What If .... My Regeneration Dream
We are all, of course, discussing how awful the Liatris scheme is for the regeneration area and we have said that we want - at a minimum - to return to the plan in the Development Brief.
HOWEVER, what if you could do anything you wanted on this site and in central Seaton generally - what would you do?
My dream: Knock down the chalets at the holiday village and replace them with a state-of-the art ecovillage for ecotourists - cabins set on decked walkways with walks to the river. Clad the buildings that house the swimming pool, restaurant, etc in local wood and make them look much more modern and smart but basically keep them and use them for - gym and swimming pool and day nursery (as we have there now) new tourist information, SUSTRANS cycle route terminus, community facilities - you name it - it would all fit in there (even a Visitors Centre but that could also be elsewhere).
In the middle section (more or less where the derelict holiday camp is now) have this as public open space - a recreation ground, football pitches, indoor sports facility, children's play area. Have a community garden (perhaps even some community gardening).
On the remaining third build your visitors centre and tramway and (if you really must) a SMALL supermarket (a bit bigger than the current Co-op). Link the Visitor's Centre to the marshes with another decked walkway and have the Visitors Centre surrounded by water, rushes, etc.
We've already had a couple of hundred homes built in Seaton recently so let's just get the rest that we need to have (about 150 - 200) as infills and small developments here and there - perhaps build affordable homes through a Community Land Trust.
Have solar panels, photovoltaic cells, ground source heat pumps, tidal power, wind power.
Our market: the discerning eco-tourist (who will stay in the eco-lodges) and the university/school visitor market and families who want to visit a tourist area which is as carbon neutral as it can be and which trumpets the glory of its river, coast and marshes. Encourage them to come to Seaton by tram leaving their cars beside major roads. Let them go around the town by the land train (or better still, on foot) visiting the seafront and shops.
The seafront: make the bit between Beach Road and Fisherman's Gap pedestrian only and have a summer Mediterranean cafe culture. The businesses in that area could build out towards the road and become all weather attractions in their own right.
I'd make Fishermans Gap more attractive - decked cafes and other small attractions on the seafront.
Cliff Field - build a gorgeous geodome - but sink it far into the ground so that only the top of the dome showed and didn't cause interference to current neighbours. Make it a "Jurassic Coast Eden" with flora and fauna of the Jurassic Coast past and present. Go into it from West Walk (where there would be a stunning new Chine Cafe) and up an ammonite spiral (like the kids designed for the Visitors Centre) or from a stop outside Cliff Field on the land train.
So, what's your dream?
posted by Fighting for East Devon's future @ 7:29 pm
7 Comments:
Brilliant! I support all you say and it would be wonderful if you could sketch it out for the open days!
I like the whole thing too Sandra. Great idea. Shame the developer didn't think to hire you (though I suppose they want maximum houses for maximum profit.) Cynical moi.
There is dire need of affordable housing in this area. I am glad I can afford my own home.
I would add to your comments by approaching landowners up through the axe valley to have a footpath linking the "Taunton Stop Line" (the pillboxes from WW2), this would provide an excellent oppotunity to expand on eco friendly tourism and the popular walking/cycling theme. Young children would enjoy exploring the shelters. I know this has gone off on a little tangent though you asked for peoples thoughts.........
anon 5:36pm
Not off topic at all really, what Liatris/TD even eddc aren't doing is consulting with Seaton folk (and surrounding villages, who benefit from the tourist industry here.)
And this is the point behind SU4S, it was years ago someone asked what we wanted, and now we find it's been so distorted as to be unrecognisable, if this plan gets through, in no way can it be said to reflect the towns wishes, they got negotiated away or forgotten over the last three years.
Maybe it is time for a fresh consultation EDDC.
Excellent idea.
In the meantime, we do have a "Seaton Inner Trail" leaflet available at the Tourist information office and we could amend it to show the pillbox on it and put a sentence or two about it on the accompanying notes.
I was involved in updating it and will see if we can fit it in.
sandra,
It's not just 1 pill box - but dozens of little concrete shelters! many can be seen from the road, but others are tucked away in the corners of fields or on the riverbank. It is another case of the area not selling what it already has. Another example is the hundreds of shipwrecks in Lyme bay, the nearest museum on the subject is either Salcombe or Weymouth!. I also suggest an off shore moorings for small yachts and cruisers, this type of tourism generates income (mooring costs, associated benefits. We have a fantastic bay - why not use it..! Back to the regeneration I believe the cycle route is key, the outline for the visitors centre is far to small. In the forests of Wales there are dedicated cycling centres and associated services (cafe/showers/shop/accomodation) this has become a Major income generator for the local economy, our little visitor centre will not be enough.
I agree. When they opened the Trans Penine cycle way all b and b on the route was fully booked up for 2 years and they had to add and extra track I believe.
I wonder if SUSTRANS will be happy with what is being proposed. Two bike racks, a locker and a cold shower - maintained by EDDC so closed in winter perhaps!
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