Category Archives: Seaton/ Colyford / Colyton

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5 Oct 2016

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Accountability, Colyton, Developers/ Development, Green Wedges, Seaton/ Colyford / Colyton

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Seaton/Colyford green wedge under attack from developers for the fourth time

Amended Planning Application 15/2188/MOUT

hosted by
Seaton & Colyford Green Wedge Community Action Group

Wednesday 12th October 7.00pm
Seaton Town Council Office Meeting Room
Marshlands Centre, Harbour Road, Seaton EX12 2LT

The above Meeting will be Chaired by Howard West, Leader of the Group, and Martin Shaw, a Seaton Town Councillor and Chair of their Planning Committee will also speak and explain the details of the Application. They will both be taking questions.

If you have looked at the paperwork in more detail, you will notice there is only one football pitch, with a Training & Recreation Area, plus parking and a Club House. Seaton FC were asking for two pitches. The Application mentions that there will be no floodlighting to the Recreation Area and Training Ground, but does not mention about the football pitch! Therefore we must assume that there will be floodlighting, as there is on the existing football pitch in Seaton.

This is a Public Meeting and you are all invited to come along and participate in the discussion. The Marshlands Centre is situated at the Harbour Road roundabout and there is limited parking on site. There is plenty of parking in the vicinity including Tescos (max 2 hours)”

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28 Sep 2016

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Axminster, Budleigh Salterton, Exmouth, Honiton/ Gittisham, NHS (local), Seaton/ Colyford / Colyton, Sidmouth/ Sidford/ Sidbury

NHS bed closure ” consultation” to begin

“Consultation” – Owl really doesn’t know whether to laugh or cry!

“This afternoon NHS Northern, Eastern and Western (NEW) Devon Clinical Commissioning Group’s (CCG) governing body gathered for an extraordinary meeting at Exeter’s County Hall, following the announcement to close 72 community hospital beds in its eastern locality.

Details of the proposed consultation were discussed which will reduce the number of community bed units from seven to three.

The Your Future Consultation was approved by the governors signalling the start on the consultation on Friday, October 7.

It will run for 12 weeks and ultimately it will be NEW Devon CCG who decide which beds to close.

The four options being proposed in the consultation are…

A) 32 beds in Tiverton, 24 beds in Seaton and 16 beds in Exmouth.

B) 32 beds in Tiverton, 24 beds in Sidmouth and 16 beds in Exmouth.

C) 32 beds in Tiverton, 24 beds in Seaton and 16 beds in Whipton.

D) 32 beds in Tiverton, 24 in Sidmouth and 16 beds in Whipton.

In the options Tiverton hospital will definitely remain open. Honiton and Okehampton have not been included in the options so will close.”

http://www.exeterexpressandecho.co.uk/devon-community-hospital-bed-closure-consultation-is-given-go-ahead/story-29760710-detail/story.html

YOUR COMMENT DOES NOT HAVE TO BE IN FAVOUR OF ONE OF THE ABOVE – IT CAN POINT OUT POOR OR MISSING OR MISLEADING INFORMATION AND/OR PUT FORWARD OTHER SUGGESTIONS.

The NHS is not overspent, it is underfunded!

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22 Sep 2016

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Accountability, Axminster, EDDC, Exmouth, Regeneration, Seaton/ Colyford / Colyton

Review of how regeneration boards operate

Residents will be pleased to hear that the Overview Committee at EDDC is considering a review how regeneration boards operate.

They will probably not be pleased to hear that no date has been set for the review.

Click to access 270916-overview-agenda-combined.pdf

(page 26)

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31 Aug 2016

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Seaton/ Colyford / Colyton, Tourism

Seaton Heights – due for completion June 2016 …

With Seaton seemingly on the up these days with its increase in “staycation” visitors, its newly-opened Jurassic Visitor Centre, a new Premier Inn on the way and a new leisure facility about to open, it is time to revisit – yet again – the one remaining large tourist development yet to be created – the hilltop Seaton Heights, the former motel with its breathtaking views down to the sea.

Lyme Bay Leisure – ?owners of Seaton Heights – revamped their website in March this year. They are busy people – offering consultancy services in how to achieve best results in the leisure industry, for example, so perhaps they haven’t had time to review their current web site.

