Where we stand on the mega marsh - yet again!
It seems that a number of agencies are trying to give the impression that our campaign group is anti-mega marsh. This is not surprising - that's their job. So, although I have already made one posting on this,I will make yet another.
We are NOT against the mega-marsh in principle; should the public in Seaton ever be consulted about it we would be likely to support it; HOWEVER:
We DO believe that given the energy, enthusiasm and committment of the EDDC people working on this concept, it will almost certainly get all its funding (and possibly more) from outside sources - it does not need Section 106 money.
We will NOT get a multi-use community building on the regeneration site unless we have Section 106 money - there is no other source of funds. If such a building is not placed on the regeneration area it will probably NEVER be built in Seaton - there will be no land available.
We do NOT want to be a town surrounded by tourist attractions with nowhere for tourists to stay.
We do NOT want to be a town whose primary purpose is "shopping as a leisure activity".
We WANT quality of life for the current and future residents of Seaton within the town and not just on the marshes.
The marshes have always been in Seaton and (global warming permitting) always will be - we are losing nothing even if they stay as they are. However, once the holiday village goes we have lost community facilities that may NEVER be replaced.
So, once again - no, we are NOT against the Marshes project!!! It is just unfortunate that someone at EDDC thought it would be a good idea to present it as an either/or situation when we think it is possible to get both.
The same agencies are saying that there is "massive support" for a mega marsh. Well, OK about 150 people turned up to hear a presentation about it (and other things such as a youth project and an arts project). We got 300+ to our first protest meeting with almost no publicity, Seaton Development Trust got 500 - 600 at its meeting and last week (at 48 hours notice) we managed to get 150 (not the 120 EDDC says - we did a head count) to the Executive Board meeting on a wet and windy night.
Does this mean we can claim MASSIVE, MASSIVE, MASSIVE support! I hope so!
posted by Fighting for East Devon's future @ 11:47 am
9 Comments:
the marsh project looks great - PROVIDED it is not funded by the removal of Seaton's tourist base - a base that also provides visitors to nearby villages. At the meeting in the Town Hall we were offered a wonderfully exciting project. BUT we were told it was to be funded by lottery money. If it needs other sources of funding I'm sure local groups would be happy to work on finding alternative sources. (But isn't that what EDDC staff are supposed to do?)
Absolutely, Sandra, you've said it all!
How dare these "agencies" try to make it a direct choice. Seaton has not been asked about the mega-marsh, but simply presented with it as a concept.
Who can say that "shopping is a leisure activity" which could replace the multiple facilities housed by the Lyme Bay holiday village. If they truly believe that, then this is someone with a very sad, narrow and selfish outlook on life! Who could it be? Liatris perhaps, who only wants to make a quick buck, and move on.
Absolutely, Sandra, you've said it all!
How dare these "agencies" try to make it a direct choice. Seaton has not been asked about the mega-marsh, but simply presented with it as a concept.
Who can say that "shopping is a leisure activity" which could replace the multiple facilities housed by the Lyme Bay holiday village. If they truly believe that, then this is someone with a very sad, narrow and selfish outlook on life! Who could it be? Liatris perhaps, who only wants to make a quick buck, and move on.
Does anyone know who these Liatris people are and how come they seem to know what we want? I can't see them anywhere on the web. What exactly are their credentials for doing this sort of thing? Does anyone know?
I've just been lookign at some visitors figures for Devon. Bit out of date but it seems Lyme Bay Holiday Village is probably putting about £10 million into Seaton and the surrounding areas. So how are we going to replace all that? And please don't tell me its Tesco and the other shed because they could be built on the developers land anyway - its HOUSING he wants to put on the holiday village. Who's going to prove to me that the housing can replace £10 million?
I agree that we need to know more about them. I've done a search on the web for Liatris holdings, and got practically nowhere! Has anyone got any further?
I'm not particularly computer literate, could anyone give me tips for doing a search, please?
Well said Terrier. Perhaps our local representatives of the Fourth Estate could put the question to the Liatris rep Councillor Buskin. Or they could even do their own research and print their findings for all to see.
I've also tried and failed to find any reference to Liatris on the web and at company house. I will e-mail and ask for details from eddc. Surely they must know who they've tacitly agreed to sell our land to?
And, is it legal to sell public land without offering it to the highest bidder? Anyone know?
When EDDC starts to negotiate with Liatris, its lawyers should insist on something called "due diligence" which is defined as "The process of investigation, performed by investors, into the details of a potential investment, such as an examination of operations and management and the verification of material facts." The problem is, of course, all these companies are actually involved in a web of other companies so there is only so much "due diligence" you can do.
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