Lyme Regis is a small picturesque Dorset seaside town close to the border with Devon.

The town and its environs form part of the Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty and the coastline has been awarded the international accolade of a World Heritage Site designation.  Part of the reasoning for this is the well known instability of the cliffs which has made Lyme a mecca for fossil hunters.

As well as the natural attractions for visitors the town has many buildings of historic interest such as the Guildhall, shown right, which has been the seat of local government certainly since the town was granted Royal Borough status in 1284.

This proud and independent community has thrived and had been used to managing its own affairs as a Borough Council until 1974 when local government reorganisation brought Lyme Regis Town Council into being.  However unlike many small authorities Lyme, through the fortitude of its councillors and staff at the time,was able to retain many of its main assets and functions and this inheritance has been zealously guarded ever since for the benefit of residents and its many visitors.