They begin with their usual “buy off plan” spiel:

“Lyme Bay Leisure are pleased to announce the release of the first phase of “off plan” luxury “Deck Houses” offered on 999 year leases at their luxury resort in Seaton Devon.”

and go on to say:

“Once complete the Deck Houses will be supported by “The Gatehouse” a luxury four star leisure facility (opening in June 2016) consisting of a gymnasium and swimming pool with glass fronted views over the bay. A luxury spa with five treatment rooms, sauna, steam and herbal suits (sic) with a therapeutic thermal pool for the ultimate indulgence. The ground floor has (?) a reception, coffee shop and sea facing restaurant providing a wonderful dining experience 7 days a week.”

They seem to have a bit of a problem sorting out present tense and future tense here too:

“The first phase of Deck House are [might one day be] a mix of two and three bedroom properties ranging from 93 to 122 square meters all with either integral balconies or roof top terraces to enjoy the wonderful views across the bay. The properties are [might one day be] finished to a high specification with all bedrooms having en-suite facilities and underfloor heating. The kitchen is [might one day be] finished with top of the range Miele appliances and all homes are [might one day be] air-conditioned have solid wood floors and the benefit of their own designated parking space.”

and finally”

“Discerning purchases (sic) can secure a plot of their choice now for an initial reservation fee of just £1,000, for further details of available plots, terms and conditions and time frames please email our dedicated sales team at info@lymebayleisure.co.uk”

Those “discerning purchaseRs” (note: not purchases!) might want to give the company some very substantial lee-way on that time frame, given that June 2016 is long past with no sign of any development over the last several years, and might also wish to enquire as to the status of that deposit should the venture be further delayed ….

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21 Aug 2016

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Beer, Budleigh Salterton, Exmouth, Seaton/ Colyford / Colyton, Sidmouth/ Sidford/ Sidbury

“The changing image of seaside towns”

A 2011 publication, but many relevant points:

“… Older resorts have suffered a lack of investment and political will, with a steadily decaying and inadequate infrastructure, whilst new arrivals are vulnerable to poor quality development.We see too many examples where design quality is sacrificed in a desperate bid to secure investment, reducing the chance of long-term success. …”

http://webarchive.nationalarchives.gov.uk/20110118095356/http:/www.cabe.org.uk/files/shifting-sands.pdff

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15 Aug 2016

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Affordable and Social Housing, Bovis, Developers/ Development, Seaton/ Colyford / Colyton

Bovis too poor to buld affordable homes in Seaton …. yet

“Bovis Homes posts 18% increase in revenue to £412m as UK market remains solid despite Brexit vote

Housebuilder says it is still too early to judge the impact of the vote to leave the European Union….”

http://ukdaily.ddns.net/news/bovis-homes-posts-18-increase-in-revenue-to-412m-as-uk-market-remains-solid-despite-brexit-vote

And Owl still can’t understand how Tesco paid for raising the site years ago yet Bovis says it is bearing the cost …

Did Bovis buy the site INCLUDING the cost of raising it several years earlier and, if so, why?

And why is every develipment site costed separately, not taking into a ccount the developers profits as a whole?

It seems just about any and every site can be shown to make a loss so that affordables are unaffordable, yet all these unaffordable site seems to make bigger and bigger profits for developers when added together! Strange that!

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10 Aug 2016

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Economy, EDDC, Seaton/ Colyford / Colyton, Stuart Hughes

That’s what friends are for …

The “council Chief” has not seen fit to intervene in the closure of any other banks in East Devon but no doubt chats with his high-profile Vice-Chairman Helen Parr (Colyton) at EDDC he has felt he must do what he can to help.

Other towns look forward to a similar intervention by the two of them on their behalf should their remaining banks be threatened with closure.

DCC Councillor Claire Wright recently wrote to Lloyds Chairman begging him not to close the branch in Ottery:

http://www.claire-wright.org/index.php/post/lloyds_bank_chief_executive_urged_to_retain_otterys_branch_in_face_of_cuts

Councillor Hughes (also a DCC councillor with highways responsibility) does not appear to have offered his support there.

