TWO sites for a taxi rank at Lyme Regis were being considered, town planners heard at their recent meeting.

The information came in a letter from the county council's technical officer, Brian Beldham, who has identified an area at Cobb Gate Car Park, leading to the new promenade, and the top of Broad Street as possibilities.

Mr Beldham said he had investigated a suggestion that the taxi rank should be sited outside the Rock Point Inn but had not found the proposal suitable.

The proprietor of the Rock Point, who also owned the adjoining fish bar, would object most strongly to the location being used for a taxi rank as it would obstruct access to the premises by delivery lorries. There was nowhere else for them to park conveniently in such a congested area.

On the suggestion for a Cobb Gate Car park taxi rank, Mr Beldham said: "No parking bays are situated at this point, so there would be no loss or revenue.

"The taxis would always be occupied and it could be moved if a vehicle required access to the machinery situated under the promenade. The taxis would not obstruct that car park entrance and would be visible at this location.

"I have passed on this suggestion to the district council to see whether it would be suitable, even as a temporary measure."

Referring to the Broad Street option, Mr Beldham says: "The county council is committed to changing the parking arrangements in Broad Street as a result of the local traffic study.

"The bus stop at the top of Broad Street is likely to be moved and loading areas created.

"Perhaps a taxi rank could be incorporated into these changes at that time. It seems to me that this would be better than trying to look at the creation of a taxi rank in isolation from the other changes."