TOWN councillors have agreed to allow the Lyme Regis harbour master to store boats in a car park over the winter despite one councillor labelling the plans 'ludicrous' and 'ridiculous'.

Members of Lyme Regis Town Council's strategy and policy committee approved that the authority enters into a licence agreement with West Dorset District Council to allow the far end of Monmouth Beach car park to be used until Thursday, March 24, free of charge.

Councillors agreed the permission, subject to full council approval, after the town clerk warned the authority needs to end 'antagonism' with the district council.

The agreement will offer no financial incentive for the town council, but the management of the boat storage would be dealt with by West Dorset District Council.

Cllr John Broom spoke out against the proposals and said he thought the town council should receive payment for allowing the boats to be stored.

He said: "It is ludicrous that we are not thinking of having some return for our property.

"I'm sorry but it is ridiculous."

Cllr Stan Williams said the council would be losing money by allowing the area to be used without charge.

"It's worrying that we are going to lose a great deal of money," he said.

"They should pay their way. We are going to lose a lot of money and I think we should charge them."

But committee chairman Cllr Michaela Ellis warned that the town council should act favourably towards the district council as the authority opens talks about the future ownership and management of assets and services in the town - including the Tourist Information Centre, car parking and public toilets.

Cllr Ellis said: "We need to be working with them, not against them.

"It could be looked at that if they're going to rent the space out, then get the boats out of the harbour. That's not going to help us.

"We need to be working with them so we can get some of the things that we want, rather than upsetting them over one little issues."

Town clerk John Wright urged councillors to use 'an open mind' when dealing with the district council over the ownership of assets and services.

"It seems to me we have a really good opportunity to begin to move forward," said Mr Wright.

"I really think we need to be entering into this with an open mind and actually on a positive footing. The potential benefit for the town is quite significant."

"For too long there has been some antagonism between this council and the district council and we need to end that. I don't think we should let things get in the way which will be inevitably for relatively small sums of money, that may well hamper those discussions."