A TOWN council has come under fire for re-opening a park and ride site without permission.

Lyme Regis Town Council opened the park and ride along Sidmouth Road last Friday, but are still awaiting approval from East Devon District Council for planning permission to be granted.

Cllr Ian Thomas of East Devon District Council and Uplyme Parish Council, said: "My overall feeling about this issue is of disappointment.

"The fact that a local authority has gone ahead with this without the correct permission seems, in my personal opinion, a foolish thing to do.

"An application is currently with East Devon District Council for continued temporary use. This has however not been decided and, reflecting consultee comments received, would be considered a contentious application."

East Devon District Council confirmed that use of the park and ride site is 'technically unauthorised'.

A spokesperson said: "There is a current application to effectively continue this use and it is our intention to take that application to the chairman's delegation meeting on April 15 for a decision.

"At present the use, which we understand recommenced on Good Friday, is technically unauthorised. However, given that we have an application to retain this use - we would not consider taking any enforcement action until after that application has been determined - and only then in the event of a refusal."

Lyme Regis Town Council have responded by stating that the planning application to extend the use of the park and ride was submitted to East Devon District Council in December last year and re-opening it was deemed 'absolutely essential' in order to cope with the busy Easter weekend.

The authority also said it could legally operate the site under a 28-day rule for using land for an alternative use without the need for formal planning consent.

Operations manager Elliott Herbert said: "With the town preparing for a busy Easter weekend, the weather and visitor numbers were monitored to determine whether the park and ride would be required.

"The advice from East Devon District Council was that while the planning application was still under consideration, the district council would not seek to prevent the service from operating. Furthermore, the service operator was told by East Devon District Council planners that he could operate.

"We were informed by East Devon District Council that it had been intended to approve the application before the Easter period, but due to the calendar of meetings and the Bank Holiday, the sign-off was delayed and formal approval was only a technicality."