Planning Application Quote of the Day - Thursday

Environmental Impact Assessment, section 6.68, page 83:

“The application will provide for a children’s play area in the north west corner of the site [there is already one there], although the swimming pool, gymnasium and community hall are to be demolished. However, it is proposed that additional accommodation will be provided adjoining the new Visitor Centre to be used as a ‘community room’ [Terry Dinham’s quotation marks] which could have a number of purposes including the operation of a small gymnasium or a community meeting facility. It is also proposed to provide a SUSTRANS terminus (shower/changing facilities, bike racks, etc) adjacent to the Visitor Centre. Notwithstanding the above, the loss of the swimming pool (despite relatively low numbers using the facility) would represent a moderate negative impact.”

Right: this building adjacent to the Visitor Centre that is supposed to house a ‘community room”, a small gymnasium or community meeting facility AND a SUSTRANS terminus with showers, changing facilities and bike racks has a footprint of around 30 feet by 30 feet. Also, there is mention in other documents that it might contain a crèche (the nursery used by Seaton residents at the holiday camp is also being demolished) AND a Youth Centre. It could possibly have more than one floor but, even then – given that each floor will be only 30 ft x 30 ft - can you imagine the kind of facilities one could have there!

Now you know why I have renamed it the TARDIS Annexe!

You can just see it can’t you – the gym users turn up for the daily work out. They make their was around the SUSTRANS bikes, dodge the five a side football team on the ground floor, go up the stairs to the first floor, tripping over the toddlers, go to the second floor to start their work out. Hang on, haven’t they been doing the work out for the last five minutes just getting over the obstacles?

AND if you have a building of more than one floor, the building will need a lift (if people with disabilities are to get upstairs – unless of course you make it like the Town Hall, so that they can’t get upstairs) AND emergency stairs for when you are on the island after the extreme weather event and there is no electricity - just before you are evacuated in the shallow draft boats which are also quite possibly stored somewhere on the site (see below). That won’t half cut into the 30 sq ft of fl oor space on each floor!

Please, someone, tell me I'm wrong!