Lyme is turning green (From Bridport and Lyme Regis News)

Lyme is turning green

10:05am Friday 16th November 2007

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ENVIRONMENTAL group Turn Lyme Green is hoping its official launch last week is just the beginning of a huge community effort to make Lyme Regis a leading eco-conscious coastal town.

The launch last Thursday saw around 200 people pack into the Marine Theatre to hear plans to make Lyme Regis a truly green town - top of the agenda is to ban the plastic bag in the resort.

The public meeting was opened by scientist and Lyme resident Sir Ghillean Prance, and included a showing of the BBC's Message In The Waves, a film about the dangers of plastic debris in the marine environment.

Candida Blaker, a representative of Turn Lyme Green, said: "It went fantastically - we took it as a huge demonstration of support for the idea.

"We feel it is a really good beginning and we are really excited. We have still got lots of energy to make it all happen and more people are coming on board to work with us."

The launch was followed on Saturday by the Great Green Bag Giveaway, when more than 1,500 reusable cotton bags - intended to eventually replace plastic bags in the town - were given away to residents.

Ms Blaker said: "We probably distributed about two-thirds of the bags to residents on that day and we have also given some out to St Michael's Primary School and residents at Hallett's Court.

"The bag giveaway was also brilliantly attended - full of fun and an atmosphere of great community spirit.

"Visitors commented on what a fantastic community spirit there is in Lyme Regis and we had great collaboration from various other resident groups, like the regatta and carnival committee."

West Dorset MP Oliver Letwin put in an appearance, and there was face painting, music, and even people dressed as gorillas, all helping to create the party atmosphere in town and most importantly, raise awareness.

Ms Blaker said: "We are very pleased that we have certainly raised awareness and have a fantastic degree of support and our next challenge is to put this all into action. It is really important for us to start working with a small group of traders to feed back to the bigger groups.

"We are gathering all our research so we will be able to work with shopkeepers to find the best alternatives but also consider the cost factors for them. We have also got support from a few people in the tourist accommodation sector, who are discussing ways to make bags available to visitors when they come and stay."

The free reuseable bags are now available at Staples Stores in Staples Terrace, Acorn in Broad Street, and LymeNet at St Michael's Business Centre, Church Street - the Tourist Information Centre is also selling them for £1.99.

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