Stand Up For Seaton (SU4S)

2010 Blue Flag and Quality coast Award

2010-05-13T09:32:00.003+01:00

"Last year we took over 47 million* holiday trips in England, a massive 18% increase from 2008, and as England’s beaches continue to shine the staycation could well be here to stay! "

Click on title for full article.

Not that there's any chance of Seaton being on the list, actually, NO East Devon Beach is listed.

No, we should appear on the "Big Marsh Top 100", "British Land Developers Top 10Stitch-Ups" or even "Top Seaside location with most shafted businesses and residents" lists, you get the picture, I'm sure you can make up your own.

Selling Seaton by the Pound

2010-05-05T10:50:00.002+01:00

Lovely article in the Guardian.

here

Vote Against Greed

2010-04-22T15:26:00.002+01:00

from the article:-
Mr Howell said he knew the posters were up in homes across England.

"In Cornwall, in Southampton, in Sidmouth, in Reading, in London, in Bristol, in Sheffield. I know of those because people in the village have already told me they've told their friends and got them to put them up."

and the site can be found here

The (possible) shape of things to come

2010-03-05T08:14:00.003Z

Lifting the Lid: Number of councils installing chips in bins rises by 62 per cent
Research conducted by Big Brother Watch reveals that there are now 68 local authorities secreting microchips in the bins of residents, up from 42 a year earlier

Click title for full details and report.

Given the sudden interest of some places to ~~rip off~~
manage Seaton for us (think parking charges here), you might very well need to be aware of this. EDDC currently don't appear on the list, but everybody is looking to their financial positions right now.

HT: Big Brother Watch

for those who think for us all

2010-02-19T22:13:00.002Z

A trip down memory lane

2010-02-18T11:46:00.003Z

click title for article.

eco housing

2010-02-13T18:30:00.002Z

Lovely thought for the public area of the regen park...oh what am I thinking, let's just say, near the supermarket. Solves the recreational space and public loo problem in one (click title).

ht: boing boing

Aldi and Lidl beat Tesco and Sainsbury's in Which? survey

2010-01-28T09:29:00.001Z

See the Telegraph

Haiti Benefit Gig

2010-01-20T07:20:00.002Z

Show of Hands will be playing a benefit gig for Haiti at Exeter Phoenix tomorrow.

follow this link

Freedom of Information

2009-12-30T21:31:00.002Z

Seeing as STC is getting a few of these now, one I know of dates back to Feb 2009, here's a little heads up.

Kable

Yep, you can request an internal review if the FOI isn't answered in a timely manner.

Happy New Year to all.

Carnival of Idiots

2009-12-19T22:57:00.001Z

The Day The Circus Came to Seaton

2009-09-15T08:57:00.005+01:00

It appears then that the unelected, non-resident EDDC planning people believe that we will be better served by the "clone town " option rather than what benefits an alternative might bring.

Today at 2pm the EDDC planning committee meets at Seaton Town Hall to discuss that recommendation. Places are limited to a 200 seat "first-come, first-seated" option.

Either the committee will properly consider the wishes of the town, or we get a store on a 2 metre plinth with a vague promise of housing. This committee is made up of elected members....oh, elected by people who don't live in Seaton.

SU4S fought a campaign to get the better all round deal for the town, a town with the distinctiveness of being on the Jurassic coast, we want something better than the run-of-the-mill choices. As Cllr Franklin asserted in February he for one "won't sell Seaton short"...OK then let's have a summary of the flyer you will all have received....

Sainsburys:
1 other in 25 miles
Visitor centre+ cinema
Wetlands centre
SUSTRANS terminus
Tramway given higher profile
No infill
Planted seated area in open space.
Best value for town
86% in favour of Sainsburys

Tescos:
15 in local area
Possible if someone else funds it.
Possible 300+ houses
Possible hotel
Tramway has public toilets removed.
Lots of infill (I mean lots)
Planted seated area in monsoon drain.
Best value for Tescos
4% in favour of Tescos

Which one would you like?
EDDC planning think we should have (not like)Tescos, we beg to differ.

And you can't have a pool either!

2009-08-29T20:00:00.003+01:00

Click on the title for the link, but it appears that Bridgewater are closing their Sedgemoor Splash pool as it's too costly.

The only bidder for the site is..........oh a superstore chain...so Bridgewater Council, instead of working to provide community recreational facilities, get to trouser a wedge of notes for the subsequent land sale. Bet the 106 deal doesn't have the words "swimming pool" in it.

