmosphere created by the visiting musicians.

Highlight of the festival has always been the Saturday morning umbrella parade, bringing a little bit of New Orleans to the Pearl of Dorset. Indeed, the staging of the parade with town crier Phil Street striding out in front to the strains of Gerry Brown’s Mission Hall Jazz Band has become one of the iconic summer sights of Lyme.

There is a real fear among jazz lovers in the town that missing one festival could mean the event will never return as it will lose its place in the jazz calendar.

If that is the case, it will be a real blow to the town.

Everybody loves Lyme

ANOTHER famous face has extolled the virtues of Lyme Regis as a visitor destination in a national newspaper.

Saturday’s Daily Mail asked best selling author Colin Dexter, who wrote the Inspector Morse books, to name his favourite destination.

Dexter replied: “It’s always been Lyme Regis – I love the sight of the sea. The thought of sitting by the seaside on a sunny day with a pint of beer always gives me a lift.

“It’s the one place in the world I never tire of visiting. Lyme Regis is a charming little seaside town on the Dorset coast – ‘Hardy Country’ – where all sorts of dinosaur remains have been found. Not that I’ve ever seen any.”

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