A LOAN of up to £50,000 is set to provide support to Lyme Regis Museum as it looks to start work on its new development.

As report in the News, the museum is undertaking a £1.36 million development project to construct a new wing to house a geology gallery, learning space, extended shop, visitor toilets, second staircase and a lift.

The trust that runs the museum has received approval from the Heritage Lottery Fund to start the project and plans to start work in September, prior to the re-opening of the museum in the summer of 2017.

The Heritage Lottery Fund has awarded the museum £798,000 towards the project with WDDC also agreeing a grant of £25,000 to get the “ball rolling” on the project last year.

The loan from the district council is to assist with possible cash flow issues during the implementation of the project and it is to be repaid over five years.

The trust has stated that it is planning on drawing down the loan in to two instalments and it may not need the second £25,000.

David Tucker, director of Lyme Regis Museum, said: “Lyme Regis Museum is very grateful for the loan facility offered to us by West Dorset District Council. It gives us great reassurance that we will be able to proceed with our proposed capital development, The Mary Anning Wing, later this year knowing that this support is in place should it be required.”

Bridport and Lyme Regis News:

Lyme Regis Museum director David Tucker

The business plan for the project predicts an increase of 5000 visitors per year by 2018 for the museum with visitor figures increasing by 20 percent in 2018 and 2019.

The extension will enable the museum to extend its free education service for local schools, work more closely with local community groups and make Lyme’s fascinating history more accessible.

It will also help the museum to host more events, as well as working with larger museums and university to encourage the study of Lyme’s unique geology.

Planning approval for the extension was granted last October.