Hmm, let's think a minute, Seaton can't spend the 106 money its owed, so we try an alternative..and get attacked for that...yes the deep blue sea is due south, the rest seems to belong to the devil.

My town is menaced by a superstore. ...

2009-08-11T10:46:00.002+01:00

George Monbiot has a superstore issue...

read it here

HT: The Guardian

Thinking out of the box...

2009-08-10T09:06:00.001+01:00

A maverick mayor elected after promising to slash council spending, clear the streets of yobs and ditch politically correct services is the torchbearer for how towns should be run.

On his first morning as Mayor of Doncaster in South Yorkshire , Peter Davies cut his salary from £73,000 to £30,000 then closed the council’s newspaper for "peddling politics on the rates".
Now three weeks into his job, Mr Davies is pressing ahead with plans he hopes will see the number of town councillors cut from 63 to just 21, saving taxpayers £800,000.
Mr Davies said: "If 100 senators can run the United States of America , I can’t see how 63 councillors are needed to run Doncaster ".

He has withdrawn Doncaster from the Local Government Association and the Local Government Information Unit, saving another £200,000. Mr Davies said, "They are just talking shops".
" Doncaster is in for some serious untwinning. We are twinned with probably nine other cities around the world and they are just for people to fly off and have a binge at the council’s expense".

The mayor’s chauffeur-driven car has also been axed by Mr Davies and the driver given another job. Mr Davies, born and bred in Doncaster, swept to power in the May election with 24,244 votes as a candidate for the English Democrats, a party that wants tight immigration curbs, an English Parliament and a law forcing every public building to fly the flag of St. George.

He has promised to end council funding for Doncaster ’s International Women’s Day, Black History Month and the Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender History Month.
He said, "Politicians have got completely out of touch with what people want.
"We need to cut costs. I want to pass on some savings I make in reduced taxes and use the rest for things we really need, like improved children’s services".
Mr Davies has received messages from well wishers across the country and abroad as news of his no-nonsense approach spreads.
Now it’s your chance to spread this most sensible way to run a town council.

HT: Tim Russ/Various sources

Sarah Wollaston selected to fight Totnes for Tories after open ballot

2009-08-04T16:52:00.001+01:00

About 16,639 took part, meaning the selection known as an “open primary” recorded an impressive turnout of 24.6 per cent, higher than some council elections. Some key Tory marginal seats in recent months have been selected at meetings with 40 people, while the response rate for direct postal marketing is usually around 0.5 to 1 per cent.

Dr Wallaston, who has been a member of the Tory party for only three years, was the winner with 7,914 votes. Sara Randall Johnson, chair of East Devon District Council, came second with 5,495 and Mr Bye received 3,088.

Roger Freeman, a member of the local Tory association, said that Dr Wallaston won because of her “bedside manner” which put her in front at a public meeting hosted by Times columnist Matthew Parris ten days ago.

Mr Bye said that his rival was the rightful victor, but added that Mr Parris’s account of the meeting in The Spectator, which portrayed her in a glowing light, may also have been a factor.

The three contenders were given just 20 days to campaign between selection and close of voting, and were restricted to a budget of £200. While Ms Randall Johnson spent £200 on a website and Mr Bye spent £150 on leaflets, Dr Wollaston spent nothing.

HT: Timesonline

UPDATE: The £200 website is at www.srjonline.com Can't do the leaflet, but a Google refers to Mr Bye as "much reviled" in one entry, can't say, don't live in Totnes, never met him.

Tesco hides figures after missing target to reduce plastic bag usage

2009-08-04T16:48:00.001+01:00

Britain’s biggest supermarket chain has published misleading figures giving the impression that it had met an industry target to halve the use of plastic bags.

The Times has learnt that Tesco, which claims to be one of the greenest retailers, missed the target and tried to conceal its actual performance.

Hilary Benn, the Environment Secretary, called on Tesco and other supermarkets to be more honest with customers about how many plastic bags they were issuing. He urged them to publish individual figures so that shoppers could compare them.

HT: Timesonline

This isn't like saying that you're the best bet for the regeneration area...when you own 80% of it anyway is it?

True Faith

2009-06-18T13:11:00.000+01:00

The End

2009-03-20T21:33:00.001Z

Delay on Tesco Brixham Regeneration Site due to contaminated land

2009-03-18T14:36:00.002Z

Seems it isn't only in Seaton that contaminated land is holding up regeneration (click headline for link). In Brixham Tesco is the "preferred partner" for the regeneration of the town centre, which has now been held up because the old car park appears to be on contaminated land.