“Council chief joins fight to save Colyton bank

East Devon District Council chairman Stuart Hughes has thrown his weight behind Colyton’s fight to save its Lloyds Bank branch from 
closure.

Members of St Andrew’s Parish Church recently wrote to the company’s chairman, Lord Norman Blackwell, appealing to him to reverse his decision to pull out of the town.

In their letter, the rector, the Reverend Hilary Dawson and her two church wardens, Christine Sansom and David Fouracre, said: “It would appear in the world of big business, small is not beautiful. However, to a community like ours, such a facility is crucial.

“We have a predominately elderly population living in a rural location. Many are without private transport, and public transport is infrequent and impractical for those with mobility problems. Many of the elderly are not computer literate, so online banking is not an option for them.

“A large proportion of the Colyton population have banked with Lloyds for many years, primarily because we have a fully functioning bank within the community. Your planned closure of this branch reflects the continued marginalisation of a hitherto thriving rural community.”

Now, in a show of support, Cllr Hughes has echoed parishioners’ concerns in a further letter to Lord Blackwell. He wrote: “Small branches like the one in Colyton are vital for rural communities and I am asking that the Lloyds Banking Group gives serious reconsideration to closing it. Such facilities are absolutely key to the life of our communities and we need to keep them open.”

Colyton district councillor Helen Parr added: “Not only will the loss of Lloyds Bank be a blow to personal customers, it will also hit businesses and many organisations and societies. The loss of our only bank would be a serious threat to the economic prosperity of the town.”

http://www.midweekherald.co.uk/news/council_chief_joins_fight_to_save_colyton_bank_1_4651305

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21 Jul 2016

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Axminster, Cranbrook, EDDC, Exmouth, Local Enterprise Partnership, Ottery St Mary, Regeneration, Richard Cohen, Seaton/ Colyford / Colyton, Sidmouth/ Sidford/ Sidbury

Now Exmouth seafront is up for grabs again, what of Seaton Heights?

East Devon District Council really is having problems with regeneration in Exmouth and Seaton.

In Exmouth, the relationship with preferred developer Moirai Capital Investments (see many East Devon Watch posts) has spectacularly bitten the dust. And what of the development at the old motel site in Seaton – grandly marketed as Seaton Heights:

http://lymebayleisure.co.uk/

which continues to deteriorate badly, despite promises made (many times) to either finish or start construction in June 2016 (it varies a lot depending just which press release you read) having been broken (though the company website STILL touts the off-plan £1,000 deposits it has been marketing for years).

EDDC Deputy CEO Richard Cohen was brought in specially for his regeneration expertise in London but, alas, he seems to have spent the vast majority of his time spearheading the relocation of council offices to Honiton and mopping up development issues in Cranbrook.

Now we have no less than THREE of our major towns with regeneration committees, as Axminster has joined Exmouth and Seaton as being in need of major new investment. Perhaps to be followed by Sidmouth when it is deserted by EDDC and has its replacement influx of more pensioners and Ottery as it struggles with more housing without accompanying infrastructure.

Not really a very good track record, is it?

Still, perhaps our LocalEnterprise Partnership will pump funds into these deprived areas.

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25 Jun 2016

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Axminster, Post-Brexit Adjustments, Seaton/ Colyford / Colyton

The new political landscape

““If you haven’t got money, you vote out.” We were in Collyhurst, the hard-pressed neighbourhood on the northern edge of Manchester city centre last Wednesday, and I had yet to find a remain voter. The woman I was talking to spoke of the lack of a local park, or playground, and her sense that all the good stuff went to the regenerated wonderland of big city Manchester, 10 minutes down the road.”

http://gu.com/p/4my2k

or, in the case of East Devon:

If you are not in with the powerful in-crowd, you vote out. If you are in Axminster on the hard-pressed eastern side of East Devon … that has seen its local playing fields gobbled up by a developer, a muddy broken-down S106 playground that has been hedged in by mean housing, feeling that all the good stuff has gone to the councillors and senior officers in their new HQ in Honiton and the “regenerated” Seaton 10 minutes down the road?

