After 40 years of beach mission work at Lyme Regis, United Beach Mission (UBM) are happy that in the Spring of this year they were granted a further three years to run the children’s summer club after a challenge by a local councillor, over the past two years, put the work under threat.
Councillor Mark Gage, who in his profile on the Lyme Regis Town Council website puts a priority area for development as ‘youth facilities’, expressed concerns about UBM’s work with children on the beach. In the local paper, Tim Howlett, UBM’s executive officer, was clear that families are made aware of the Christian nature of the work of UBM and its aim to share the good news of Jesus, encouraging families to be involved and that no children are encouraged to attend without the permission of their parents.
Three more years
In 2013 they were awarded the right to use the beach by just four votes to three, and in 2014 this was extended for a further three years. A local atheist group expressed an interest in holding a concession on the beach to voice its views. However, from the local council minutes, it appears they put their application in beyond the tendering process deadline.
