As EDDC’s projects for commercialising our coastline get underway, notably at Exmouth, the Jurassic Coast newsletter makes interesting reading.
It includes an invitation to an event on Tuesday 20th May in Sidmouth, for small or medium-sized businesses who’d like to be associated with the promotion and conservation of the Jurassic Coast. See Calling all East Devon Businesses! at this link: http://jurassiccoast.org/index.php?option=com_content&view=category&layout=blog&id=371&Itemid=238&utm_source=newsletter_20&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=jurassic-post-edition-33
Category Archives: Exmouth
Date for your diary..Easter Saturday event at Exmouth
EDA are delighted that the Youth Parliament will be amongst the participants at the pop-in event at Exmouth’s Strand next weekend (Sat. 19th April). Details here: EDA Exmouth
One spare slot is available for a stand. Enquiries to info@eastdevonalliance.org (Please note, fast food is not permitted to be sold at this event) .
Informal tendering for “exciting” Exmouth seafront starts
It will all hinge on what people think is “exciting” and if that is what they want from their seafront. “Exciting” can mean many things to many people!
East Devon CPRE makes clear its position on protection of estuaries
Local CPRE Chair, Tim Hale, caused some consternation amongst those present at the February 14th hearing the Examination of EDDC’s Local Plan, when he seemed to be arguing for the removal of coastal preservation area status from the Exe Estuary. The matter has now been clarified, on the CPRE website: http://www.cpredevon.org.uk/topics/coasts-and-estuaries-designated-areas/
Further comment here:http://www.claire-wright.org/index.php/post/campaign_to_protect_rural_england_clarifies_its_position_on_protection_of_c
A question of priorities at Exmouth
Some EDDC activity at Exmouth has prompted the following conversation today on the EDA facebook: https://www.facebook.com/eastdevonalliance?hc_location=timeline
‘Improvements’ at Exmouth seafront
The Premier Inn plans seem to be causing problems. Story here: http://www.exmouthjournal.co.uk/news/whitbread_should_pay_graffiti_bill_1_3287470
Information Commissioner suggests ‘learning tool’ for EDDC
EDDC forced to release documents on Exmouth seafront covenants: BBC Radio Devon reports.
EDA secretary Nicky King has recorded an interview for Radio Devon, to be broadcast tomorrow (Tuesday 28 Jan). SIN has more information here: http://sidmouthindependentnews.wordpress.com/2014/01/27/demolition-job/
Exmouth Seafront Covenants: “an unfortunate public airing”
If you thought getting information from EDDC was harder than extracting a wisdom tooth, your opinion might just be confirmed by today’s news from the “What Do They Know?” website.
It concerns the saga of an Exmouth resident’s struggle to shed some light on the 2009 deal between EDDC and Clinton Devon Estates to lift the historic covenants owned by CDE which restricted building along Exmouth seafront.
In return for a payment of £50,000 to CDE, the council was able to proceed with its controversial plans to redevelop the seafront – including the demolition of Elizabeth Hall.
But the public never knew the background to the agreement. Two officers’ reports to Council Leaders were marked strictly “not for publication.”
In April 2013, Tim Todd lodged a Freedom of Information request for these reports to be released in “the public interest”. In August the Monitoring Officer refused on grounds of “commercial confidentiality” and an infringement of “the human rights of Lord Clinton” were cited as a possible reason not to publish.
The Information Commissioner disagreed, and required East Devon District Council to disclose the secret reports, which they have just done – with some redactions. BUT, EDDC misleadingly fail to mention that it was the IC’s intervention that obliged them to do so.
The reports suggest that EDDC would be held to “ransom” by CDE every time they wanted to develop individual sites, so it would be better to make a comprehensive agreement for the whole seafront, once and for all. And, significantly, the senior officers also point out that a quick deal would have the advantage of “bringing to an end what has been an unfortunate public airing of this issue”.
A vain hope…as this link confirms: https://www.whatdotheyknow.com/request/further_background_papers_re_50k#incoming-473238.
Exmouth 1
Sample content
East Devon Watch 