THE MAYOR of Lyme Regis has warned that taking on any development of the town's library site must provide affordable housing for local people.

Councillors are set to discuss whether or not to become involved in proposals by Lyme Regis Development Trust to develop the Silver Street site, providing housing and safeguarding library services.

Mayor Owen Lovell said: "It is a big decision and we need to try and make sure that it benefits the young people of the town.

"We are looking at it to see what we realistically can afford. It would be a big capital commitment.

"If we are going to get involved, we need the homes to go to people who live in the town. If we are serious about providing some affordable housing in Lyme Regis, it is something we have to look at."

Cllr Lovell believes there is no guarantee library services will be safeguarded in the future in further local government cuts.

He added: "We don't know what is going to lose funding in the future from local government.

"One thing to bear in mind would be the possibility that we would maybe be more likely to keep library services in the long term if the town is involved."

Lyme Regis Development Trust is proposing to build four affordable flats as well as three flats at market rent - while retaining the library.

Last September, the trust submitted a pre-application enquiry to West Dorset District Council for the proposed scheme.

Mark Green, deputy town clerk at Lyme Regis Town Council, said: "Dorset County Council (DCC) has opened up the opportunity to develop the site to other interested parties.

"If the town council is minded to pursue this development opportunity, it would need to produce a sustainable business plan which demonstrated a viable scheme. This would require a feasibility study to be undertaken.

"Any proposal would also need to ensure a replacement library is provided, of equivalent size to the existing building. It is understood that the replacement library provision may not necessarily need to be on the existing site."

It is estimated a feasibility study could cost the town council around £5,000.

The authority also has no market budget to become involved in the development.

Mr Green added: "There is no immediate need for the council to express formal interest and it is probably more prudent to look at the matter in more detail once further information is made available by DCC.

"If the council wishes to pursue the development of the site, an adequate budget will need to be allocated, either now or at the time further details are made available by DCC."