Changes are in the pipeline for a historic town centre venue.

A review is being undertaken into Bridport Area Development Trust's (BADT) – which runs Bridport Literary and Scientific Institute (LSi) – business plan, but the coronavirus has brought new pressures and uncertainties.

The trust has received two proposals for the development of the LSi which it says combines commercial, charitable and community elements. These will undergo feasibility studies which are to be submitted to BADT by the end of December. A decision on the preferred option is due in February 2021, after which there will be a consultation period, with the announcement of the future direction of the LSi expected in May.

There have already been changes to the BADT.

Trevor Ware has retired as chairman of the board of trustees, as planned, after five years, during which time the trust completed the purchase and restoration of the LSi and established the West Bay Discovery Centre.

Trevor is succeeded by Vanessa White as interim chairman and will remain a trust until the AGM in March 2021.

During 24 years in the NHS, Vanessa, as chief executive of West Dorset Community and Mental Health Trust (1991-96) was responsible for the building of Bridport Community Hospital. After leaving the NHS in 1997, she worked as a management consultant. Her voluntary roles have included chairman of Powerstock and District Community Land Trust and she is currently a trustee of the National Community Land Trust Network. She has been a trustee of BADT since January 2020.

Vanessa said: "I'm looking forward to leading BADT, supporting the continuing success of West Bay Discovery Centre and finding a new way forward for the LSi which will support the future of the Bridport area and enable the community to enjoy the facilities of this beautiful and historic building."

The BADT board has recently been joined by Phyllida Culpin, who is a long-time campaigner for social housing and social inclusion, whose career has been in the housing sector with a specialisation in the regeneration of large estates, community development and housing management.

Also new to the board is David Lee, whose life-long media career has encompassed weekly and daily newspapers, national magazines and, most recently, a national Sunday newspaper.

Brief history of Bridport LSi

The Grade II* listed East Street building was built in 1834 as a mechanics institute to provide practical education to working men. The venue was repurposed as the Literary and Scientific Institute in 1855, since when it has served as a reading room, art school, stationed troops during the Second World War, a public library and event venue and meeting place.

When the library vacated the LSi in 1997, the building deteriorated. BADT, formed in 209, along with help from volunteers, local authority support and the involvement of English Heritage, the National Heritage Lottery Fund and other donors enabled the reconstruction of the LSi in 2016 and it reopened its doors in 2018.