PARKING bays in Bridport town centre will be closed for 53 weeks while work takes place to restore the Literary and Scientific Institute (LSI).

After more than six years of planning, Bridport Area Development Trust will start work on the restoration of the LSI in East Street later this month.

The Grade 2* listed building has been empty since 1997 and is currently on the national At Risk register. A £2m building contract has been awarded to RG Spiller of Chard who are due to start work on August 22. It is estimated that the LSI building work will be completed by the autumn of 2017.

Mike Carter, chairman of the LSI working group, said: “Access to the building to carry out the refurbishment is very limited due to the restricted nature of the site.

"We have reached an agreement with highways and the town council to close the pavement outside the building and a portion of the local car parking on the south side of the road to allow for a contractor’s compound outside the building and to ensure that two-way traffic is maintained in East Street. "Pedestrian access will remain open to all premises along the street.”

While the construction work takes place, the trust will set up an operational management committee to run the building. When reopened, the building will include training, meeting and flexible workspace to meet the needs of new and existing small businesses in the area and the local community. A café will cater for users of the building and be open to the public.

A spokesman for Dorset Highways, said: “I can confirm that there is an agreement between Dorset Highways and the Bridport Area Development Trust regarding works to restore the Bridport LSI.

"The parking bays on the opposite side of the road will be closed for 53 weeks. This is to create a chicane in order for the two-way traffic to continue to flow. The pavement directly outside the building works will need to be closed at times for safety reasons.”

Bridport and Lyme Regis News:

Picture by Chris Lindsay

Alongside the building work, a programme of activities will explore the history of the building. Activities coordinator, Crystal Johnson, said: “It is incredibly exciting that, at last, this really important building is being saved. "Its purpose has always been to support the growth and prosperity of the town and provide amenity for its residents. Its new use will reflect its original aims and safeguard it for the people of Bridport in the future.

“We have developed a programme of events and activities that we hope will help us understand more about the building and celebrate its heritage significance. We have just appointed an Oral History coordinator to record local memories about the building and would love to hear from anyone who would be willing to share their stories – it might be a small snippet of information or a more detailed recount of something that happened at the building.”

To share a story and for more information, email crystal@bridportadt.org.uk