Exmouth gets special treatment

2009-03-17T22:41:00.002Z

A note on the EDDC website's Corporate Overview Committee meeting agenda for 26 March 2009

QUOTE
"Members to note that if required there will be a special meeting on 2 april 2009 to consider the design and enhancement of the Strand, Exmouth"

Anyone ever heard of a special meeting about the design and enhancement of the Esplanade, Seaton at EDDC - no, thought not.

Who has the crummiest seafront - Exmouth or Seaton? Who gets the "special meeting"?

EDDC's Chief Executive gets a close shave

2009-03-17T22:34:00.002Z

Article about a stunt for Comic Relief whereby EDDC's customer care people shaved off the Chief Executive's sideburns and raised money. Nice.

What is interesting is that they list the companies that donated services or prizes for a raffle:

46 Sidmouth companies
8 Honiton companies
3 Newton Poppleford companies
3 Beer companies
5 "other" companies (Exeter area and around Sidmouth, eg Bicton)

If anyone ever wondered if EDDC considers itself part of Sidmouth, there's the proof!

Seaside resort to get new image

2009-03-17T10:08:00.003Z

No, sorry, not Seaton - Blackpool.
Read about it here.
Amazing what a council can do when it has the vision.

How Tesco bypasses opposition to its stores

2009-03-16T17:38:00.003Z

An article from the Daily Telegraph of 27 January 2007 about how Tesco has arranged for another retailer to apply for planning permission for a new shop on its behalf. Once the local council has given the go-ahead for a new retailer, Tesco moves in.

Click here for the story

The other shop was a nominee company called "Carpets 4 Less".

Environment Agency apparently considers regeneration area contaminated land

2009-03-10T16:38:00.003Z

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 ..........

Anyone seen the Tesco handout?

2009-03-09T18:04:00.002Z

Has anyone seen the Tesco handout qasking people to write in with their support for "a supermarket" in Seaton? Some people seem to have received one and others don't.

Sara Randall-Johnson makes Private Eye

2009-02-28T18:41:00.000Z

This week's Private Eye, page 13 "Rotten Boroughs":
QUOTE

Meanwhile, one in the /Eye /for Sara Randall Johnson, Tory leader of East Devon District Council, whose cheerleading for a giant Asda which would have despoiled the beautiful Exe Estuary was reported in /Eyes
/1148 and 1217. Last week, Asda pulled out, citing the "economic climate". EDDC said it was "deeply disappointed". Residents on the other hand were delighted. Recession not all bad, then.

UNQUOTE

Light relief for Friday

2009-02-27T07:49:00.003Z

Personal opinion - everyone is entitled to it....but not in Essex

From The Register>>>

A teenager from the international financial powerhouse that is Clacton-on-Sea, Essex, was given her marching orders after bosses discovered she'd described her office administrator's post as "boring" on Facebook.

Read the rest here

HT: El Reg

Council house blues

2009-02-26T06:02:00.001Z

Interesting article from the BBC on social housing, click title to go to site.

Magna Housing planning application at town hall

2009-02-24T14:23:00.003Z

The Magna/Barklay Park Homes planning application 09/0179/MFUL on the field opposite the Long House is with Seaton Town Council and can be inspected at Seaton Town Hall. This application is described on the EDDC website as:

Erection of149 dwellings (70% affordable) and a Kingdom Hall with associated car parking and vehicular access, roads and open space

Seaton Town Council will hear the application on Monday 16 March 2009 at 7 pm.

To support or object to this plan write to Planning Department, EDDC, The Knowle, Sidmouth EX10 8HL, quoting the reference number above.

Abandoned Shopping Trolley Hotline

2009-02-24T05:54:00.002Z

A hotline has been launched to help members of the public report abandoned shopping trolleys in canals and rivers.

British Waterways, which is organising the scheme, estimates 3,000 are dumped annually, and that fishing them out of its network costs £150,000 each year.

It says the hotline will be used to help recover trolleys, and name the supermarkets which own them.

Chief Executive Robin Evans said there was "much more the supermarket chains can do to take more responsibility".

Full article here

HT: bbc

Of Unitary authority

2009-02-23T10:27:00.004Z

Just spotted an interview with Brian Greenslade in Total Politics....
sample>>>

BD: Are you getting much feedback from the public on unitaries?

The public, frankly, are largely unengaged with this issue. They’ve heard and read through the press a lot about this. I think if you spoke to the average citizen of Devon and said, ‘are you aware that the councils may change?’ they probably would be but they wouldn’t be greatly excited. I mean, my postbag has not been full up of letters about this issue. It’s largely passing people by.

