Last week I travelled deep into Dorset to buy a bus
Now there’s a sentence I thought I would never write.
Accompanied by town clerk John Wright and Deputy town clerk Mark Green, we visited a company in Wimborne, one of the UK’s leading providers of mini-buses, to find a suitable vehicle to replace the town bus service which was withdrawn at the end of August.
I am pleased to report that we found a suitable vehicle which we intend to purchase, costing around £35,000.
It’s a 16-seater second hand vehicle with very low mileage which we have been advised to buy as purpose-built models often have teething problems.
This is another gigantic step in reviving the town service which is so crucial to many of Lyme’s elderly and infirm.
We were able to take this step after securing the services of ten volunteer drivers. We also need volunteers to travel with the bus to ensure that the less mobile are looked after.
After Dorset Council decided to withdraw funding for the Lyme service I gave an assurance on the night I was made mayor that the town council would leave no stone unturned in our efforts to revive the service, even if that meant buying our own bus.
To be honest it has proved much more difficult than we originally expected. We have had to jump through numerous hoops to get this far.
Deputy town clerk Mark Green has spent hundreds of hours getting us this far and has become a bit of an expert on setting up a new bus company.
This whole project depended on getting enough volunteer drivers and we are delighted that ten have offered their services.
We still have quite a way to go before the new service is up and running but we hope the new Lyme town bus will be operational by April.
The previous service ran five days a week but we expect the new service to run on Monday, Wednesday and Friday, at least in the early days.
This is one of the biggest projects the town council has undertaken for some time and I want to thank the admin staff for taking on such a challenging task. And special thanks go to the volunteer drivers for offering their services making this possible.
Rain fails to dampen the Big Switch-On
IT TOOK more that Storm Bert to dampen festive spirits when the town’s Christmas Lights were switched on. Hundreds of people turned out to watch Father Christmas doing the honours following a procession of lanterns made during the afternoon.
The Mayoress and I had the enjoyable but difficult task of judging the lanterns with cash prizes handed out to the winners. It’s a lovely family event with all the lantern makers processing to the Christmas tree at the bottom of the town. I was surprised with the number of visiting families taking part.
Jackie and I, accompanied by the deputy mayor Cllr Michaela Ellis and husband Alan, led the procession down the town and we were gobsmacked by the size of the crowd despite driving rain.
The town’s Christmas illuminations are considered to be among the most spectacular in Dorset with our steep main street enabling all the lights to be seen whether looking up or down the road.
It wasn’t always like this. For many years the town’s festive lights needed much to be desired. That is until former six-times mayor Barbara Austin MBE formed a committee to raise the funds with the express purpose of making the Lyme Christmas lights the envy of other towns.
Every business in town is encouraged to erect a Christmas tree outside their premises, supported by most with some notable and disappointing exceptions, supplemented by impressive illuminations strung across the street. The Cobb buildings are also illuminated during the festive period.
Today the committee is led by the industrious Rob James, whose marketing experience has raised the profile of the organisation to new heights which bring thousands to the town over the festive period.
The town council is pleased to support the Christmas Lights Committee with a £4,000 grant every year. As Mayor, I would like to thank Rob and his team for their brilliant work in making Lyme a very special place this and every Christmas.
*Don’t forget my last surgery of the year will be held in the Mayor’s Parlour on Saturday December 21st, 10am to 12 noon. Book an appointment with the Mayor’s Secretary, Anne-Marie Shepherd, on 01297 445175.