Daily Archives: 1 May 2024

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Planning applications validated by EDDC for week beginning 15 April

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1 May 2024

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‘I explore Exmouth’s first Gate to Plate Festival’

Hard to believe, but the “Old Guard” Tory administration was so focussed on development that it placed little or no emphasis on tourism. For example, leaving Dorset to run the WHS Jurassic Coast bid.

Paul Arnott on redressing the balance. – Owl

Paul Arnott ,

I’ve often been involved in discussions with local people about whether East Devon has a distinct identity, compared say to other parts of the county. This matters when it comes to thinking about tourism strategies, and that matters because of the huge role tourism plays in the district’s economy.

To many, the identities of, for example, Torbay, or the South Hams, or Dartmoor are clear. They can be pointed to on a map. To me, East Devon, the largest district by population, is pretty clear too. To the south, the Jurassic Coast from Axmouth to Exmouth, the Axe and the Exe estuaries defining east to west, with the Blackdown Hills drawing most of the northern boundary to the M5 and a small part also to the north of Exeter.

At East Devon we have a superb Economy team which has worked up a valuable tourism strategy, all of it underpinned by the desire to promote our unique local offer and benefit the district’s economy. Last weekend on the Strand in Exmouth, we were involved in staging a bit of a triumph, and because the joy of democracy means the council has to accept regular punches on the chin, I’m unashamed in promoting this to show just how much good an ambitious council can sometimes achieve.

The event was the first ever Exmouth Gate to Plate all-day festival, which I was delighted to see was getting rave reviews from Exmouth people on social media almost instantly and for the rest of the day. Food providers from Devon and beyond set up dozens of stalls, selling everything from bread to doughnuts, teas to kombucha, lots for veggies and vegans, but plenty for carnivores too.

The Strand was buzzing, a great crowd, lovely atmosphere, families and singles wandering from stall to stall and sitting down to eat their purchases at some tables in the middle. Of huge significance, despite understandable apprehension by local traders, was that those who chose to open also did very well. Many locals said to me that this was the kind of event the Strand was made for, and it was hard to disagree. There was almost a sense of civic pride that Exmouth felt like the perfect host for an aspirational occasion such as this. Bar the threat of drizzle around lunchtime, even the weather played its part.

Of course, events like this don’t just fall from the sky. At East Devon we’ve been piloting them for a few years, first at Honiton, then for the first-time last year at Axminster. Indeed, a date for your diaries, Axminster goes again on Bank Holiday Monday 26th May. I was there last year and that was a joy too. I’ll be there again on the 26th (note to self: also wedding anniversary that day).

In Exmouth I was delighted to have a long discussion with Bev Milner Simonds, one of the two geniuses at the Eat Festivals organisation which brings these events together and who East Devon brought in to run it for us. Her passion for these events, the joy and fun they bring, and the serious role they can play in shifting the needle on a community’s civic self-confidence, was inspirational, and her company, run with her wife Sarah, has a stunning record across towns in the region.

As I said in an online comment, it’s a relief to be writing about Exmouth and for it not to be about South West Water or disputed planning applications for a change. It’s lovely to have a bit of good news. A proud day for all concerned.

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Lack of public support to close an underground subway scuppers traffic reduction plans for Exmouth town centre

“Destination Exmouth” levelling up project gets a well deserved thumbs down from residents. 

To Owl this has always looked like a “Big Brother knows best” project driven more by its glossy brochure potential in winning funds, using buzz-phrases such as “Gateways and Destination Exmouth” than actually satisfying a local need. Levelling up is more than this.

Worth recalling the words of Simon Jupp MP in January 2023: “….I’m really looking forward to seeing spades in the ground as quickly as possible. This new multi-million-pound investment will improve journeys in Exmouth, improve air quality, and help spruce up the area around the train station.”

Did he ever speak to “real” people in Exmouth? – Owl

Plans to reduce traffic in Exmouth town centre are set to be scrapped after scores of residents failed to support the closure of a subway.

eastdevonnews.co.uk

Devon County Council (DCC) has announced the proposals are in doubt because Councillors have been urged to terminate the Exmouth Gateway plans after failing to win public backing.

The county council said The Dinan Way Extension – which proposes to provide a link to the A376, moving traffic away from residential roads in the area – was not expected to be impacted if the gateway plans were scrapped, but added the go-ahead must come from the Government.

Devon County Council said plans fill in the underground subway near the railway station – in a bid to widen the pavement and ‘improve the experience for people arriving in Exmouth’ – had been rejected by the majority of those taking part in two public consultations.

A Devon County Council spokesman said: “The Dinan Way Extension, which proposes to provide a link to the A376 and move traffic away from residential roads in the area, is not expected to be impacted if the gateway scheme is not undertaken, although it is still to be confirmed with the Department for Transport.”

