Good luck with that!

“Exmouth town council has urged the East Devon district authority to listen to residents’ views on major plans to redevelop Queens Drive.

94.9 per cent voted that, before any plans are approved, they want to see the plans for themselves.”

http://www.exeterexpressandecho.co.uk/Listen-people-Exmouth-seafront-plans-urge-town/story-29245435-detail/story.html

Which means we return to the question: who does a council represent – its developers or its voters? What should a council’s over-arching aim be: economic growth at all costs or social and environmental representation?

Back to the drawing board, EDDC. Or ignore your voters?

http://www.exeterexpressandecho.co.uk/Exmouth-Seafront-94-cent-vote-consultation/story-29151530-detail/story.html

What a disgrace that new polling stations have been announced but no-one gets polling cards to know where they should go to vote.

And how can you justify saying you will announce another polling station next week?

The poll arrangements are ludicrous and might merit a complaint to the Electoral Commission. Not to mention being examined at an Exmouth Town Council or EDDC scrutiny committee.

Poll approaching on Exmouth seafront

http://www.exmouthjournal.co.uk/news/election-2015/poll_approaching_on_exmouth_seafront_1_4485164

“.. One issue the business owner did have with the developments was what he described as a ‘secrecy’ surrounding the plans.

He said: “I don’t think the council has been very forthcoming. I’ve asked them what the latest position is and they’ve told me they still have nothing to tell me.

http://www.exeterexpressandecho.co.uk/Jury-s-Exmouth-seafront-development-plans/story-29069835-detail/story.html

This article has not yet appeared on the website – the text is shown below the image:

“Family tourist attractions on Exmouth seafront are set to trade for another summer, after obtaining a legal stay of execution.

Owners of the businesses – Exmouth Fun Park and the neighbouring Arnold Palmer mini-golf course – say they look forward to welcoming back their loyal customers – but East Devon District Council (EDDC) faces its seafront redevelopment plans being delayed for several months.

The businesses had been due for eviction in May, having lost a county court case against EDDC in January. However, Chris Wright, tenant of the fun park, and his mother Maureen, joint tenant with Mr Wright of the golf site, continued their court fight, and in a statement have now said that with their next court hearing scheduled for November, the businesses will keep trading until then – giving them at least one extra summer season.

The statement reads: “We have enjoyed over 40 years’ trading on the seafront and have applied to renew our leases so we can continue our businesses here, where we have built up a loyal customer base.

“EDDC has opposed the renewal of our leases in favour of a redevelopment of the seafront.

“The legal process is ongoing and an application for permission to appeal the first instance judgement will be heard in November 2016.

“Until the hearing of that application, the fun park and golf course will be open as usual and we hope you will continue to support our businesses on the seafront over the summer period.”

The tenants are making an ‘oral application’ for an appeal hearing, having had a previous appeal application turned down by the Court of Appeal.
EDDC is planning new buildings and leisure facilities on Queen’s Drive, between the old lifeboat station and The Maer.

Reacting to the latest development, an EDDC spokesperson said: “The original court judgement made in January required the tenants to leave in May 2016, which would have enabled the council to move on to the site this year.
“This latest action now means that the development of the road, car park and water sports centre will not begin for some period of time until the tenants’ next application is heard.

“The tenants’ application for leave to appeal is listed for November. However, the council is applying to bring the hearing forward.

“For the regeneration of Queen’s Drive to continue, the remaining tenancies on the site need to be ended. The judicial system has twice found in favour of the council that the tenants do not have the right to remain on site as their leases have expired. “While the legal process continues, areas of the seafront will remain boarded up and the multi-million-pound all-year-round development – starting with the national watersports centre is being stalled.”

Also this week, East Devon returning officer Mark Williams has confirmed that a parish poll will take place in Exmouth on April 20, between 4pm and 9pm, asking whether Exmouth Town Council should write to EDDC calling for additional independent consultation on its plan.

There will be no polling cards or postal votes. More details will be listed on the EDDC website and at Exmouth Town Hall on 13 April”

“SUPPORTERS of the regeneration of Exmouth [aka mostly EDDC and developers] seafront were celebrating a partial victory today.

http://www.exeterexpressandecho.co.uk/Lord-Justice-Appeal-refuses-permission-tenants/story-28970984-detail/story.html

Campaign group Save Exmouth Seafront will hold a demo outside The Knowle over development plans.

