LYME REGIS: Councillors will allow free parking in town council-owned car parks to support a local business initiative des-pite existing congestion fears in the town.

The decision to support the Small Business Saturday scheme on December 6 was made at a council town management committee meeting.

Councillors were asked to consider allowing free parking for the campaign, which is designed to encourage consumers to shop locally to support small businesses in their communities.

But a report put before councillors by operations manager Elliott Herbert said the town’s popular Great Christmas Pudding Race occurs on the same day as the scheme, adding that ‘the town is expected to be busy’.

Small Business Saturday took place across the UK for the first time in December last year.

Lyme Regis businesses have welcomed the scheme, claiming anything that encourages more people to come to the resort is positive.

John Kellas, owner of Aroma Cafe on Bridge Street, said: “The small business Saturday idea is a very good thing because parking is an issue here in Lyme – and I am glad the town council have got behind it.

“Most shoppers here park and hop out their cars quickly to look for a specific item but perhaps this scheme will encourage them to stay for longer.

“Anything that brings more visitors to the town is always a good thing for everyone.”

A similar report for Small Business Saturday was brought before the council in July, but councillors recommended deferring the matter until September when more information was available from West Dorset District Council (WDDC) and car park operator NCP as to whether they would be willing to support the venture.

Cllr Mark Gage also previously requested that Mr Herbert writes to district councillors to lobby on the town council’s behalf to encourage WDDC to support the free parking initiative. Mr Herbert added that a reply from NCP’s Rick Parkin said that the operator would be ‘very unlikely’ to be able to support the venture.

He also said no response had been given yet on behalf of the WDDC on the scheme.

Having assured the budget and funds for this time of year were sufficient, councillors agreed to allow free parking for the day on December 6 to support the scheme. Any recommendations from the committee will be considered by full council on October 8.

  •  Free winter parking permits for Lyme Regis residents will be available from the town council from Monday from 9.30am to 4.30pm.

Lyme Regis Town Council is once again offering free residents parking in Cabanya and Woodmead car parks between November 1 and March 27, 2015.

Residents must produce a valid council tax bill for Lyme Regis and a vehicle registration document displaying the same address.