LYME REGIS: Plans to convert a clothes shop to an upmarket bistro in Bridge Street has fallen at the first hurdle.

Directors Paul Crisp and Jon Golding were hoping to open The French Lieutenant’s Bistro, themed on the classic 1980s film, employing a core team of 12 and rising to 25 in the peak season.

However, Lyme Regis town councillors were not impressed and said proposals for a glass and stainless steel windbreak on the terrace was out of keeping with the area.

They were also worried that a restaurant opening seven days a week for breakfast, lunch and dinner would disrupt the lives of nearby residents.

At Tuesday night’s plans meeting Cllr Cheryl Reynolds led the opposition, saying: “With all the money we have spent on the walkway there to keep it in keeping with the area.... then this with glass and stainless steel, I don’t like that at all.

“The character of the area is what we want to protect – heritage lights, a lovely old walkway, then they want to go and put glass and stainless steel on it.

“It’s ridiculous.”

Cllr Michaela Ellis said the opening hours there now were normal shop hours.

She said: “We are talking now about a place that is probably going to be open to 11pm or midnight.

“We don’t know what the effects on residents in the flats above will be.”

Cllr Reynolds added: “The applicant also wants to be open all winter out on the terraces and he’ll have patio heaters out there.

“He doesn’t know Lyme very well. Are you going to be sitting out there with a glass wind break and patio heaters, eating your dinner in the winter? I don’t think so.”

Cllr Lorna Jenkins said that would not be very environmentally friendly.

Councillors said the placing of the extraction fans were also a cause for concern – the noise and the visual impact. Where the produce would be delivered was also a problem, they added.

Mr Crisp, who has managed the George Inn Chideock, West Bay Hotel and The Anchor Inn Burton Bradstock, said he was disappointed by the council’s lack of support.

He said: “We are just trying to put a style of business in that will encourage people to dine out more in the evenings, less targeting the day tripper and seasonal holiday maker and just trying to create a business opportunity that will provide Lyme with a really good asset and employment all year.

“If you take at look at it down there now you’ll see that it is all crumbling old render tatty old paving slabs and either side of the river you have waste pipes an extraction pipes coming from various other outlets that are very poorly done.

“I think it is going to be fabulous with an open plan kitchen, come and chose your food and we’ll cook it to order type place, nice little bar with views out to sea but, more importantly, we just think it will be brilliant for Lyme and brilliant for employment.

“So I am very disappointed to hear that the Lyme council don’t see it from the same perspective of moving the town forward and encouraging a bit of growth.”