“East Devon District Council (EDDC) has viewed a store on the site in Royal Avenue as a priority since publishing its Exmouth Masterplan in 2011.
However, the latest draft of EDDC’s Local Plan deletes references to the store, and says a new or refreshed Masterplan will be drawn up.
Exmouth’s mayor has welcomed the rethink, but the chairman of the town’s chamber of commerce says a new large food store is still required, even if a proposed Marks and Spencer store, also in Royal Avenue, is built, as this would not be enough to meet the town’s needs.
When asked about the council’s policy shift, an EDDC spokesman said: “As a council, we need to be adaptable in our approach to our Masterplan and refresh our proposals when we need to.
“For example, we all agree that a large supermarket development on the estuary side is a challenge, so we need to take a look at the location and other town centre sites.”
East Devon Watch 
When are our own Chamber of Commerce and all Councilors including the Regeneration Board at EDDC going to realize that we have two Factory Size empty Buildings which are both available with plenty of parking space, at the Liverton Business Park For an Asda, or any other Business, is it because EDDC can not sell any Liverton properties, as they do not own it.
This would not take up a green field playing area which has on numerous weekends, hundreds of young Children learning to play sport.
This area in future years, will become a prime sports arena so near to the Estuary and Town, and Councilors have already assessed the value of playing fields, and the fact that with the developing population of Exmouth, it will be paramount that it is something the whole district should aspire to.
The Chamber of Commerce seems to have little to do with many of the small independent traders who would be affected in the town, if we have the likes of Supermarkets such as Asda who sell most things which our retail outlets in the town rely on.
If we have to except another large Supermarket, then it should be out of Town, and Liverton surely fits this bill.
The Bus Station site and an M&S food store which would improve the Station Area, will not have such a negative effect in Town.
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Have just taken some time to leave a reply, only to find once posted it disappeared.
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We currently have to deal with what we’ve got, and that is a very, very successful Tesco three parts of a mile out of town, towards Littleham and Devon Cliffs holiday park.
I repeat, that is what we’ve got.
Competition , in my mind, would need to be in a major area of population ( not the town centre which is not a concentration of population) three parts of a mile out of Exmouth on the Brixington side.
I’ve seen arguments about lack of access from those in town, but there is no part of the town not accessible by bus, free to those who traditionally complain!
EDDC need to accept that in the 21st Century that there’s a different attitude to shopping to that which they are accustomed.
Many people order online … I can see that from the number of vans outside my house from all suppliers delivering weekly groceries.
Open your eyes EDDC !
People drive.
Those that don’t use public transport.
Shopping facilities need to be close to centres of population, and that means a store further along Dinan Way nearer Hulham, to provide a sensible and competitive alternative to Tesco.
Marks & Spencer would not only provide competition in town, in order to BE competitive, they would also need to watch local pricing, otherwise they would fail!
Apparently people don’t understand the nature of competition!
Exmouth rugby club should stay where they are. In the depths of the worst of winters, it’s probably the only ground in the county that can be played on!
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Well said Mike, But do these people who make these decisions read these comments, i would like to think they would even if they perhaps do not agree with all that’s said.
We do seem to have an agenda from those at EDDC who have a authoritative view of what is best for Exmouth, but at the same time they know they have only a limited control of all the assets available.
This is why they only seem focused on the Sea front and the small area’s such as the Rugby Ground nearer the Town
But our own Council have not helped this situation by not being assertive enough, and i can not understand why in all the years i have lived here, they have never put their own proposals forward, for what should happen on the sea front that would have enhanced the area without relying on the consultants that EDDC have apparently allowed to take over.
I am sure that we would not have a Slipway costing £1.5 million on the agenda, when we have two other slipways in a better condition at Carton Hill or the one opposite the old life boat station, this one is near to the splash and if it was not for all the idea’s in the Master Plan for Queens Drive, i am sure all the residents of Exmouth would be supporting what could have been an internationally integrated water sports facility we could all be proud of.
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