A CAFÉ and toilets could be built in town centre gardens - as the council moves forward with redeveloping the green space.

Members of Lyme Regis Town Council's town management committee agreed to look at developing a café and toilets in the Lister and Langmoor Gardens, while further plans could include an open-air concert bowl for live music and a mobile stage.

Councillors also agreed to reintroduce pitch and putt golf for next summer and for gym equipment to be placed around the gardens, subject to securing funding.

A funding request to the Tesco Bags of Help Programme to provide gym equipment will be resubmitted after an initial application was refused.

Cllr Brian Larcombe said he would prefer the gym equipment to be put near Monmouth Beach.

He said: "I probably would have thought it should be put somewhere along Monmouth Beach. To me, the gardens are an amenity.

"I personally think gym equipment should be where it is easy to get to for people and the gardens don't sit right for me."

Cllr Cheryl Reynolds, who is helping to organise the funding, responded to Cllr Larcombe's concerns.

She said: "We have to reapply for some money.

"There are several places that everybody has been quite happy to put some gym equipment. Maybe if you come and look with us, you may not be against it. There are several sites that it really would not be a problem to anybody."

Cllr John Broom spoke out against developing a café in the gardens.

He said: "I don't see why we should have a 39th outlet where people can buy coffee in Lyme."

But deputy mayor, Cllr Michaela Ellis, said it would be a good for that part of the town.

She said: "I think we should have something up there in the gardens.

"There are a lot of people and a lot of children who go up there, and it would be good to have somewhere for parents to go and sit. I think we should do it as a council run thing and toilets."

Town mayor, Cllr Owen Lovell, backed the plans to look at developing a new café.

Cllr Lovell said: "Toilets would not need to be too big. I would like us to say that we are going to pursue that."

Cllr Lovell also responded to concerns about allowing a pitch and putt to open next summer, after a previous facility was deemed unsuccessful.

Town clerk John Wright, said: "If we want to get moving, the first thing would be to look at an opportunity for a café, how much it could cost and come back to this committee with a few ideas.

"The pitch and putt does not cost much money, so won't be much of a problem."

Proposals for a new café and toilets will be considered by the council before the end of the year.