Larry Gibbons, owner of Largigi, a café on Marine Parade, Lyme Regis, has been paying £4,500 a year for an outside seating license despite the the charge being capped at £500 for new licences and £350 for renewals.
As a result, Mr Gibbons had to reduce the amount of outdoor seating on offer to reduce costs.
However, Lyme Regis Town Council has now revealed that charges will be slashed to reflect the £500 for new licences and £350 for renewals cap.
Mr Gibbons said: “I never thought it would go this far, I have had all of the town behind me, it’s just unbelievable, a relief after all these years.”
The business owner revealed that prior to the announcement he received a phone call from the town clerk asking him to attend a private meeting with the mayor.
He claims that he was told that he couldn’t bring anyone from the Cobb Traders Association of which he is a part of and which has supported him with the ongoing fight – so he declined.
Just hours later he received a call from a friend asking if he’d seen the council’s announcement on Facebook.
He said: “It’s a feeling of triumph from all the years going against it. I have at the support of the people of Lyme which has given me inspiration. I really want to thank the townspeople, the Lyme Regis Association and the Cobb Traders.”
Read more: Lyme traders fury over council’s increased outdoor charges
Lyme Regis Town Council explained that it has been managing the Marine Parade and outdoor seating licences under a long-standing Tripartite Agreement with Dorset Council. The council has charged commercial rates for outdoor seating to cover maintenance and improvement costs – spending about £100,000 a year on the area’s upkeep.
After traders questioned these charges, discussions with Dorset Council revealed that Marine Parade remains legally a public highway, because the former Dorset County Council never issued the required “stop up” order to narrow its designated width (1.8 metres as stated in the 2011 agreement).
As a result, responsibility for issuing outdoor seating licences now reverts to Dorset Council, not the town council. Ongoing talks aim to decide how Marine Parade will be managed going forward, in the best interests of the town.
A spokesperson for Lyme Regis Town Council said: “The traders affected by commercial charges levied by the town council have been contacted to inform them of the latest position.
“As the Marine Parade is now being treated as a highway, the responsibility for outside seating licences reverts to the relevant statutory authority, Dorset Council.
“The future management of the Marine Parade is the subject of ongoing discussions with Dorset Council and the town council will endeavour to reach a conclusion which is in the best interests of the town as a whole.
“The town council has no statutory responsibility to support local businesses and receives no financial support to do so; business rates are paid to Dorset Council.
“However, the town council chooses to support the local economy through a range of measures including the provision of a park and ride service, maintenance and cleaning of the seafront, beach and gardens, the employment of a dedicated seafront attendant, enforcement officers, and cleansing operative, the Gateway Card scheme, and supporting local events.”