A COUNCILLOR is appealing for ideas to try and make Lyme Regis more accessible for people with disabilities.

Cllr Richard Doney spoke out about trying to make improvements at last week's meeting of Lyme Regis Town Council's tourism, community and publicity committee. The committee agreed to support the principle of improving experiences for visitors with disabilities and impairments, subject to full council agreement.

Speaking to The News, Cllr Doney said: "I feel we could make a better job of it.

"It is about trying to improve it and that is the proposition I put forward.

"When people come to Lyme who have a disability or impairment, I think they realise we have done the best we can, given the topography of the town. It could just be simple improvements like putting signage in the right place to show people who need to use a wheelchair, which routes are more suitable."

Cllr Doney added that any plans or proposals are at a "very early stage" but there could be simple solutions to some issues.

He said: "A lot of people know that Lyme is hilly. We do get lots of visitors and older people who come here, as it is a very attractive place.

"We are just trying to look at ways we can improve the town and seeing what we can do to help. We are at the very early stage of thinking about it but we can go away and talk to people who are experts about this and hopefully make some improvements."

One of Cllr Doney's early ideas could be to highlight routes where there are no steps for people to access attractions in the town.

He added: "An example I always use is that it is possible to get from Langmoor Gardens by the cinema to the beach without going down any steps if you know where to navigate through the gardens by ramps.

"It is not the most direct route, but it is possible. We could put signs up to say this is a step-free route to the beach.

"We do not always have awareness to things that do cause problems to people with a disability. By all means, if people who have got some ideas of what could be done, please get in touch as I would like to hear from people about this."

To get in touch, please contact Lyme Regis Town Council on 01297 445175.