SKATEBOADERS at Lyme Regis finally have lift off in their long fought campaign for an arena.

Planners have granted the town council permission to set up a skate and BMX park on part of the Cabanya car park at Monmouth Beach, despite a barrage of protests.

The district council's development control west committee narrowly voted in favour after hearing that the site would be a temporary one, limited to two years.

And in the meantime the town council would continue to look for a more suitable area for a permanent park.

Most opponents - like Lyme Regis Bowling Club who will be neighbours of the new skatepark - stressed they were not against the youngsters having such a facility. But they felt this was totally the wrong location.

For the bowlers Barry Etherington said they paid £5,000 rates and some £20,000 a year to maintain the facilities for the town council.

"We deplore what you are doing," he said, warning that the skatepark could affect the estimated £65,000 brought into the town at the annual tournament.

Many nearby chalet owners expressed their dismay and warned that skateboarders would wreck the "charm and tranquillity" of Lyme. Crime and vandalism could also result, they said.

And veteran Lyme town councillor Stan Williams, speaking for himself, criticised his colleagues' application for what was a "totally unsuitable" site.

"There are a number of alternatives," he said. "The town council has failed to carry out any consultation with the residents or numerous organisations in the area, nor the town at large - nor even the skateboarders as to whether this is their preferred option."

Bernard Spencer, chairman of Lyme Regis Society agreed the site was wrong - the playing fields were the obvious place.

But youth worker Fran Marsh said the area was already used for recreation.

"Lyme Regis is a tourist resort but it is also home for young people," she said.

And West Dorset's senior youth worker Arthur Woodgate said similar concerns had been expressed at Bridport where there was now a very successful skateboard park.

"Young people are citizens of Lyme Regis as well," he said.

"You can't assume that people who use skateboards are going to be vandals. The key is that it is managed properly."

Town councillor Ayvin Rogers, chairman of Lyme Regis Boys' Club, said the town's youngsters were much maligned.

"This is a working area - hardly the shopwindow of Lyme Regis," he said.

Coun ken Meech said it was nice to hear people speaking up for the, although he stressed that he had great sympathy with people's concerns over noise. But he said the town council was looking at other sites, one of which was expected to become available within the next two years.

Recommending approval Coun Owen Lovell said many of the concerns raised - noise and lack of consultation - were matters for the town council to address and not reasons for the committee to reject the application.