LYME Regis Bowls Club has been refused a discount on 'unfair' rent for parking space.

The club has a 25-year lease with Lyme Regis Town Council to use an area of land next to the bowling green for parking.

Although the lease, which was signed in 1994, outlines space for 24 cars, club officials claim the space allows for a maximum of only 19 cars and asked the town council to reduce the rent.

Each space is valued at £323 and the club is due to pay rent of £7,752 over this financial year. Bowls club member Charles Barber attended a town management committee meeting last week to urge councillors to make the changes.

Mr Barber outlined what the bowls club does for the town, including bringing in spending through competitions and visiting clubs, and maintaining the club and green to a high standard.

He said: “We have not asked for nor do we receive any financial support or grant maintenance from the town council.”

Mr Barber said all the work is done by members, whose average age is about 75, and the land in question is 'vital' to the club.

“Nobody knows why an unfair contract was drawn up by council officers or were agreed by officers of the bowls club,” he added.

Town clerk John Wright advised members to reject the club's request.

“I can see no reason why the town council should review an arrangement that has been in place for 19 years,” he said.

Coun Michaela Ellis said although she has sympathy with the club, she agreed with the town clerk and stressed that the club has the benefit of 'guaranteed' parking.

Coun Lucy Campbell said: “A precedent has been set. We have had 19 years of this being the status quo. If there had been some major change that affected that I think we could look at it.

“When the lease expires that may be the opportunity that the whole thing needs a review, but to do that halfway through, I can't see a reason for that changing.

“We have to be putting the interests of the public first and this is the townspeople's money so we have to be very careful in our actions.”

The bowls club could also now be liable to pay even more to the council under a VAT review.

The review of car parking raised the question of whether or not tax should be charged on the rental income.

Mr Wright said that because the area is clearly designated for parking, in theory VAT is applicable.

The town clerk said he has now opened discussions with HM Revenue and Customs to determine if tax should be charged.