Karime Hassan's "vision" for Seaton

First, thanks to the gentleman from Musbury for his £20 contribution to our fighting fund. This reminds us that it isn't just Seaton that is affected by this, but the whole of the surrounding area.

Now - Mr Karime Hassan of EDDC has a full page in this week's Midweek Herald (perhaps he got jealous of my full page spread in View from Seaton a few weeks ago!). He's Corporate Director - Environment.

First the good news: he's for "quality in design, landscaping and conservation" including the World Heritage Coast. He promises that his number one priority is to protect them "where there is a way" (now that phrase is just a wee bit too vague for me but others might be reassured). His aim is to bring "jobs and housing" closer together. Good news - with 600 houses to come we probably need about 500 -800 or more jobs (full time and part time) in or near Seaton. He says that they are putting "a lot of resources" into Seaton to move forward with the Local Plan (that's the one that gives priority to keeping the holiday village open amongst other things). He says there will be full consultation when a planning application goes in for the Regeneration Area. He sees the marshes and the cycle route as big tourist attractors.

Now the bad news: we Setonians have been very naughty - we've been spending our money in Exeter and other places, buying things like clothes and shoes there. He thinks we should be spending that money in Seaton and, he says, if we don't spend it in Seaton, we will have more empty shops -so it's all our fault. But, not to worry we are going to have a BIG BIG supermarket and a few more shops and we must spend our money in those instead of in Exeter. We must buy our shoes and clothes locally - like they do in Sidmouth presumably ....

Well, personally I buy my shoes at Marks and Spencer as it is the only shop that does my size, same with clothes as I'm a difficult size which only M and S seems to do, so presumably we will be getting one of those. And perhaps a Top Shop for the teenagers, or maybe a department store? Or a Carphone Warehouse perhaps? A Debenhams - I can see it now. I will never want to go to Exeter again!

And I still ask - where will the new tourists stay when they visit the (still only a concept) marshes and the very small Visitors Centre (look on the developer's plan - its footprint is less than one-tenth of the size of the supermarket and DIY store which will dwarf it next door). His answer "in the surrounding area" - ah, I see.

And who decides the planning application when it goes in: the EDDC Development Control Committee. How many Seaton members does it have? None. Are you allowed to speak to it? No. You can speak to the Planning Inspection Committee - if it decides a site visit is necessary - but you get a maximum of three minutes and must not repeat anything anyone has said before you - even though you don't know what they are going to say! Who is on this Planning Inspection committee: half the people on the Development Control Committee!

However, if the developer's plan is vastly different from the Local Plan it can be designated a "departure application" and that means that it has to go to the Government Office of the South West for decision. Who decides whether or not it is a departure application? You guessed it - EDDC. Isn't local government wonderful.

Still, look on the bright side -we'll all have the Town Hall to use as a community resource for all these people, so that's OK. Provided you have a function for more than 100 (ground floor) or less than 40 (upper floor with no access for people with disabilities and no toilets for people with disabilities). And you can always walk on the marshes (oh, hang on - I can do that already) or nip into the Visitors Centre to see what's changed from last week.

So, the good news is - lots of low paid, part time jobs for shop assistants and cleaners in Seaton, lovely shops to buy your shoes and clothes and no need to visit Exeter. Now that's what I call quality of life.