Sidmouth District and County Councillor, Stuart Hughes, was unable to attend the Public Open Meeting (Tuesday 9th Dec) organised by the Sid Vale Association (SVA). He did, however, send his view on relocation to SVA Chair, Alan Darrant, to be read out at the meeting. Here is Cllr Hughes’ statement:
‘I’m not sure that this is the time to be contemplating any move away from Sidmouth as the future of local government is already raising its head and I do believe we could well be looking at a two tier system becoming the norm with the parish/town councils taking on a greater role.
It was the hindsight of Ted Pinney when the Districts became into being that he secured the Knowle back in 1974 and when you really look deeply why this was such an excellent move, then you only have to look at its location at the centre of the coastal towns of Exmouth Budleigh and Seaton and a short distance from East Devons only Primary road the A3052 (this runs from one side of East Devon to the other) Clyst St Mary (just off M5) and the Dorset border (Lyme Regis).
If and it looks as though a move will given the go ahead then we must take the serious threat of further flooding and ensure that as part of any development that the Surface Water Management Plan recommendation for a SUDs storage at Knowle is tied in with any development.
Finally loss of jobs and we should be looking to retain some of the services here in Sidmouth if the move is agreed at Council……………I have a suggestion that I feel should be explored and will elaborate more on that at the EDDC meeting next week.’
The Full Council will decide whether to agree a move FROM Knowle, at their meeting on 17th December, 6.30pm at Knowle (plenty of parking; set in lovely historic parkland; convenient access; energy rating certificate ‘C’; etc…)
East Devon Watch 
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