A PUBLIC meeting is to be held as part of the campaign to save Lyme Regis Three Cups Hotel.

A PUBLIC meeting is to be held as part of the campaign to save Lyme Regis' Three Cups Hotel.

The 'Save Three Cups' will be officially launched at the Woodmead Hall at 6.45pm on Friday, October 16.

After adoption of the constitution and election of officers and committee, the full public meeting will get under way at 7.15pm.

Group member John Dover said: "We will be giving a full update on progress so far, and everyone will have a chance to air their views."

More than 250 people attended the first public meeting in June and equal support is expected next month.

The action group plans to review how the town council's vote for compulsory purchase from the brewery, Palmers, will be taken forward to West Dorset District Council and the timescale for implementation.

Mr Dover added: "There is major local support to return this building to a hotel, and hoteliers themselves say more accommodation in the town is desperately needed on a year-round basis.

"Our petition is currently showing that more than 95 per cent of those who have signed it are in favour of The Three Cups becoming a high quality hotel once again. Palmers have said they will now review the hotel option.

"But the economy of Lyme Regis is losing an estimated �1,500 a day because the Three Cups has been shut for over 20 years and positive action should now be taken to reopen as a hotel without further delay."

Invitations to the meeting will be sent out to many groups, including the Board of Palmers Brewery, ChestertonHumberst, who are Palmer's agents, town and district councillors, political leaders, English Heritage, the Lyme Regis and District Hotels and Restaurants' Association and the Community Alert on pubs.