GREAT care must be taken to ensure that World Heritage Status does not inhibit the inland development of Lyme Regis.

That was the message from First Citizen Ken Dibben when he was installed for a second term at the ancient mayormaking ceremony in the Guildhall on Thursday.

Coun Dibben, the 12th town mayor since local government reorganisation in 1974, said that the global accolade for the local coast was the result of a lot of hard work.

"This will, without doubt, bring benefits to many businesses and, with it, the prospect of more employment," he said. "It will particularly help tourism at the shoulder seasons.

"But World Heritage Status, generally speaking, stops at the cliff face. In my opinion, care needs to be exercised to see that this status is not used to inhibit the natural evolvement of commerce or community projects in the future which towns elsewhere would regard as the norm."

In a speech, in which he said the council had worked hard and had enjoyed a good year, the mayor also touched on the tremendous contribution to the local way of life from the town organisations.

He also highlighted rewarding cooperation between the town and district councils over such issues as the transfer of the tourist centre, the trusteeship for the Marine Theatre and the pending coast protection scheme.

On the coast project, he added: "We have impressed on district engineers the need to agree a works scheduled which will cause the least disruption to our main industry, tourism.

"There will, obviously, be severe disruption at times throughout this work and a lot of patience and understanding will need to prevail.

"Included in any sea defence scheme there will be considerable work in Lister and Langmoor Gardens. This will include the enhancement of both of them to give benefits to Lyme Regis for years to come."