THE first steps in drawing up a blueprint to promote Lyme's role as an official gateway town to the World Heritage Coast will be taken next week.

The new designation could mean a huge boost for the local economy - with a longer tourist season and more local jobs amongst the potential rewards.

Now the town's Development Trust is staging a Jurassic Coast Workshop at Woodroffe School on Thursday (November 7) to consider how Lyme Regis and Charmouth can make the most of the tremendous opportunities on offer through a joint development plan.

The meeting's three objectives will be to:

* Outline what the designation of World Heritage Site might mean to the area.

* Discuss the infrastructure and service issues that can be developed to support the Site.

* Draw together the framework for a co-ordinated and comprehensive plan.

Representatives from Lyme Regis town council, West Dorset district council, and Dorset county council will join other local groups to discuss how residents would like to see their communities benefit from the area's new international status.

Development Trust chief Marcus Dixon said: "Charmouth and Lyme Regis have been flagged as Gateways to the World Heritage Coast. Whilst it's difficult to gauge what the UNESCO designation heralds, it's clear that investment is going to be made in infrastructure and services if the coast is going to meet its potential as one of the most significant earth science sites.

"Both Charmouth and Lyme Regis with their unparalleled historical place in the discovery of the fossil record and their central location are ideally positioned to become key Gateway towns.

"To influence the future development of the World Heritage Coast Site it is important that local communities begin a consultation exercise to explore what their new Gateway status offers and to arrive at a broad, shared vision of how it can be developed into the future."

Mr Dixon said that all interested parties in the area west of Golden Cap and East of Axmouth were being invited to the Jurassic Coast Workshop which will be held at The Thornton Pearn Theatre Studio at Woodroffe School, starting at 7pm. It is envisaged that the format for the meeting will include a presentation by Jurassic Coast World Heritage team, followed by a "brainstorming" type general forum with the aim of reaching a bullet pointed outline for a Charmouth and Lyme Regis Gateway Town development plan.

Admission is free and fee and light refreshments will be served.

As seats will be limited groups planning to be represented are asked to contact Mr Dixon in advance on 01297 444570 or at Marcus@lrdt.co.uk