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21 Jun 2016

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Axminster, Bovis, Regeneration, Seaton/ Colyford / Colyton

Axminster – evidence for the need for regeneration? Seaton – booming?

New Bovis home “The Canterbury” style 4-bed home at Axminster – £367,995

New Bovis home “The Canterbury” style 4-bed home at Seaton – £385,000

Source: View from newspaper property section pages 36 and 38, 21 June 2016

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13 Jun 2016

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Coastal communities, Seaton/ Colyford / Colyton, Tourism

Tourism Minister on visit gets name of Seaton Jurassic wrong!

“Heritage and Tourism Minister David Evennett was in Seaton on Friday to see East Devon’s newest tourist attraction – its Jurassic’s wildlife garden. [Note: No mention here of “Seaton JURRASIC” of which the garden is a part]

While the resort’s main £4 million visitor centre [again no name] was formally opened in April by The Princess Royal, its outdoor interpretation areas were delayed by the exceptionally wet weather in the winter and early spring.

As part of his visit, Mr Evennett was also given a tour of Seaton beach to see the UNESCO World Heritage site where he heard how the area is being managed and protected.

He was then shown around the Beer Quarry Caves and discussed the future plans for the site.

Mr Evenett said: “The Jurassic Coast is one of the world’s most important landscapes and one of our country’s natural gems.

“It is wonderful to see how well this unique coastline is being looked after so that it continues to attract vital tourism to the region, while ensuring it is protected for generations to come.

“Seaton Centre [JURASSIC! wrong name again] is a fantastic example of a tourist attraction that is fun but educational too.”

http://www.midweekherald.co.uk/news/heritage_and_tourism_minister_visits_seaton_and_beer_1_4573843

Anyone wanting to find Seaton JURASSIC on Tripadvisor from this press release will need some lateral thinking.

Obviously put together by a press officer in London who probably has no idea where Seaton is!

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9 Jun 2016

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Seaton/ Colyford / Colyton

Who “owns” Seaton Heights?

Lyme Bay Leisure Ltd is usually quoted as the owner of the property and has a (somewhat optimistic) website where it is currently advertising “off plan” opportunities to purchase units for a £1,000 deposit:

http://lymebayleisure.co.uk/seaton-heights/

However, there are four charges outstanding on the site, the two most recent on 17 and 23 May 2016 to Simon Oliver Developments Ltd (debentures) and two earlier ones (also debentures)to Stonesby House Developers Ltd:

https://beta.companieshouse.gov.uk/company/08513325/charges

No details are given of the extent of the charges involved.

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8 Jun 2016

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Seaton/ Colyford / Colyton, Spin

Tesco Plaza, Seaton?

Pages 16 and 17 of the Midweek Herald today is a 2-page spread on the Seaton Cycling Festival on 19 June 2016, with some events described as taking place at “Thury-Harcourt/Tesco Plaza:

image

Is this Thury-Harcourt PLACE (Thury-Harcourt being Seaton’s twin town in France) and somewhere outside the Tesco Store (though where the Plaza is is anyone’s guess) or is there an insidious attempt to claim Thury-Harcourt Place as a Tesco advertising site?

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8 Jun 2016

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Andrew Moulding, Axminster, EDDC, Exmouth, Moirai Exmouth project, Regeneration, Seaton/ Colyford / Colyton

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Axminster “Regeneration” Board

So, it now exists …. with senior members of the Conservative majority holding the reins …. the same members that let it get into a position where it needs a regeneration board …. headed by someone who already has two other day jobs.

And they boast of how the have regenerated Seaton and Exmouth …. anyone been to Seaton recently? Where a former mayor has just resigned because he says too much attention is being paid to “Seaton Jurassic” and the Tesco site and not enough attention is being paid to the dying former town centre or other concerns. And where Seaton Heights still sits derelict whilst its owners make fantastic claims about what might happen but show no signs of them ever coming to fruition.

And Exmouth – where “regeneration” has become a dirty word amongst most residents and where EDDC’s chosen partner appears to be floundering with other developments it is involved in – not to mention being unable to file company their accounts on time.