Louise MacAllister, spokesperson for the group highly critical of the £18m Queen’s Drive project, said many of their questions about “remain unanswered” by East Devon District Council.

It’s despite EDDC recently publishing information in the form of a Q&A on their website.

Louise will lead the demo outside the council offices in Sidmouth on Wednesday 24th February at 5.45pm, as district councillors arrive ahead of a full council meeting.

The group will then field some of the “unanswered” questions at the district authority during the public speaking section of the meeting.

“Previous questions asked by the campaign group have remained unanswered …”
http://www.exeterexpressandecho.co.uk/Save-Exmouth-Seafront-hold-demo-ahead-council/story-28784552-detail/story.html

PRESS RELEASE
15 February 2016

SES would also like to point out that since the release of EDDC’s Q&As, it has been revealed that although EDDC linked Nando’s to the development, Nando’s have no intention of opening a branch in Exmouth. SES are concerned that if the Q&As have misled the public in this respect, what else within the Q&A document is mis-representing what is actually planned?”

QUESTIONS

Save Exmouth Seafront
Questions about the Queen’s Drive re-development:
Compiled by Exmouth residents and seafront visitors

Consultation

There are many paragraphs in East Devon District Council’s (EDDC) double page spread which explain who EDDC previously consulted and how. So why does EDDC appear to be deliberately misleading readers by omitting to disclose the actual results of that consultation? Why are the public being misled on this issue? Those previous consultations netted very few responses and, of those that did respond the majority did not support the proposed changes. Will EDDC accept the challenge to immediately issue to local media an honest version of those results.

In light of the small consultation numbers, why will EDDC not commit to undertaking a further independent consultation, and as soon as possible?
Does EDDC recognise that the initial consultation was misleading in stating ‘NO permanent residential’ and overstating the potential for children’s outdoor space, and that therefore further independent consultation should be undertaken?

Regeneration and project management

Why, if EDDC is set on ‘regenerating’ Exmouth, are they concentrating on altering a large part of our seafront, and creating in effect a separate ‘estate’ of shops, flats and restaurants, instead of regenerating Exmouth town centre, which many recognise as an area in far more need of ‘regeneration’?

Where is the evidence of need for the ‘regeneration’ of Exmouth’s seafront?
Where is the proof of how much extra income would be generated for the town, (as opposed to EDDC)?

When will there be a café at Orcombe Point? This has been raised time and again for years. Why is this not taking priority?

What is the rationale behind forcing the closure of existing businesses now, when the development is in 3 stages, especially the incredibly popular Model Railway/Carriage Café site which had to close last September?

Why is the leader of Exmouth’s regeneration a councillor, living at least half an hour’s drive away, with no known connection to the town? How can he act in the best interests of a town to which he has no connection?
Has EDDC made plans to support local tourism through the many years of ‘redevelopment’ in which many regular visitors will leave, and possibly not return?

If this project goes ahead, and the businesses that open on the Queen’s Drive fail, will EDDC bail them out with public money as it did with Ocean, which, unlike the independently trading is subsidised by EDDC?

Developers and investors

What is the ‘market research’ undertaken to ascertain demand for a cinema, and who undertook this research? Does it demonstrate that the existing cinema will remain a viable and thriving business? When will the findings of this market research be made public?

With so much at stake for the future of Exmouth’s seafront, why would EDDC risk the likelihood of completion of the replacement scheme, by being in talks with Moirai as the preferred developer, when Moirai have filed for bankruptcy and recently had swathes of their company struck off the Companies House Register? Moirai do not have any track record of excellence or even completion of previous projects.

With the credibility of the preferred developers in question, what will happen if they become unable to complete the project?

Businesses

What will be the criteria for leases to be given to those wanting to take on a lease on the development?

Will EDDC commit not to discriminate in any way against existing seafront businesses, should they wish to take on a lease on the development?
Does EDDC recognise the importance of local knowledge in running businesses on the seafront, especially when it comes to challenging Winter conditions?
Will the development include fast food outlets?

What evidence has been obtained or proposed to suggest that existing food outlets, primarily in the town, will not be adversely affected by drawing people away?

Similarly, what evidence has been obtained or proposed to suggest demand for the eight food outlets on Queen’s Drive?

What are the 175 jobs to be created in the ‘wider development’?

Environment

How does EDDC intend to meet the habitat regulations with respect to the development?

