Lyme Regis Town Council row after "decision made in haste" to remove Marine Theatre's advertising rotunda

Last month, Lyme Regis Town Council agreed to remove the hexagonal advertising rotunda for the Marine Theatre at Bell Cliff Walk after councillors believed it caused an obstruction to pedestrians, being located close to a bus stop. The LymeArts Community Trust has been told to remove the structure by August 12.

Speaking to The News last month, Marine Theatre director Clemmie Reynolds branded the decision as "a disaster".

But at last week's town management committee, a row broke out between councillors over the decision to remove the rotunda.

Speaking in the public forum, Marine Theatre volunteer Peter Wiles, said: "We would really like the town management committee to reconsider its decision. We do not think the congestion there is caused by the rotunda. We are also concerned that apparently the decision was made with a very tight deadline.

"We understand that posts are going to be put there instead. It seems to me, very likely that people will put advertising boards in front of them. We have much appreciated the town council's support and that is why we feel very strongly that this decision doesn't seem to make much sense."

Committee chairman, Cllr Stan Williams said he thought the theatre was getting a "fair deal" and that the town council was "rightly moving it".

Cllr Brian Larcombe said it was easier to remove the rotunda than to request Dorset County Council moves the adjacent bus stop.

He said: "It is probably the most advertised facility in this town.

"At the moment, we are coming to the peak of the season. It was always the wrong place. There's less scope of moving the bus shelter."

Mayor of Lyme Regis, Cllr Owen Lovell, labelled the decision top remove the rotunda with a short timetable as "very unjust" and said the authority "seemed to be picking on the lessor of two strongest organisations" by not requesting the county council move the bus stop.

He added: "I just feel because of the agitation of some, this council reacted and made a decision in haste."

Cllr Jeff Scowen hit out at the decision to move the rotunda.

He said: "The Marine are very upset by the attitude of our decision to them. I think the solution is we move it to the side of the bus shelter. It is only fair. They just think wer are uncaring. I do not think it is right."

Deputy mayor, Cllr Michael Ellis, reminded councillors that the decision had already been made to remove it, but requested that an alternative home for the rotunda was found, which was agreed by the committee.