Welcome to those visiting this site for the first time
As many of you know, the origin of this site is that, as a gym user at the Lyme Bay Holiday Village, I was concerned that we will lose it if developers of the Seaton Regeneration Area get their way about how they develop the site (see the links on the right, particularly the illustrative plan which the developers have put out for consultation). In this plan, the site has a re-sited tramway, a Jurassic Coast Visitors Centre, a supermarket, a DIY store and shops and 450 homes. There is no provision for tourists to stay, for leisure facilities for tourists and locals and no provision for a much-needed community centre for the town.
I was asked to arrange a meeting - specifically for Holiday Village facilities users. On Tuesday last week more than 300 people turned up to that meeting (that with only minimal publicity). Not one person spoke in support of the current developer's plans and very many people spoke against it.
The Holiday Village is in the odd position of being forced to sell back the land to the developer if planning permission is given for any type of development on that land. If this happens, they will be given 12 - 18 months notice to quit but they will not be allowed to appeal.
The current situation is that no plans have yet gone in to East Devon District Council. The current plan is illustrative only - this means it has no legal status - it is simply an idea, any part of which can be changed before plans go in.
When they do, they will be put on display at the Town Hall. We will then have as little as 3 WEEKS to put in our objections to those plans. If enough of us object, it may be decided to have a Public Inquiry, where all the evidence about the development will be examined to see if it is the best use of the site, given current requirements of the East Devon Local Plan and the Development Brief (see side links for these documents).
When the developer's agent (Mr Terry Dinham, Signet Planning, 12B Hornbeam Park Oval, Harrogate HG2 8RB) was asked what tourists would do when they come to Seaton, he suggested that they could shop. If you disagree with this (or any aspect of the plan) PLEASE DO WRITE TO HIM AS SOON AS POSSIBLE WITH A COPY TO ME (info@semple.uk.net).
As soon as I can, I will prepare a document which will show where the planning application differs from the Local Plan and the Development Brief - these are the only two documents which can be referred to when objecting.
In the meantime PLEASE feel free to add your comments to what I put here - the more the better. We need to prove how strong community feelings are about the current plans.
posted by Fighting for East Devon's future @ 5:23 pm
3 Comments:
Thankyou for all you are doing on our behalf - site first class. Would like to stress that aside from the use of the Lyme Bay Holiday camp by Seaton residents, we think it is most important to retain it as a popular venue for all the holiday makers who flock to Seaton and use our shops, cafes and restaurants. It would be good if we could find other attractions to encourage them to spend more time in Seaton.Public toilets sited near Axmouth harbour most important. DIY store not required - we have three excellent hardware sources in Seaton. How about a covered market for local traders? - the two street markets held in the summer along marine parade always seem well attended and popular.
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.
An important thing to remember is that bats will need homes just as much as paople. All new buildings close to the Local Nature Reserve as well, as to the blue spines and green lungs, will need integrated bat boxes of the most modern, bat friendly design.
We have 11 of the 16 British bats in this area and they are all protected species, some very rare. They have suffered terribly in recent years from mans unfriendly activities and now is our chance to make amends. Our bats will enhance the value of our nature reserves and environment and i hope we will come to understand their needs better than we do now.
Post a Comment
<< Home