A LIBERAL Democrat councillor is to press West Dorset District Council into beginning compulsory purchase orders for The Three Cups in Lyme Regis and the Old Swan in Toller Porcorum.

Palmers Brewery plans for a multi-million pound renovation incorporating a top-name restaurant for the Three Cups have been dismissed by campaigners, claiming it would ‘destroy’ the building they want to see restored as an hotel.

At a packed meeting in Lyme lobbyists called for the district council to issue the orders to buy the buildings and now Beaminster district councillor Janet Page has put forward a motion for the council to discuss at its meeting on July 16.

At the last meeting of the district council Liberal Democrat councillors warned if the communities of Lyme and Toller felt significant progress had not been achieved they would put forward a motion for compulsory purchase of both pubs.

Lib Dem prospective parliamentary candidate Sue Farrant said: “It was clear from last week’s meeting at Lyme Regis that people there do not feel that there has been significant progress, not has there been any break through in Toller Porcorum.

“Liberal Democrat councillor for Beaminster Janet Page has therefore submitted the motion below for presentation at the council’s meeting on July 16.

She said: “Our intention is to keep up the pressure in the spotlight in order to bring about solutions that are satisfactory to the people of Lyme Regis and Toller Porcorum.

“We know that this move will be most unwelcome to the council and that the ruling Conservatives and the officers will try not to let this motion onto the agenda.”

The motion the Lib Dems want to see voted on says the council recognises the negative environmental, economic and social consequences of having these landmark buildings, which are situated at the heart of their communities, standing empty for many years and wants the process of compulsory purchase orders begun immediately.

Mrs Farrant added: “The time for patience is at an end. ‘Negotiations’ have been going on for decades without any apparent progress and people have had enough.

“It is high time that West Dorset District councillors woke up to their responsibilities for the social, economic and environmental well being of the communities they were elected to serve.

“They have the power to bring about change. Now is the time to use that power.”

Palmers has said notions to bring the Three Cups building back into use as a hotel were ‘fanciful