Plans to relocate beach huts and chalets in Lyme Regis have been given the go-ahead by councillors.

Lyme Regis Town Council submitted the proposal to move the huts forward to stop them falling victim to landslips and severe weather.

The plans had been approved at a meeting of the West Dorset District Council development control committee but there had been some doubt over whether the decision was official. Six members of the committee had voted against and six members voted for the plans, with chairman Ian Gardner casting the deciding vote in favour of granting the application.

But district council leader Robert Gould, pictured left, later said the application had not been formally approved because a second formal vote by councillors did not take place to grant the application.

The committee met last week to hold the vote again and the application was formally approved. But some councillors still have concerns about the effect of storms on the huts.

Cllr Stella Jones said she was worried about the safety of occupiers, who are allowed to sleep overnight in the huts during the summer.

Case officer Rob Burden said: “There would be sufficient warning to occupiers in case of any flood warning.”

And Cllr Robin Legg said: “I thought we were simply going to have a vote to formalise the process we approved at an earlier meeting. We are starting to look as if we will have to revisit all these issues.”

Cllr Gardner called the vote, which was approved by eight votes to four against.