COUNCILLORS will meet next week to discuss rescinding controversial plans to remove a theatre’s advertising rotunda.

Members of Lyme Regis Town Council’s planning committee will discuss whether or not to rescind the authority’s decision made in July to remove the hexagonal structure at Bell Cliff.

Councillors had agreed to remove the structure and replace it with two bollards over concerns it was located too close to the bus stop, causing congestion for pedestrians. No plans had been put forward as to whether the rotunda would be placed somewhere else in the town.

Director of the Marine Theatre, Clemmie Reynolds, told the Bridport & Lyme Regis News that removing the advertising structure would be a “disaster” while local resident Peter Wiles launched a petition to save the rotunda.

The petition secured 470 signatures and was handed to Lyme Regis Mayor, Cllr Owen Lovell.

Bridport and Lyme Regis News:

Cllr Owen Lovell receives the petition from Peter Wiles

Cllr Jeff Scowen, who has previously spoken out against the removal of the rotunda, thanked campaigners for their support.

He said: “With the help of the mayor Owen Lovell, I have secured the necessary six councillors to rescind the motion to move the rotunda.

“Thanks to the hundreds who supported this campaign, especially Peter Wiles with the petition and John Gooden with his legal challenge.”

The rescinding motion is beleived to have been signed by Cllr Lovell, Cllr Scowen, Cllr Michaela Ellis, Cllr Daryl Turner, Cllr Anita Williams and Cllr Sean Larcombe.

Town clerk John Wright confirmed that the council will meet to discuss withdrawing the decision next week.

He said: “If a council has taken a decision, it will require a rescinding motion to change that. If there is a rescinding motion with the support of six members, they can reconsider it.

“I was notified by the mayor and I received notice of it this morning. The council will meet again to rescind that decision.

“The council will consider whether that decision should be rescinded before it may bring another proposal forward about what will be done with the rotunda. It has to be done one step at a time.”

The rotunda decision will be discussed at an extraordinary meeting at 6.45pm on Tuesday.

Bridport and Lyme Regis News:

ARTISTS in Lyme Regis have been showing their support for the rotunda by painting the structure.

Julie Critchinson and Brian Matravers have painted pictures of the rotunda so that there is an artistic record, should the rotunda be moved from its current location. Ms Critchinson has also created a save the rotunda sketch.

Well-known Lyme resident Chris Boothroyd, has penned a poem about the rotunda in the style of Samuel Taylor Coleridge.