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Lyme Regis: Campaigners 'optimistic' Three Cups can be an hotel again

10:48am Thursday 4th February 2010


THREE Cups campaigners say they are feeling ‘optimistic’ about the building being a hotel once again.

It comes even after owner Palmers Brewery announced last week it would never be a hotel again.

Palmers commissioned an independent report into the viability of the hotel.

The report published last week found there was an opportunity for a four-star boutique hotel in Lyme Regis but the redevelopment costs ‘far outweigh’ the potential profit.

Campaigners from the Save the Three Cups as a Hotel Group last week vowed to keep fighting and have now met with district council leaders to discuss their next move.

Group chairman John Dover, vice chairman David Parker and committee member Rikey Austin held talks with Robert Gould, leader of West Dorset District Council and the authority’s head of planning Dr David Evans.

Mr Dover said: “We felt the meeting was a constructive meeting and we still feel optimistic that the viability of the hotel option is being fully explored.

“We are still committed to pursuing the hotel option and we shall be working hard to pursue that to its logical conclusion.”

Mr Dover said they were now demanding to know why the Broad Street building had been left empty and untouched for so long.

He said: “We seem to be getting conflicting views from Palmers and West Dorset.”

Palmers public relations representative Sara Hudston at Watershed PR confirmed a second report about the historical survey on the building was expected any day.


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Your Say Your Bridport

glenherby, lyme regis says...
10:16am Sat 6 Feb 10

On 4th April 1974 during the local government transition the former borough of Lyme Regis ended and its assets were divided into 53 packages to be transferred to the National Archives, the newly formed West Dorset District and Lyme Regis Town councils. All these assets can be accounted for except Package 37 which is missing! and contained many land and property deeds that belonged to the former borough including those of the Three Cups. These deeds filled up a back room of the former solicitor firm Roper & Roper, some were later past on to the national archives known today as the Roper Deeds. It’s easy to find out which are still missing by applying for a Historical Certificate (HC1 form) from the Land Registry (Weymouth Office) and you will discover most properties in Lyme Regis officially never existed prior to 1974 because the deeds prior to this time are the missing borough assets. May I also point out that falsifying or knowingly holding a falsified deed is fraud and the culprit can expect anything up to a ten year prison sentence! If anyone doubts this then try asking Palmers for proof of ownership of the Three Cups prior to 1974?

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Get a grip, Dorset says...
7:26pm Sun 7 Feb 10

If you are right how is it that you are the only one who makes this point, very strange given that this is all in living memory?
Also some of the Town Councillors have a clear memory of 1974.

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glenherby, lyme regis says...
7:43pm Mon 8 Feb 10

I am not the only one making this point, merely part of a group of us who have recently obtained the evidence. Although, I must admit I always thought there was something seriously wrong with Lyme politics ever since I was a boatman at the Cobb. I have been on my own campaign to save the Cobb as a commercial seaport as I have a passion for its history and wish to preserve a piece of our heritage. In the last two years I noticed that those trying to save the Three Cups are being lead down the same ‘blind alley’ as I had. Ownership of the Cobb is the same as the Three Cups with many other properties and land throughout Lyme that belonged to the former borough council This is all public/government property not any individuals. Those with a clear memory of 1974 (not just Councillors!) will know that I am right, those who don’t then take a look at the Drayton survey of borough property at the Dorset History Centre, Dorchester (DC/LR/K/4/1). This would you believe is only part of the missing property as a careful examination of the remaining Roper deeds (D/LRM/A6) will show you.

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Get a grip, Dorset says...
5:03pm Tue 9 Feb 10

Well we know who ownes the Cobb West Dorset District Council.

Are you saying that Palmers "stole" the 3 cups for the Council?

Did they do this at night?

How many of you are in your group?

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glenherby, lyme regis says...
11:10pm Tue 9 Feb 10

If it happened in Lyme then you can be sure it happened in Beaminster, Bridport, Dorchester and Sherborne and now everyone has the evidence they, like us (you are now part of that group!) have to decide - How does Dorset get a grip about this?

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Get a grip, Dorset says...
2:04pm Wed 10 Feb 10

How can I be part of your group as I simply do not agree with you.

You fail to deal with a single issue best we stop this for your own health.

Suggest a vist to the Doctors.

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