Residents in Lyme Regis will have the chance to confront their Member of Parliament later this month after the town council called an emergency meeting over a series of problems that many say expose the neglect of coastal communities.
The meeting, set for Wednesday 24 September from 12:30 to 14:00 at Lyme Regis Guildhall, will feature Edward Morello, MP for West Dorset, who has been asked to answer questions on the sudden closure of the town’s only pharmacy, looming bus service reductions, and ongoing sewage discharge worries.
Local pharmacy shut down
The closure of Jhoots Pharmacy on Uplyme Road has left residents facing uncertainty over how to access prescriptions. The Lyme Bay Medical Practice has acknowledged the disruption and says it is working with NHS Dorset and the operator to restore services. For many—particularly elderly residents without transport—the gap is already causing anxiety.
Winter bus timetable cuts
From late September, the X51 and X53 bus routes linking Dorchester, Bridport, Lyme Regis and Axminster will see reduced services under the new winter timetable. Campaigners say Dorset Council’s response has been “disappointing” and that the cuts will isolate residents who depend on public transport for work, education and healthcare.
Sewage and water quality issues
Concerns over sewage discharges into local waters are also high on the agenda. South West Water has pledged investment in pumping station upgrades and sewer improvements, but residents remain sceptical after years of beach alerts and water quality warnings. Lyme’s Church Cliff beach has recently been granted bathing-water status, meaning spills will be more closely monitored.
Calls for accountability
While the council has billed the meeting as an opportunity to raise “any local issue,” the focus will be on essential services. Critics argue the problems are the result of centralised decision-making and underfunding, with rural towns paying the price. Others say residents deserve more than reassurances, calling for clear timelines on pharmacy provision, guarantees on bus services, and transparency over sewage infrastructure.
The emergency meeting underlines a growing frustration that taxpayers continue to face cuts and closures while promises of investment lag behind. For many in Lyme Regis, this is less about party politics than about whether their community is being given a fair deal.
Why West Dorset’s MP Must Answer Questions at Lyme Regis Meeting
When Lyme Regis residents gather at the Guildhall on 24 September for an emergency meeting with their MP, they’ll be armed with concerns about failing local services—pharmacy closures, bus cuts and sewage leaks. But there’s another issue worth raising: Edward Morello’s foreign-funded trip to Jordan earlier this year.
According to the Register of Members’ Interests, Morello accepted an overseas visit from 17–21 January 2025, paid for by the Embassy of the Kingdom of Jordan. The trip cost an estimated £1,850—£850 for flights and £1,000 for accommodation, food and transport. On the itinerary were high-level meetings with King Abdullah II, Jordan’s Foreign Minister, parliamentary foreign affairs committees, the Jordanian military and UNRWA.
The declaration was made in line with Commons rules. Still, questions remain—especially in a year when West Dorset residents have been left without a functioning pharmacy, reliable bus services or clean bathing water.
What voters should be asking
Why embassy money? Why did a foreign government pick up the tab instead of Parliament footing the bill for fact-finding?
Who benefits? Did the trip deliver anything concrete for West Dorset—jobs, investment, or improved services—or was it diplomatic theatre?
UNRWA controversy: Given recent rows over UNRWA, what was discussed, and has it shaped Morello’s positions on the Middle East?
Follow-up actions: Has he voted, spoken, or lobbied in Parliament in ways that connect back to the Jordan visit?
Transparency: Will he publish notes or a report so constituents know what was said in their name?
Bigger picture
Morello earns £93,904 a year as an MP. Constituents struggling with long waits for prescriptions or losing their bus to Dorchester may well question whether time and hospitality spent abroad were the right priorities.
Discover more from Dorset News
Subscribe to get the latest posts sent to your email.
Leave a Reply