Wednesday 17 December, Knowle, full council meeting 6.30 pm
A common-sense amendment proposed:
Daily Archives: 14 Dec 2014
How much of Knowle is up for sale? Do Councillors really know?
Doubts arose at last week’s Public Meeting with Sidmouth District Councillors (organised by the Sid Vale Association, 9 Dec 2014). Councillor Christine Drew certainly seemed unaware of the extent of historic parkland that would be lost to public ownership, as a result of EDDC’s present plan.Is she the only one?
For anyone unsure, the precise area being marketed is shown on these two pictures on estate agent Savill’s website.
Gittisham development to go ahead
Eloquent explanation of why this is a very bad idea here:
Tesco for Budleigh Salterton? Looks like it
Conservative Party ignores Electoral Commission on election spending
Ignoring recommendations they now have a £78 m war chest having changed the law on candidates’ election spending. The law passed without parliamentary debate, ignoring Electoral Commission recommendations that it would lead to “excessive spending to prevent the perception of undue influence over the outcome of the election”.
A Labour Party executive said: “[David Cameron] promised to take the big money out of politics … Yet he has now cynically changed his tune …”
Parties can now spend up to £32.7 m on elections, up from £26.5 m. The law was changed by Statutory Instrument, the terms of which were not debated in the House of Cards (sorry, Commons).
Of the £78m raised by the Conservative Party, more than £21m has been donated by hedge funds. George Osborne’s recent stamp duty changes gave a £145 m giveaway to hedge funds.
Dinner clubs and auctions have raised £6m – including a jar of Hugo Swire honey auctioned at £15,000:
‘Ministers get an extra £187,000 to go electioneering’
Sunday Times: With very little legislative work to do, MPs are being allowed to go back to constituencies on Thursdays, a day earlier than usual. It has been calculated that this means that current ministers are getting an extra £187,000 to go electioneering
Celebration of East Devon’s Literature and Landscape, at launch of new book created for EDA
Many thanks to the large audience who supported the genial and entertaining preview of this unique publication at Friday’s book launch and performance evening (12th Dec 2014 in Sidmouth). EDA is especially grateful to the author,Peter Nasmyth, and to his co-researcher on East Devon Literature, Mike Temple, who also organised the performance. Peter’s landscape photographs were a stunning backdrop to renditions by such notables as John Betjeman,Samuel Taylor Coleridge, Jane Austen, Ron Delderfield, and Sir Walter Raleigh…all much admired!
If you missed the performance, here’s some more about the book:
A correspondent writes, “I think this book would make a good Christmas present, better still keep it as it has lots of literary walks and a map included.” . Copies (£15.99) available from bookshops in Ottery St Mary and in Sidmouth, or from the publisher (see below).
As a first, full literary companion to the East Devon area, A4 in size and full colour, this beautiful book combines large photographs with serious research, quotations, observations on literature and landscape. Included also is a map, information on the writers, an index and bibliography, plus directions as to where the authors walked in the area so readers can follow in their footsteps. The aim is both to celebrate and draw attention to this unique and threatened part of rural England. Birthplace of Samuel Taylor Coleridge and Sir Walter Raleigh, a setting for stories and poems by Jane Austen, H.G Wells, John Fowles, C. Day Lewis, John Betjeman, Beatrix Potter, Elizabeth Barrett Browning, and others, East Devon remains as attractive to writers today as ever. The publication of this book aims to help keep it this way.
For SEE INSIDE page (Green and pleasant land) go to http://www.mtapublications.co.uk
‘Tis the season to be …
… putting in those controversial planning applications. Unpopular ones traditionally go in next week so developers have two less weeks of consultation to be concerned about (not worried, they never worry in East Devon) as people are distracted.
Maybe a controversial one for Budleigh Salterton where rumours abound of a big 4 supermarket wanting a foothold …? Or perhaps one of our old friends wanting to increase their landbanked sites with planning?
EDDC kicks it off with the full council meeting where the shepherds tell their flock of sheep to vote through another fantastical idea for an HQ move.
No wise men there.
Relocation…balancing the books
We are moving, it is claimed, from the Knowle in order to save £50,000 per annum in running expenses. This will require the selling of the family silver, i.e. the Knowle for something like £8 million, and the borrowing of £5 million. Plus huge additional costs, particularly in the form of officer and councillor time, plus staff compensation, etc. Cost neutral we are told.
Yet the Thelma Hulbert Gallery is costing an eye-watering £150,000 per annum to maintain.
So does that mean that if we closed the Thelma Hulbert Gallery that we could buy three Knowles for £24 million and put £15 million in the bank. And have more staff, give them a bonus…
East Devon Watch 