Seaton residents - thoughts on "regeneration"
Below I give part of the text of a letter I received today from a Seaton couple who do not wish to be named. The letter was very wide ranging so I have taken here only those points that relate to the holiday camp/regeneration area:
We believe that any changes should be positive for our town and its people. In the context of Seaton,the word 'regeneration' literally translated means 'bring new and more vigorous life to an area'. That is what we need.
We need to keep the life and vigour that the holiday camp provides and expand this into other areas. We need to preserve the natural marshes for posterity as a valuable nature reserve, with boarded walkways as far along the estuary as possible so that visitors and locals alike can really appreciate the beauty of the area without traffic to negotiate. This has been done remarkably well at Budleigh Salterton so why not here?
We need to get a quality hotel (if not hotels) as they have in Sidmouth so that we attract more people to the area.
We need to call a halt to retirement homes and think of the young people who can breathe new life into the town.
We need diversity of shops and or light industrial premises.
We need to get the sailing club and the boatyard people to stop being so blinkered and thinking out of the box, embracing the bigger picture.
The view from the boat yard is stunning, but totally spoiled at present.
We should be thinking of developing a proper area for water sports - what a bonus that would be. ......
What do YOU think?
posted by Fighting for East Devon's future @ 10:17 pm
3 Comments:
You are mad Seaton needs to get out of the fifties and realise that the holiday camp holds very little value to the town or area. In fact I would go as far as to say it is what has held Seaton back for the last 30 years. This is due to the Sidmouth Snob factor where all the important decisions of East Devon are made. We need regeneration. We will not loose World Heritage status through not having a holiday camp, people are desperately trying to use slighty associated reasons to stop Seaton moving forward. I love this town I was born here. The holiday camp is an old outdated complex and should be destined to the history books. Drive down harbour road and tell me what you find attractive ? It certainly is not the holiday camps. Would you stay there ! I certainly wouldn't. We should feel very lucky that someone is wanting to spend the time and money to help Seaton, or maybe when it is left and closed down it will give you all something else to moan about, like the Motel at the top of the hill. Come up with a better idea for regeneration by all means but keep what is there is madness.
I think you have misunderstood our point about the FACILITIES of the holiday camp being kept. I am NOT saying that we should pickle the holiday camp in aspic and keep it as it is. What I am saying is that, currently, the holiday camp is fulfilling another function as a temporary community facility. It is this that we want to ensure that we keep along with facilities that allow us to accommodate up to 450 tourists per night. Once the camp is gone our biggest hotel is just 10 beds. What we want is a mixed site - shops, homes, tourist facilities (including accommodation) and community facilities. What could be worse than another 1,000 people in the town and no leisure, indoor sporting, arts or community facilities available to them?
Seaton-Comments
Seaton has a natural marshland that supports a diverse wildlife population and this has led to the formation of a designated Local Nature Reserve that now gives enjoyment to so many people.
It also has a floodplain that acts as a safety valve for a much wider area, not simply the immediate location. Surely essential when severe weather and tide combine to threaten to do their worst?
A large building programme could seriously change the water table and damage the marshes wildlife and the loss of floodplain puts the lower valley in and around the Axe at risk.
There are many established businesses in the Harbour Road area and it would be wrong to disrupt their activities by pointless relocation. Any relocation would in any case mean moving into ‘green’ land and so worsen, not improve, Seaton as a whole.
Finally and of high importance is the future of Lyme Bay Holiday Village. This provides affordable holidays to many, brings in visitors throughout the year and helps boost Seaton’s economy as well as providing employment. The added bonus of the Holiday Village is the excellent fitness and leisure facilities that are used by local residents and visitors, at no capital or running cost to the Local Authority. Lyme Bay Holliday Village should be reassured of a long-term future in Seaton to encourage them to continue to invest in this site.
There are of course two ‘blots’ in the area, notably the former ‘Blue Waters Holiday Park’ and the former ‘Racal’ site. Let us concentrate attention on these areas and get on with making improvements. At least part of this land should be used as a public open space.
Phil Cooper
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