Major upgrade planned for Lyme Regis Park & Ride
The site owner say it will boost the town's economy
A massive upgrade is being planned for the Lyme Regis park and ride.
If approved it will include a better entry and exit system, toilets, and information point and café.
The site owners claim that it will provide a boost the town’s economy.
The current Charmouth Road site, about two miles out of town on the eastern side, only has one entrance and no other facilities. Out of season the field continues to be used for sheep grazing.
Dorset Council is currently being asked to consider the changes in an application from the Wellman family from Axminster, which own the site, but leases it for park and ride use in the season to Lyme Regis Town Council.
Green windows and doors have been chosen for the café , under a natural slate roof, to help it blend into the landscape. The building will also have loos, a tourist information point and an outdoor seating area. Situated close to the hedge it is believed the building will not be obvious from the road, or buildings nearby.
The new layout will mean buses will no longer have to carry out turns within the car park area, beiing able to use the proposed one-way system to drive in and then out again.
An agent for the operators say that currently there is inadequate parking in Lyme on busy days and many people simply give up trying to find a space and move on elsewhere:
“There are simply insufficient parking spaces within the town to accommodate the large number of visitors who wish to visit Lyme Regis on busy summer, sunny days. This means that a considerable number of cars enter the town, seeking spaces and contributing towards air pollution and driver frustration. This facility (park and ride) contributes significantly to more sustainable forms of travel, in accordance with national and local planning and transport policies. The number of parking spaces within Lyme Regis is strictly limited and it is clear that due to high visitor numbers, on busy days they are unable to park within the confines of the town centre area, so probably leave the town and go elsewhere.”