Winner brought his ideas to the meeting ‘so the townspeople can work together with the council for a better Lyme Regis for everybody’.

Lyme Regis resident Nigel Ball is the lucky winner of a £100 cash prize after sharing his views with the town council.

He was entered into the prize draw after attending the authority’s public consultation event, Time to Talk.

All those who went along to the Woodmead Halls or submitted a written view were in with a chance of winning the £100.

Mr Ball’s name was drawn at random by the mayor, Cllr Michaela Ellis, who presented him with the cash on the steps of the Guildhall.

Mr Ball, of Talbot Road, who regularly attends council meetings, said: “I’m pleased to have won the £100, but it shows people must come to events like Time to Talk to encourage the town council to move forward in a positive way to enhance the town.

“I attended because I wanted to know what the council was proposing for the future and I wanted to bring my ideas to the council, so the townspeople can work together with the council for a better Lyme Regis for everybody.

“I found the event very useful. Some things I agree with, some I feel may not be needed. But unless you go to an event like this, how is the council going to know?”

Mr Ball will spend his money on a ‘posh hotel’ in Coventry, when he will be reunited with friends he travelled to Russia with 30 years ago.

Cllr Ellis said: “Thank you to Nigel and everyone who came to Time to Talk. Nigel attends a lot of council meetings so it was very fitting that he won the prize.”

Time to Talk was held to give the community the chance to comment on the council’s future projects, suggest new ideas, discuss any concerns, and talk to councillors.

It was also an opportunity for the authority to show what it has achieved over the last two years during the current administration.

Residents were asked to what they thought of the council’s possible future projects, ahead of the budget-setting process later this month.

There was strong support for improving parking facilities in the town by extending the opening dates of Charmouth Road park and ride from six weeks in the summer to also include weekends from the Whitsun holidays.

Plans to upgrade and possibly re-locate the Marine Parade toilets, and to refurbish the Candles on the Cobb Pavilion toilets, also received strong support.

Residents gave their strong backing to the suggestion of employing a seafront attendant, who would manage the council’s interests on the seafront, including beach huts, beach wheelchairs, public toilets, Marine Parade Shelters, cleaning and maintenance, and vehicle access.

A wet weather facility, developing the use of Strawberry Field, and exploring alternative council offices were also popular suggestions.

There were mixed views on installing a new ramp in seafront gardens to improve accessibility, and for plans to introduce beach and seafront weddings.

Plans to replace the Cart Road beach huts with a wood-effect material and re-designing the town council website received a less enthusiastic response.

Cllr Ellis said: “Time to Talk was a very positive event. It was useful for the council to be able to gather views and get feedback on proposed objectives before it starts committing public funds to these projects.

“It was an informal event and we encouraged people to drop in and chat to councillors about any issues affecting the town.

“We gathered some really valuable feedback and there were lots of new ideas coming forward, which will help councillors make the right decisions when it comes to deciding the council’s aims and objectives.”