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Stand Up For Seaton (SU4S)

Community Action for Seaton's Regeneration Area, 80% owned by Tesco - a floodplain on a World Heritage site bordered by nature reserves, tidal river, the sea and the unspoilt town. SU4S is a state of mind - no members, no structure, no politics. SU4S has objected to 2 planning applications by Tesco, including one for a massive superstore/dot com distribution centre which led to the recent closure on the site of 400 tourist beds with the loss of 150 jobs,a gym and pool - all used by locals.

Tuesday, March 10, 2009

Environment Agency apparently considers regeneration area contaminated land

The Environment Agency has submitted a letter to EDDC dated 06 March 2009 concerning the Tesco planning applications. It is available to view on the EDDC Planning Portal website.

It says, in part, that they have reviewed Tesco's geotechnical report and they have identified elevated concentrations of metals in a number of groundwater samples (but not soil samples) that exceed relevant guideline values for arsenic, cadmium, chromium, copper, nickel, lead, zinc and vanadium. They now require further groundwater sampling prior to any excavation or construction work and they want to be consulted on the results of further testing.

They go on to say that they have already requested that "Contaminated Land" conditions be applied to the outline planning application for the majority of the site to protect controlled waters and to ensure that any site investigations and remediation will not cause pollution of controlled waters. [Not sure why they don't apply this to the full planning application - it is the same site].

They also say that they need more detail about the method to be used to raise/infill the site and that, although it was previously stated that the importation of sea-dredged material was unviable they gather that this is still being considered. As such they want further information regarding the contamination potential of any fill material, how the foreshore will be protected against scour and how water quality will be protected upon return flushing of any sea water and how fauna and flora will be protected from netative impacts of flushing.

They also point out that the Environmental Impact Assessment covers issues regarding protected species that they would expect to be raised for this site and they support concerns raised regarding the effect of increased disturbance from noise and lighting.

They recommend a "buffer zone" to protect Seaton Marshes and provide a wildlife commuting corridor on either side of any water course around any waterbody or wetland [presumably this includes the north to south containment area (monsoon drain) on the site] and they say that this zone should extend at the very minimum seven metres (preferably more) from any bank top or waterbody/wetland edge. It should be protected by the erection of fencing of sufficient specifications to protect physical, plant and animal features within the buffer zone and all physical features, plants and animals within the buffer zone must be left undisturbed by the development and/or associated works though they do add that the buffer zone could be incorporated sympathetically into an overall landscape scheme.

Back to the drawing board then ..........

9 Comments:

At 2:43 pm, Anonymous Anonymous said...

Looks like this site just doesn't want to be used!

Some companies would have cut their losses long before now!

I was going to say leave it to Mother Nature, but it looks like Mother Nature has already had one beating with all that toxic stuff there.

 
At 11:32 am, Anonymous Anonymous said...

Developing this land is economic nonsense. Not only have they got to raise the levels, they now have to de-tox it. It can be done, but why bother when there are easier and cheaper alternatives

 
At 9:56 am, Anonymous Anonymous said...

And just what are those easier and cheaper alternatives? This land has been developed for many decades. It has helped bring tourists, employment and prosperity to this community. It is now redundant and derelict, which is to the benefit of nobody. Flat land and the centre of the community presents a tremendous opportunity for development of the right sort.

The toxins found in the groundwater were not the work of "Mother Nature" but the work of us lot. That the toxins have been found in the groundwater and not in the soil samples is very worrying. It means the toxins are mobile yet their source is unknown - although it's probably the former gassworks/fundry area, it could also be from fly tipping or even transported in from elsewhere - antfouling paints used on boats in the harbour for instance.

All of this makes redevelopment of any kind less likely as the legal and engineering obstacles grow and hte actual amount of land that could be utilised shrinks. "Mother Nature" doesn't even get the last laugh as humanity's mistakes in the past have poisoned her groundwater.

So, what are we left with? A derelict site at the heart of our community? Isn't that what's known as a Phyric victory? Maybe one day the sea levels will rise and wash away our sins.

 
At 10:11 pm, Anonymous Anonymous said...

It might have been sensible for the previous owners to have done tests on the land to see what it was like before trying to develop it.

Presumably the Axe Wetlands (or at least a part of them) have the same sort of problems too?

Where does that leave us. Literally up the creek without a paddle.

 
At 8:20 am, Anonymous Anonymous said...

There are easier and cheaper options outside Seaton. Truly Tesco have bought a poisoned chalice.

The alternative within Seaton is the Sainsburys plan - redevlop the existing car park. You then use the regeneration site for gardens, playing fields, car parking or other uses that don't involve people sleeping there.

And of course the holiday camp could still be used as a holiday camp. Perhaps the previous owners would buy it back at a price that reflects its problems as a development site.

 
At 5:05 pm, Anonymous Anonymous said...

It would have been even more sensible if Liatris had had tests done before they bought the site. However, they must have laughed all the way to the bank when Tesco took it off their hands.

The only winner here seems to be Liatris.

 
At 9:06 am, Anonymous Anonymous said...

I had an idea about a possible use for the old holiday village and I sent it to the council and sent a letter to the paper. I haven't had any comments back from councillors so maybe it isn't what they would like to happen to the site. Still I thought it was at least worth discussing - does anybody else think it would be a good idea?
Thye body of my letter was:

With the sad (and unnecessary) demise of Seatons holiday village there seems to two possible courses of action for the owners to take:

1. Demolish the buildings on the site to leave a large plot of mostly empty land occupied only by the day nursery,

2. The site being left as it is with empty and unused buildings for... well who knows how long?

Both choices will do nothing for Seaton now and for the next five to ten years. Development in Seaton has been incredibly slow to happen in the boom years (look at the old Racal site) what’s it going to be like during this recession/depression period?

Could there be another choice – one that could utilise the present buildings and not cost too much money to set up?


Could the main building, which housed the restaurant, bar, nightclub and café, be used for an indoor market and events exhibition hall (craft fairs and the like)?

There is an enormous amount of space inside that could contain many small shop units, market stalls and a café. It could be a tremendous boost to the town and district and attract visitors to the area from Dorset and Somerset.

It has many benefits:

It is, as previously mentioned, a huge indoor space and could contain many small businesses, which would otherwise have difficulty obtaining a high street presence
It would create jobs
It has all mains supplies
It is on level ground and already has disabled facilities
It has a large car park
It will be available for at least five years, probably more
Its reuse may attract grants?

I think an all weather indoor market would be a great attraction for the town and could help, to quote a phrase, kick-start the Seaton regeneration process.

So that the rest of the towns businesses don’t lose out, due to the market being a fair walk from the centre, the Seaton Land Train could operate from the car park to provide trips round the town on a request stop basis and town shops cafes and other facilities like the museum could be sign posted at the site to encourage visitors to explore the town.

Could the council lease the site from Tesco and run it, with a professional management team, at a profit?

Regards,

David Lee

 
At 10:39 am, Blogger Fighting for East Devon's future said...

Only if Tesco let them have it .... can you see it happening - Tesco letting Seaton Town Council lease part of their site - I can't!!!

 
At 4:26 pm, Anonymous Anonymous said...

It is going to cost Tesco around a quarter of a million pounds a year to maintain the old holiday site as it is (with onsite security guards)so they might well be interested in leasing it to save costs. It wouldn't hurt to ask.

 

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