LYME Regis Town Council is failing to maximise profits from one of its prime facilities, it has been claimed.

Former town councillor Stan Williams said the mini golf in the seafront gardens was not open for long enough, especially with the lighter evenings.

The facility is currently open from 9am to 6pm but at the end of May it will change to 9am to 9pm.

Deputy clerk Simon Ratcliff said the staff took a ‘wait and see’ approach, depending on the weather.

“If it’s nice out and there are lots of people around they will stay open later,” he said.

Mr Williams said staff were letting the last people on the course as early as 5.30pm.

He said: “We are taking something like £700 a day so it’s quite a ridiculous situation. We do need to maximise all our facilities providing income and proper service. We are failing to do that with the mini golf, –it’s a disgrace to us, it really is.

He added: “Income is important to this council.”

The mini golf took £6,673 in the last winter season, compared with £5,512 for the 2009/10 winter season.

Town clerk Mike Lewis pointed out that the mini golf operated the hours that the council previously approved. He said: “The council dictates the rota and we employ the staff to work for those hours.”

An unexpected tax rebate of just over £24,000 has also meant that improvements can be made to other parts of the amenity area.

The council has used around £2,000 to bring the putting green back into use, with work including relocating the holes, building new fencing around the green and gates to allow disabled access.

Councillors also decided to buy a third ping pong table for £500. The table tennis made £228 in the last winter season, compared with £183 the previous winter.

The rest of the tax rebate will go into the general reserve.