In light of the challenging Winter conditions on The Queen’s Drive, does EDDC recognise that a development of this nature would be better placed on an out of town location such as the Liverton Business Park, which could potentially have dual access from Concorde Road?

Accessibility

Will the development include improving wheelchair/pram access to beach and amenities?

Families

What are the three generational, all weather leisure activities provided in the new development (apart from eating)?

What is the justification for the reduction in space for children’s play from 14,500 square feet, to just 3430 square feet, as per EDDC’s response to an FOI request on 27th August 2015.

Free Play and Water Play

Free play and water play is a much vaunted aspect of the development, indeed the original consultation called the development ‘The Splash’, suggesting it would be predominantly water play. Yet there is to date no details around this. Why not? It must by now be possible to offer some detail and for the people to evaluate if this is worth the otherwise unwelcome features suggested?

Why did the ‘Splash’ title disappear, to be replaced by the ‘Queen’s Drive Development’?

Water Sports Centre

Is the water sports centre going to be a private members club?
What evidence is there to suggest that the location of the proposed water sports centre is in fact safe, especially for novices? Has a safety study been carried out?

Will this be a centre actually offering a range of water sports for all, or will this be a kite-surfing centre?

What efforts have there been to ensure there is a viable desire for watching kite surfing festivals that warrants a new, large, dedicated building?

If such efforts have been made, when will the results be made public?

Why is it necessary to spoil an open aspect sea front promenade, that is appreciated by many, for the unproven benefit to a few?

Why did EDDC make so little effort to preserve an existing Spinnakers water sports centre in the docks area? This is a safer area and did incorporate facilities for experienced and trainee sailors.

What are the 45 jobs to be created at the water sports centre?

Visitors and other seafront users

What evidence is available to prove the current numbers of people visiting Exmouth seafront and beach?

What evidence is there that the ‘Queen’s Drive Development will attract even more people to Exmouth seafront and beach’? (As stated by EDDC’s question and answers – question 6).

Dogs

Does the council recognise that for many people, they come to Exmouth seafront because it is dog friendly? And therefore will there be a dog friendly café in any future development?

“Moirai Capital Investments are seeking approval for their 31 acre (12.5ha) leisure development which will be built adjacent to and around the newly refurbished Oasis Leisure Centre at North Star.

But although the outline plans mention a skate park – at the moment it is not clear whether it will be a free to use outdoor one to replace the current facility on the site or an indoor paid-for one.

A campaign to save the free outdoor facility has been launched by Diana Kirk of ATBSkate Warehouse at Hawksworth but she believes that their pleas are being ignored as it appears on the plans that it will be an indoor site. You can sign the petition, which so far has over 1,o00 signatures at:
http://www.bit.ly/oasis-skate …

… The plans submitted by Moirai include:

• Up to 50,000 square metres of mixed leisure including a cinema, 5,000 seat entertainment arena, ski centre and other leisure uses which could include a crazy golf centre, comedy club, laser tag and skate park;

• Up to 12,000sqm of restaurants and cafes

• Up to 12,000sqm retail space, with a minimum of 9,000sqm of sports retailing;

• Up to 9,000sqm for a hotel.

The vast £120 million leisure scheme will be one of the largest projects of its type in the UK.

Moirai chairman Martin Barber said: “This is a crucial step in the process of delivering this major development. Getting to this point has been complex, with consideration given to the best possible layout for the project, but also to address issues such as traffic management and the potential environmental impact of the development.”

Coun Garry Perkins, Swindon Cabinet Member for Economy, Regeneration & Skills said: “The application represents another step in this exciting project. I am satisfied that now Moirai have put together a proposal that matches the council’s ambitions; I look forward to hearing more as they get closer to turning these plans into a reality .

“These are only the outline plans and until we see the detailed ones it is difficult to say what form the skate park will take, but at least it is part of the plans at the moment.”

It is believed that many visitors to the facility will arrive by train, as Swindon’s station is only a short distance away. Forward Swindon has completed a feasibility study for a new pedestrian crossing over the mainline, adjacent to the station, connecting the north and south parts of the town centre. Seeking funding for the crossing is the next stage.

Chris Hitchings, director of development at Forward Swindon, said: “Swindon is well connected to a huge, affluent catchment. The arena and ski centre, for example, will provide Swindon with high profile destinations to compete with the likes of Cardiff, Bristol and Milton Keynes.”

Future of free skate park at Oasis in doubt. World’s skateboard legend Tony Hawk signs Swindon campaign petition