LYME Regis Town Council has come under fire for allowing fossil sellers to operate from the shelters on the Marine Parade throughout the summer.

Paul Crossley, who owns a fossil shop in Drakes Way, blasted councillors for putting his and other businesses at risk for hiring out the shelters at a minimal rent, stating the decision was “treacherous”.

Mr Crossley also attended the full council meeting in October to raise his concerns and returned to last week’s meeting where he asked if bookings for people selling fossils, minerals and jewellery for next summer had been taken.

Town Clerk John Wright confirmed that bookings had been taken and, as the town council hadn’t changed its policy on the types of stalls allowed to operate from the shelters, it was most likely that there were bookings for fossil sellers.

On hearing this, Mr Crossley asked the council if they thought this was fair to the traders of Lyme Regis, those who had voted for them after they gave out manifestos, which he says have not been adhered to.

He said: “As far as I can see, and as far as everybody else is saying, all this council has done is pull the rug from under our feet.

“They have allowed all and sundry to come in those shelters all summer long, making vast amounts of money, thousands and thousands of pounds for £20 a day each, with no tax, no insurance, no rent, no water bills, no gas bills, nothing, and they have had a captive audience all summer while the shops are now struggling.

“What is this council’s take on Lyme Regis? Does it honestly believe that this is the way forward to encourage business people in Lyme Regis? To encourage people to come and live in Lyme Regis? It is a debacle.

“There are four words to describe this decision – odious, vacuous, supercilious and obnoxious. Those are the four words I have been given by other retailers, I can add a fifth one to that – treacherous, absolutely treacherous.

“This is high treason from the town council, elected by its own people, to defend their lives, their homes, their properties, their businesses. This is high treason and 200 years ago you would have been beheaded – that is too good for you I am afraid.

“This is not over.”

Cllr Michaela Ellis, mayor of Lyme Regis, said she did not think it was only £20 for traders to use the shelters, however Mr Crossley explained that he was invited to take part for a day during in the summer and it cost £100 for five traders.

Councillors did not comment further on the matter.