Lyme Regis: concerns over park and ride buses in town centre

Jane Jones, who runs the Baroque restaurant in Drakes Way, says that 'regular' park and ride buses are causing 'havoc' in the middle of the tourist season.

The restaurateur has asked why the park and ride vehicles do not use the nearby Charmouth Road car park as a base to pick-up and drop-off passengers instead of making their way through the busy town centre.

The service is managed by Lyme Regis Town Council and operated by Dartline, an Exeter-based coach firm.

Currently, passengers pick up the buses outside of town further up Charmouth Road opposite Jurassic Footgolf.

Services then make their way down this road, through narrow Church Street and the town centre before turning round in the Holmbush car park on the other side of Lyme.

Several other large vehicles, including national bus services, use the same route and Ms Jones says she has witnessed several close calls.

Ms Jones says she has also seen buses 'mounting the kerb'. 

"It is just horrific. These park and rides are so regular, and they should drop-off in the Charmouth Road car park as that is a secure space that everybody uses," she said.

"Some of the pavements are so narrow it is frightening for people on them anyway. I once saw a family and I do not know how they managed to escape, they were pushed up against the wall.

"It is peak time at the moment and all of the traffic gets held up. I think it is just an accident waiting to happen. I just cannot get over it."

Ms Jones (below) added she 'feels sorry' for bus drivers tasked with navigating the tricky roads in large vehicles.

Jane Jones feels a better solution could be found to better manage buses in Lyme Regis town centre (Image: Jane Jones)

The business owner says she 'understands' buses need to come from somewhere but feels something could be done to better manage the situation.

"We have minimal pavements in Lyme and I wait with bated breath to see what sort of accident might occur this summer with families walking up and down on seriously narrow pavements," Ms Jones added. 

Cllr Caroline Aldridge, vice-chairman of the Lyme Regis Town Council highways committee, said: “Park and ride is a vital service to Lyme Regis, helping to ease congestion and pollution in the town and taking the pressure off the car parks.

"Without it, we see a huge increase in vehicles parking in residential areas or parking dangerously, which is not acceptable.

“Double deck buses are required to deal with the volume of passengers using the park and ride.

"Using single deck buses would require double the number of buses and trips, which would congest the roads even further.

"Although they appear big, double deck buses are actually shorter and narrower than single deck buses and coaches using the town.

“We welcome suggestions to make the service more efficient but it also needs to be convenient for the passengers.

"This includes having drop-off and collection points in the town centre and near the beach, where most visitors wish to go.

"Dropping them off up a hill at Charmouth Road car park is not convenient and would not encourage them to use park and ride.”

Dorset Council was contacted by The News for comment.