A LISTED building which has been struck 10 times by vehicles this year could be protected from damage under proposals by a town council.

Lyme Regis Town Council will push ahead with plans to set back a window at the Guildhall to protect the structure from damage.

In a report to member’s of the council’s town management and highways committee, operations manager Elliott Herbert, said that damage was occurring shortly after repairs had been made to the building.

He said: “On occasions, heavy goods vehicles (HGV) lorries struggle to make it around the tight bend at the junction of Church Street and Bridge Street and hit the overhang window, causing damage.

“The window has been hit 10 times this year.

“Three of the 10 hits have caused the main damage and three successful insurance claims have been made.

“The last time the Guildhall window was repaired, it lasted two weeks before almost identical damage was caused by a large vehicle.”

He added: “The Guildhall window was repaired during the road closure in September 2016. The cost of repairs were covered by insurance.

The probability of the window and building being damaged again after the repairs have been made is very high.”

Subject to full council approval, the committee agreed to arrange a pre-application site meeting with a conservation officer in order to move forward with plans to set the overhanging window back from the road.

Cllr Brian Larcombe suggested that a “substantial bollard” could be installed at ground level to protect the building.

He added: “I suspect that even if it was flush with the wall where buses are hitting the window out, if that is set back I think they will just hit the wall.

“I fully believe that when the window is flush wit the wall, the wall will be the target.”

Deputy mayor, Cllr Michaela Ellis, urged the council to push ahead with the plans. and ensure the integrity of the historic building was protected.

She said: “I think we have to go ahead with this.

“It looks more of a mess having to do it up all the time.

“They need to realise that it’s not just the window it is doing damage to, but it could be a cause for all these cracks. “ She added: “They need to think about the integrity of the building.”