A LISTED building could become “uninsurable” if large vehicles continue to damage the structure, according to a councillor.

Lyme Regis Town Council had planned to carry out repairs to the Guildhall last month, but lorries collided with the building on two occasions, causing “substantial damage”.

Now the council believes Church Street may have to be closed in order for work to take place.

Elliott Herbert, operations manager at Lyme Regis Town Council, said: “Since the repairs were made during the road closure in October last year, the Guildhall has been hit by lorries on three separate occasions in December and January, causing significant damage. 

“The second incident on December 10 caused substantial damage to the window frame. 

“We have put in place temporary measures to weatherproof the window and we are liaising with the insurance companies to pay for the damage.

“This matter is being dealt with through our insurers and will probably require a road closure to undertake the repair.” 

Mayor of Lyme Regis, Cllr Owen Lovell has proposed looking at stopping large vehicles being allowed to be driven along the narrow streets of Lyme Regis.

He said: “It is about time we bite the bullet and said no access for anything big, excluding buses. A lot of towns do that, so there’s no reason why we shouldn’t consider it.”

Speaking to the Bridport and Lyme Regis News in November, Cllr Lovell said: “The only way that we can realistically address it is by putting restrictions on heavy vehicles in parts of the town and a one-way system in the Bridge Street, Church Street and Silver Street area.”

Town management committee chairman Cllr Stan Williams suggested discussions needed to take place with Dorset County Council’s highways department to see if something can be done.

Cllr Brian Larcombe believes sat-nav direct lorry drivers through the centre of town.

“At this rate, this building will become uninsurable,” said Cllr Larcombe. 

“A problem we have is that I think sat-navs take drivers through the town and they just follow it and it is a major problem.”