Lyme Regis: Jurassic Airlines to make return flight (From Bridport and Lyme Regis News)

Lyme Regis: Jurassic Airlines to make return flight

10:00am Thursday 14th June 2012 in Lyme Regis By James Tourgout

JURASSIC Airlines is set to touch down in Lyme Regis again this summer.

The simulator ride was a hit when it launched at the Earth Festival in the Marine Parade Shelters in early May.

The mock aeroplane takes passengers back to the time of dinosaurs and includes a checking-in desk as well as security controls and air stewardesses.

Now it is set to return to Lyme seafront from June 19 to July 19 before heading to Weymouth for the Olympics.

Members of the town council’s management committee agreed in principle to the hi-tech ride returning but suggested it may need to change location slightly.

Coun Mark Gage, who spoke before leaving the meeting because of a declared interest, said: “When this attraction was last in the town it was amazingly popular.

“It was considerably over-subscribed and got an amazing amount of publicity locally and nationally.”

He added that other towns had taken an interest in the attraction if Lyme Regis did not want it back.

The committee heard that there were concerns from the National Trust shop that the queues had blocked the view of their shop so people could not see it.

Councillors heard that the ride may have to shift a couple of bays up from where it stood during the Earth Festival.

Coun Sally Holman said that she supported the idea but that a plaque was also due to be unveiled at the shelters when the Olympic torch arrived.

Coun Terry O’Grady suggested that the ride could go on the beach.

The committee was told that the operators Hartnell Creative had offered to pay for electricity as well as a fee of £542.50 for a place on the Marine Parade.

Committee chairman Chris Clipson said that the ride was going to represent Lyme when it goes to Weymouth and that there may be interest from the Natural History Museum.

Councillors agreed in principle and asked the town clerk to discuss the issue with the operator.

Jurassic Airlines is the idea of Lyme’s Richard Hartnell.