EDDC Regeneration portfolio holder does not want "a developer's paradise"

Hard luck everyone - he's talking about Sidmouth, not about Seaton.

Sidmouth has just thrown out the idea of a marina but is going to redevelop part of the seafront. Here is what Councillor Halse said to the Sidmouth Herald on 29 February 2008:

Councillor Halse said a planning brief would be a new beginning for the area, with the widest public consultation welcomed from all interested parties, including the Vision Group, which had already put up good ideas.

“It will take some time because we do believe in consultation”, said Councillor Halse.

“We will prepare the brief for the area; we have enough money for that.

"But we cannot develop it ourselves. We would put it up for private developers to progress, but we will be in the driving seat.

“What we don’t want is some monstrosity, some carbuncle. That would be a price too far. I would like to see a mixed development, not something that is a developer’s paradise or a resident’s nightmare, not a huge block of flats but something that is good for Sidmouth, which is a very special place, unique in the West of England”.

Just a hint here to people in Sidmouth: take a good, long look at the development brief and its small print - and keep the above press cutting for later!