Lyme Regis: Gig club's plea for more space (From Bridport and Lyme Regis News)

Lyme Regis: Gig club's plea for more space

12:30pm Wednesday 25th April 2012 in Lyme Regis

Lyme Regis Gig Club is becoming the victim of its own success and because it has grown and grown, needs more space.

Chairman of the club Ken Whitlock made a plea to Lyme Regis Town Council for more space to store their equipment.

He said: “The gig club was formed just over five years ago and in that time we have grown rapidly to three wooden gigs, a fibreglass boat, a safety boat, a boathouse, trolleys and trailers and lots of other equipment.

“There are over 100 rowing members, social members and a fast-developing youth section.

“Lyme Regis does not have a dedicated sports centre and we offer the opportunity for people to take part in the healthy sport of sea rowing as a way of keeping fit for recreation and to compete in what is the south west’s fastest-growing marine sport.”

He said there was hope the town council would progress with an idea to align the beach huts to make space.

He added: “But it would seem the town council has chosen to kowtow to the instructions of the quango Natural England to put the interests of the crickets who hop about all over the beach before the interests of local people.”

He said he hoped the council could find a way to help the gig club as it had the sailing, power boat and bowling clubs.

Town clerk Mike Lewis said the council was advised to with- draw the application because of the objections from Natural England.

He said an application might be re-submitted in the future for storage space but in the meantime the council recognised the gig club’s contribution by formalising the agreement for free car parking spaces.