I think what the public want is good quality, value for money local government services and why should they be terribly worried about the structure? After all Devon County Council already provides 85 per cent of all local government services throughout the county anyway.

<<<
Of course, talking and listening to the local communities helps:0)
Read the full interview here

Village gets new sports facilities thanks to Devon County Council

2009-02-22T17:27:00.004Z

According to the Midweek Herald:

A VILLAGE project is to get a significant boost with the creation of new sports facilities - thanks to £53,000 given by Devon County Council from funds allocated from the sale of Exeter International Airport.

The 'Young At Heart' project in Upottery, near Honiton, is to get £32,000 from the county council's Community Fund plus a further £21,000 allocated by Honiton St Paul's county councillor Roger Boote from his local projects fund.

The money will pay towards a new cricket pitch, double all-weather tennis court and better drainage of the football field. They will provide playing and coaching facilities for local young people. In addition, new changing rooms are to be provided thanks to a local initiative to recycle a Portakabin previously used by the village school.

Well, aren't they lucky. If you live in Seaton you get NOTHING for sport or recreation - not even for a youth club. Our youth and community centre has been lying derelict for nearly three years now - DCC's answer: a bus that comes to the Underfleet car park which can deal with "up to" 30 youngsters. In the meantime, Town Councillor Sophie O'Connell's personal initiative, Grove Zero, regularly gets anything from 80-200 youngsters every week.

As far as we can pick up from local newspapers, the money from the sale of Exeter Airport has so far gone to projects in this area for: £500,000 for the Seaton Visitor Centre which has just had £1.2 million of SWRDA funding cancelled, £6,000 to Axmouth Village Hall, £4,000 to Beer Mariners Hall, £2000 to Seaton Tourist Information Centre and a new bus shelter outside the Townsend Road medical practice.

In the meantime, Colyton somehow manages to find masses of funds for a new youth centre to replace one it already has! What do you have to do to get facilities in Seaton? The mind boggles.

What is it about Seaton that means that we get overlooked time and time again?

Last day reminder

2009-02-18T11:14:00.002Z

Today is the last day for you to make representation either for or against the 2 planning applications covering the bulk of the Seaton Regen Area.
The EDDC offices at the Knowle close at 17:30hrs

Meanwhile...here's some eyecandy for a concept plan in China

You have only until 18 February 2009 to put in your objection or support of Tesco planning applications

2009-02-18T09:55:00.007Z

People in Seaton have only until

18 February 2009

to put in their letters of support or objection to the Tesco plans for a store and for the rest of the site.

Plans are at the town council offices and can be viewed Monday - Friday 9 am to 3 pm. When Liatris put their plans in for the site we were allowed 16 weeks to support or object to the planning application. On this we are being allowed only 4 weeks - there is no explanation why the consultation period is shorter. Send your letters to: Planning Department, EDDC, The Knowle, Sidmouth, EX10 8HL
Mark them with the reference:
09/0019/MFUL for the store plans 09/0022/MOUT for the rest of the site

What does our (current) MP think about Asda pulling out of Exmouth?

2009-02-14T16:07:00.002Z

Hugo Swire said: "I have met with ASDA on a number of occasions and have always made it crystal clear that my support for this project was conditioned on the design being of the highest order and the benefits to the people of Exmouth being clear and defined." He added that the District Council 'were entirely correct' in insisting on a new sports centre and swimming pool, a Jurassic Coast visitor centre, a new library for the town as well as a new food store and supermarket on the site. He added that the designs ASDA proposed where in his opinion 'almost satisfactory' and told them at the time that they 'had some way to go.' He said: "The siting of the store adjacent to the Estuary caused considerable feeling in the town and whilst I understand that, I believe that ASDA withdrawing is bad news for Exmouth. "I would ask those critics of any development where are these promised jobs going to come from now? "Where are we going to find the funding for all the other facilities that would benefit all of the people of Exmouth?

Funny, we never heard him say any of these things about Seaton - where a store will also probably be sited adjacent to the estuary (but alas not with a library, swimming pool and sports centre built by the developer). Surely it couldn't be because at the next general election he won't be needing our votes - no, of course not.

Asda pulls out of Exmouth regeneration

2009-02-11T18:05:00.002Z

Asda has pulled out of the Exmouth regeneration site. Click link above for EDDC press release which states, in part:

"The Council heard on Monday that ASDA’s Development Team were unwilling to satisfy the council’s requirements with a package of community benefits to the town, including:

A new sports centre and swimming pool
A Jurassic Coast visitor centre
A new library
A large town-centre food store and supermarket

The news means that a complete re-think will be needed by the various agencies that had been pinning hopes of regeneration on a major injection of private cash...."

