CONCERNED Lyme Regis citizens have set up a residents’ association to make sure their voices are heard.

The group has been created for people who live on the Magna Estates in Anning Road, Kings Way, Summerhill Road, Lym Close, Queens Walk and Colway Lane.

Organised by Cheryl Reynolds, the idea of the group originated following a number of complaints made on Facebook about reckless driving on North Avenue.

Mrs Reynolds said: “The group was set up because people are getting fed up of the problems in the area, and when they go to complain or to alert the authorities they get passed from one authority to another, and it leaves people incredibly fed up.

“There was a good turn out at the meeting and it was encouraging because everyone was enthusiastic about the group, and hopefully we can now start seeing some progress with the issues we are worried about.”

The first meeting of the group was held on Monday, December 2 at Hallett’s Court, where 14 residents joined the group and selected a committee. Dangerous parking, persistent dog fouling, the removal of public waste bins and anti-social behaviour during the night were all issues the group discussed, plus the need to check on the elderly generation during the cold winter months.

Speaking at the meeting, Cheryl Reynolds said: “One of the main issues is parking by the bridge on Haye Lane and Colway Lane, because cars park on both sides of the road.

“It’s okay now during the winter but it is dreadful during the summer, it can get really bad. If nothing is done one day there is going to be a terrible accident.

“With this residents’ association, we will have more clout as a residents’ group rather than us all writing in individually to the authorities.

“As a residents’ association we will have more chance of getting stuff done. What we need is weight.

“We need to show them we not going to put up with it and are not going to lie down.”

The group also decided to combine a Neighbourhood Watch scheme into the residents’ association.

Members of the group will now write a letter to Dorset County Council, West Dorset District Council and Lyme Regis Town Council to find out which council is responsible for what, and where to direct their complaints.

They will all also make a list of the issues they think are blighting the area.

The group has provisionally scheduled its next meeting for Tuesday, January 14, at Hallett’s Court starting at 2.30pm, and are inviting any other residents to join, by contacting Cheryl on 07796 074849.