Good luck Axminster.

http://www.sidmouthherald.co.uk/news/axminster_is_the_next_regeneration_town_1_4566363

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2 Jun 2016

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Developers/ Development, Seaton/ Colyford / Colyton

Seaton Heights – promises for June 2016 broken

Planning permission granted years ago, regular promises of action, a “buy off plan” website where:

…”Once complete the Deck Houses will be supported by “The Gatehouse” a luxury four star leisure facility (opening in June 2016) consisting of a gymnasium and swimming pool with glass fronted views over the bay. A luxury spa with five treatment rooms, sauna, steam and herbal suits with a therapeutic thermal pool for the ultimate indulgence. The ground floor has a reception, coffee shop and sea facing restaurant providing a wonderful dining experience 7 days a week … ”

… Over the coming few days our website will be updated and we apologise if you experience any difficulties when navigating around our website. Once complete you will be able to view all the latest images of the Gatehouse and Deck Houses as well as our new promotional video. We will be pleased to receive your comments.

http://lymebayleisure.co.uk/luxury-properties/

So, here we are in June 2016 … no spa, no Gatehouse, no Deck Houses .. but still off-plan deposits of £1,000 per property are being solicited.

Something not quite right here …

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14 May 2016

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Budleigh Salterton, EDDC, Exmouth, Moirai Exmouth project, Seaton/ Colyford / Colyton, Sidmouth/ Sidford/ Sidbury

“Britain’s seaside towns bouncing back”

But not because of high rise second homes or high-priced plastic entertainment – because of nostalgia for old-fashioned things such as piers and donkey rides mixed with modern attractions such as art galleries. THEY get Tracey Emin and Watne Hemmingway in to meld old and new – we get Moirai Capital Investments [very] Limited.

Typical EDDC – let the developers give them what they want rather than giving us what we want.

“Perhaps we have also arrived at a greater appreciation of the pleasures of the classic British break. A blend of familiarity, simplicity and beauty makes our coastal resorts comforting and exciting. The Proustian rush of candyfloss and donkey dung, yes, but also the thrill of experiencing towns reinventing themselves for the 21st century. Margate’s 1920s Dreamland amusement park, given a retro makeover by the Red Or Dead designer Wayne Hemingway, is one example – the schlock of the old meets the shock of the new. Think, too, of Banksy’s Dismaland in Weston-super-Mare, and Butlins marking its 80th anniversary by remodelling their Minehead family chalets in consultation with users of Mumsnet. Shakespeare would have a phrase for all this: once more on to the beach.”

http://gu.com/p/4j65n?CMP=Share_iOSApp_Other

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10 May 2016

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Affordable and Social Housing, Bovis, EDDC, Seaton/ Colyford / Colyton

Seaton Town Council on the warpath as EDDC attempts to slip no affordables on the Tesco (Bovis) site under the radar

Full details here:

Click to access Planning%20agenda%2009.05.16.pdf

Fish, smell, rotten … EDDC.

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2 May 2016

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EDDC, Seaton/ Colyford / Colyton, Section 106

Seaton Heights: EDDC sees no reason for delay

“GS had been contacting Seaton Heights by email but had not made any progress on contacting the owners at present. It was understood
that there were no barriers to development starting at Seaton Heights, except for stringent S106 requirements. With the economy and property market improving it may be that development could proceed. …”

Click to access 110516-combined-cabinet-agenda.pdf

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29 Apr 2016

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Affordable and Social Housing, Community Infrastructure Levy, Cranbrook, Developers/ Development, Development Management Committee, EDDC, Knowle/Honiton/Exmouth relocation, PegasusLife, Seaton/ Colyford / Colyton, Sidmouth/ Sidford/ Sidbury

Rush to avoid Community Infrastructure Levy?

According to Official Notices in the press, Community Infrastructure Levy will become payable to EDDC from 1 September 2016. This is charged per square metre and is in bands with Cranbrook being lowest and Sidmouth being highest.

Should we expect a rush to get planning permissions past the Development Management Committee before 31 August? Would this explain why Bovis is rushing through its application for phase 2 of its Seaton development where it wants zero affordable housing? Will we see the Pegasuslife Knowle application done and dusted before the end of August too?