TWEAKS have been made to original plans for alterations to the historic Town Mill at Lyme Regis since the proposals were first submitted.

In the past week the Mill has revised its plans for the archway, a new canopy, replacement railings and a gate and stairs.

Both Lyme Regis Town Council and the Environment Agency have raised no objections to the proposals.

The town council has told Dorset Council, which will decide the proposals: “The town council recommends approval of the application because the appearance of the property and surrounding area will be enhanced, public safety and access will be improved and the ‘legibility’ of this important visitor attraction will be enhanced. In addition, it is in keeping with neighbouring properties, it does not involve material harm to the Conservation Area or heritage assets and has no adverse impact on the integrity of the property or amenity of neighbouring properties.”

Public comments on the application, because of the changes to the original proposals, have now been extended until April 4th.

The alterations include replacing and enlarging the main entrance, adding a glass door, replacing the archway to the car park and installing a canopy over the Malthouse door.

Wooden gates will also be replaced with metal railings and a new access stair installed together with a new serving hatch  – if Dorset Council agrees.

The Town Mill Trust, in its application to the council, say the changes will improve the experience visitors have to the grade 2 listed property: “These planning and listed building applications are for some relatively minor alterations and improvements to the mill site, to make it more attractive to visitors and therefore boost income for the Trust, which is still struggling to recoup its finances following the Covid 19 lockdown periods and subsequent quiet months.”

It argues that all the changes are minor: “They are all small scale in nature relative to the scale of the Mill, the Bakehouse and its associated buildings and have been sympathetically designed to ensure that they enhance and to do detract from the buildings and their setting,” said the concluding statement with the application.

The Trust say there is evidence of a mill on the site in the 14th century with adaptations being made in the 18th and 19th centuries – including moving the mill wheels from the northern side to the western end of the building around 1800.