Letter to EDDC about the conduct of the consultation period and other things

I have sent the following letter to EDDC (including to its Chief Executive Mr Mark Williams):

Dear Ms Little,

I am copying this letter to a number of people outside EDDC as it is my
intention to ensure that it is in the public domain - please indicate in
your reply whether you wish it to be in the public domain or private.

I am concerned that correct procedures for the Seaton Regeneration area
consultation period (and beyond) are not being followed correctly and
would like to have some reassurance on this. In particular:

1. Mr Carmichael has not yet responded to my email concerning the
closing date for submissions regarding the Seaton Regeneration area.
The community in Seaton has been told by letter from EDDC that it is
Friday 26 January 2007. The official notices in local newspapers show
it as 31 January 2007.

2. I have also requested from Mr Carmichael clarification on exactly
what system the council will be using to assess letters of support and
objection once received; I have not yet received a reply to this query.

3. We gather that a revised transport assessment has been requested by
DCC Highways Department and that other consultees (e.g. South West
Water) have requested new information from the developer before
responding. If this information is not in the public domain before the
cut-off date how can the community make its decisions if they are based
on incomplete information?

4. Ms Little, in a recent email, has said that she will accept
submissions up to the time of the Development Control Committee meeting
but warned that those received after the cut-off date would be less
likely to be included in the report on support and objection the nearer
it got to the Development Control Committee meeting. Can we assume that
this also applies to major consultees (as in the list on the planning
application) and the developers?

5. Finally, much is made in developer publicity of the fact that
Hollybush Hotels feel that Lyme Bay Holiday Village is not viable.
Bearing in mind that Hollybush Hotels has previous and current
involvement with the developers in other tourist interests (e.g. Hayling
Island Holiday Village, which it bought from the holding company which
owns Liatris) and current remarks by the Hollybush Hotels owner Mr
Harrison about the company's cash problems at Weymouth Football Club
(which Hollybush Hotels - not Mr Harrison - also owns) can we be assured
that both Hollybush Hotels and Liatris will be subject to "Open Book"
accounting procedures when EDDC performs due diligence?

I have copied this email to Mr Hassan, Mr Carmichael and Mr Williams.

Yours sincerely,
Sandra Semple