He added: “Devon County Council is working closely with the Department for Transport to understand the financial implications of not progressing the gateway scheme.”

Devon County Council’s spokesman said recommendations will go before Devon County Council’s Cabinet next week (Wednesday, May 8) calling on Councillors not to proceed with proposed active travel improvements near Exmouth railway station.

The DCC spokesman said: “The “Exmouth Gateway” proposals had been planned to be part of the Destination Exmouth Levelling Up Fund improvements for the town, which also includes an extension to Dinan Way.

“The gateway scheme, which aimed to reduce the amount of traffic in the town centre and improve the experience for people arriving in Exmouth, included plans to close the subway near the railway station to enable widening of the shared pedestrian and cycle path in this area and changing the zebra crossing to one with traffic signals.

“Among other improvements, it also proposed to introduce a new zebra crossing outside The Strand Inn, a pedestrian crossing on The Royal Avenue, and widening of the footpath to the leisure centre.

“However, during two rounds of public consultation, the majority of respondents did not support the closure of the subway.

“Without the additional space provided by the infilling and closure of the subway and its ramps, it’s not possible to deliver the other active travel improvements.

“This has led to the recommendation to remove the Exmouth Gateway proposals from the Destination Exmouth scheme.”

Devon County Council successfully submitted a bid to the Government’s Levelling Up Fund for £15.765 million for its Destination Exmouth improvements.

Devon County Council, East Devon District Council and Exmouth Town Council had agreed to contribute £1.752 million to the plans.

Councillor Andrea Davis, Devon County Council’s Cabinet Member for Climate Change, Environment and Transport, said: “This is brilliant news for the people of Exmouth and a boost to the town’s regeneration. It will not only enable Devon County Council to complete the Dinan Way link road which will reduce traffic going through the centre, but also fund improved walking and cycling routes, and bus services to Exeter. A big thank you goes to Simon Jupp, the Member of Parliament for East Devon, who has worked tirelessly to support this project. I want also to thank the team at Devon County Council who put such a compelling bid together.” 

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Latest National Press coverage of Jo Bateman’s legal challenge, its support and aims

Swimmer tries to start a wave of legal actions

A wild swimmer taking legal action over sewage pollution wants to “open the floodgates” for other citizens to fight water companies (Adam Vaughan writes in yesterday’s print edition of the Times)

Jo Bateman, a retired physiotherapist in Exmouth, was unable to swim for a ten-day period last year because of raw sewage being spilt by South West Water on the town’s beach.

Bateman, 62, had previously brought a small claims court challenge against the company, which she admitted she did not expect to win. But her case has now been boosted by the support of the law firm Leigh Day and the non-profit Good Law Project.

“It’s a game-changer.

Having the backing of a law firm experienced in this area of law has to hugely increase my chances of winning,” Bateman said.

She added: “For me, it isn’t about the winning as such, it’s really not about the money. If we win, that will really properly open the floodgates for other people to do the same.”

A burst pipe just before New Year’s Eve led to untreated sewage being discharged into the sea and 240 lorry loads of sewage a day being transported through the Devon town.

In her claim, Bateman argues that not being able to swim during the ten days amounted to a loss of amenity, meaning a reduction in the quality of a person’s life. She said: “To have a consecutive period like that has a real impact on my mental health. G-ing in that cold sea is such a boost to my mental health, it’s so meditative. So when I can’t do that, I can feel myself not feeling so great mentally.”

She said that last year there had been more than 120 days she couldn’t swim because online maps reported sewage spills, and she always allowed 48 hours after a discharge ended.

With Leigh Day’s help her challenge has been redrafted to focus more on the ten-day period. Bateman could win as little as £60 in compensation but she hoped it would cause bigger ripples. “I want to see all the water companies not paying massive dividends to shareholders … I want to see more money going into infrastructure and maintenance,” she said.

Her case is part of a wider drive by campaigners and lawyers to use the courts to force companies to take more action on water quality.

Leigh Day is also representing Carolyn Roberts, of Gresham College in London, who is trying to win compensation for the customers of several water companies she alleges have underreported sewage spills. Her claims are going through the competition appeal tribunal.

The firm is also bringing a multi-party action against Tesco’s main chicken supplier, Avara Foods, over the impact of chicken farms’ pollution on the River Wye. If successful it could lead to a payout for locals.

A recent YouGov poll of 2,000 adults found that only 14 per cent were likely to swim in rivers and seas this summer in light of headlines about sewage pollution — 73 per cent said it was unlikely.

The Times’s Clean It Up campaign has been calling for better real-time information about sewage spills and faster, greater investment to improve water company infrastructure.

South West Water was contacted for comment.