Axmouth harbour "development" and SU4S

Much has appeared in this week's local press about a possible development at Axmouth Harbour. Mention is made of a meeting attended by several local organisations (including Stand Up For Seaton) in February 2007 with the potential "developer". Since then, a "questionnaire" has been circulated by a local political party asking people in Axmouth if they are "for" or "against" development of the harbour into a marina.

You will probably also have seen a comment by the "developer" to the effect that he is sick of Seaton and its politics and, for him, the last straw was "when he discovered that a member of the Stand Up For Seaton campaign had been asking searching questions about the activities and probity of Worldwide Developments".

It is entirely true that the Stand Up For Seaton campaign has been asking such questions. It is entirely proper that these questions are asked of any and every potential and actual developer who wants to build in Seaton.

We want to know much more about this group which has indicated an interest in very widespread development in the town. If, as it says, it has an excellent reputation this will not be a problem.

Point us to at least three projects that you have done (preferably in the UK ) with major (not minor) public or private investors, give us the names and addresses of the groups and the name of the highest-level contact person in each of the groups that you worked with so that we can talk to them. Give us company accounts for the last few years along with a list of the directors of the company (or companies) that intend to be part of the development and a list of other directorships that they hold.

This is part of a process called "due diligence" which is central to the way projects are managed between parties who have not worked together before and is normal business practice.

We see the marina idea as a "concept" rather than a "project" and as such we have no view on it at all - many concepts make it no further than preliminary talks (which is what has happened here so far) and we would all be wasting valuable time making any decisions with almost no information.

Should it move from the concept stage to the project stage we would want a great deal more information than we currently have before we even began to think of making a decision for or against it. And, in making our decision, we would be guided only by what would be best for Seaton (and Axmouth). We are nowhere near that stage.