Exmouth chooses Asda as regeneration partner
The following is a press release from EDDC. It took Exmouth Town Council only two days to decide on the future of the town with four developers pitching for the job. - and look what they get for it - , supermarket, sports centre, swimming pool, library, interpretation centre, improved public transport, 27 flats and 2 retail units for a town of 30,000 or more.
What was Seaton going to get from Liatris: 1 supermarket, a small interpretation centre, a small SUSTRANS terminus, 500 houses, several shops and a 30m x 30m community room. No public transport improvements, no improved library, no swimming pool, no sports centre.
If only we had four developers vying for our custom here!
The press release says:
AFTER two days of deliberations, elected representatives of Exmouth have agreed the ‘preferred partner’ they wish to work with to help the town gain community facilities and meet its full potential.
Responding to approaches from four would-be developers, the group has now asked East Devon District Council’s Portfolio Holder Economy to recommend that council land-owners should work with ASM Properties to develop a new ASDA supermarket on the Bus Depot site.
This gives the green light for the first phase of the town’s blueprint for regeneration to move forward. Among the additional facilities that Exmouth stands to gain from this partnership are:
* A new retail store in near the town centre
* A new sports centre and swimming pool – built before the supermarket
* A new 12,500 square foot library
* A possible interpretation centre as the forerunner to the proposed Visitor Centre
* A greatly Improved public transport facility
* Housing in the form of 27 two-bedroom flats
* Two retail units for shopping or café use
posted by Fighting for East Devon's future @ 4:41 pm
7 Comments:
Nice for Exmouth. Though really the title of your post should be:
"Sidmouth chooses Asda as Regeneration partner for Exmouth".
I wonder how much say Exmouth *really* had!!!
Nice for Exmouth - I think not!
It seems that our councillors have forgotten that they should represent Exmouthians, that every consultation and public survey, including those 'run' by EDDC, has firmly rejected these proposals which seem to be pretty much the same as were first aired in the so called 'consultation' known as "Unlocking Exmouth".
So much for the assurances from councillors and officials that we would not have such 'developments' forced upon us against our will.
Only a week before the announcement, the Exmouth Journal reported an interview with EDDC's Karime Hassan in which he said he wanted good jobs for our young people - I think we rather hoped for more than jobs on the tills at Asda!
Is it any wonder that so few people in Exmouth seem to have any trust in their elected representatives and council officials?
Exmouth hasn't chosen ASDA, a few who should be ashamed of themselves have!
Tim
My only advice to Exmouth: keep a copy of the list of things you are "supposed" to be getting. They have to be phased in with the development - e.g. 50% of "promises" when 50% of the development is reached.
Not many developments seem to go the full 100% for some reason - some even get nothing of what they ask for.
Wal-Mart, which owns Asda, is now the biggest company on Earth. It is successful partly because it is one of the most ruthless employers in the western world. I strongly recommend the film - 'WAL-MART: THE HIGH COST OF LOW PRICE' - this feature length documentary uncovers the retail giant's assault on families and American values.
The film dives into the deeply personal stories and everyday lives of families and communities struggling to fight a goliath. A working mother is forced to turn to public assistance to provide healthcare for her two small children. A Missouri family loses its business after Wal-Mart is given over $2 million to open its doors down the road. A mayor struggles to equip his first responders after Wal-Mart pulls out and relocates just outside the city limits. A community in California unites, takes on the giant, and wins!
Exmouth did have its say, infact over 10,000 people signed a petition against the supermarket and equal numbers have been voicing their views against it. However the council seem oblivious to these pleas and are much happier to see the town go down the drain for a nice wad of cash from asda. Seaton, please be careful what you wish for!
It is absolutely true that the process of selecting Asda as preferred development partner has been totally undemocratic. As far as I know, the people of Exmouth did not have the opportunity of viewing the proposals of the other developers. The announcement was made that Asda is preferred partner was made very shortly and discretely before Christmas, presumably in the hopes that no-one would notice. Surely instead of asset-stripping our beautiful estuary, EDDC should be reinvesting some of the millions in council tax it has taken from residents in Exmouth, for which we get precious little in return. The new Asda is far too big (three times the size of BandQ on the other side of the town, completely out of scale with the other buildings and spirit of the center of Exmouth.
This is an outrageous and disrespectful scheme, not to be emulated!
Hi, Take a look at our site and read the blogs. It may help in your fight! www.myspace.com/exmouthcitizensforum
All the best,
ECF
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