...“The supermarket was part of a package of facilities that we insisted on if this development was to go ahead. We would not dream of accepting second best. We would not sell Exmouth short”.

(Councillor Ray Franklin, EDDC’s Portfolio Holder Strategic Planning and Regeneration)

Seaton Town Council Planning Committee vote

2009-02-10T13:25:00.002Z

Last night Seaton Town Council's planning committee unanimously rejected the Tesco planning applications (full and outline) for the Seaton Regeneration Area. Chairman Sandra Semple informed people at the meeting that she would be withdrawing, as she had prejudged the applications and did not think that anything she would hear at the meeting would change her mind, she then made a short statement about the reasons for this and left the meeting.

Local organisations and residents then gave their views on the planning applications and after debate the Planning Committee rejected both applications. The Town Council's reasons will become a public document and will appear here in due course.

The town council does not have the right to accept or reject the planning applications - that is for the District Council to decide.

TOWN COUNCIL ANNOUNCES DATE OF PLANNING MEETING

2009-01-20T10:02:00.004Z

The meeting of the Seaton town Council planning committee to hear both the Tesco applications will be on:

Monday 9 February 2009 at 7 pm in the town hall.

In response to requests from SU4S and others the office will extend its opening hours so that more people can see the plans - it will be open Monday to Friday 9 am to 3 pm until 18 February 2009 for people to consult plans.

The town council is also holding a "consultation day" on

Saturday 24 January 2009 11 am - 4 pm Town Hall

where people can give their views before the 9 February meeting.

Please, please go and look at the plans, send in your letters to EDDC and tell town councillors what you think - this is something that will affect Seaton for the next 50 years or even longer.

SU4S comments on Tesco planning applications to appear soon

2009-01-19T14:59:00.002Z

The SU4S comments on the Tesco planning applications will appear here soon, as soon as we have all had chance to wade through the 2 ft high pile of documents.

To assist us, Seaton Town Council should be opening their offices more often than 9-12 Tuesday - Thursday. This is too important to restrict access to those people who can get in during weekday mornings. We shall be tackling them about this tomorrow - when their office opens.

The plans are mostly available online but they are missing vital documents - a reason why the consultation time clock should not be ticking. To access them go to:

www.eastdevon.gov.uk
Click on the Planning tab
Click on the link marked "Planning Applications Online" and agree to the terms and conditions
Click on "Planning" on the left hand side
Click on "Application Search"

In the "Application Case Reference" Box, type

09/0019/MFUL
for the supermarket application OR
09/0022/MOUT
for the rest of the site
Click on "Search" (don't use the Enter key - this just brings up a calendar - scroll further down the screen for "Search"
Then go to "Click to View"
Then go to "Associated Documents"
then go to "View Associated Documents"

This pulls up a list of documents which will either need Adobe Acrobat Reader or Microsoft Word.

Note that the most important document - the Environmental Impact Assessment - is NOT there - it is only available on CD-ROM which you will have to apply for to EDDC or which you will have to make arrangements to view with the town council - assuming they have the facility for it.

Low cost UK holiday are what Britons want in 2009

2009-01-15T09:51:00.002Z

Click the link above to see the full story.

60% of people planning a holiday of £500 or less, campsites, seaside hotels, B and Bs and coach and caravan companies all expected to benefit. Twice as many holidaymakers plan to prioritise cost over convenience. The most popular destinations will be the traditional seaside resorts.

Shame - we could have taken 400 of them each night here in Seaton had the holiday camp stayed open, now we can take a tiny handful. Still, Sidmouth will reap the benefits so we must be grateful for that mustn't we!

Tesco planning applications - good news, bad news

2009-01-13T17:48:00.002Z

Good news - the planning applications have been validated.

Bad news - there are no supporting documents available to read online, the documents have not arrived at the Seaton Town Council offices as of today and the deadline for consultation is shown on the website as 3 February 2009 - 3 weeks only!!! Not even the one month for common or garden planning applications!!!

Liatris got 13 weeks - Tesco gets 3 weeks. Something wrong here surely? And surely we don't get two petrol filling stations!

Details taken from EDDC Planning Portal:

09/0019/MFUL Erection of retail store (5,996 sq m gross) with petrol filling station, other retail units (633 sq m gross) with assorted car parking, pedestrian and vehicular and vehicular access and landscaping

09/0022/MOUT Re-develpoment of land to include housing, tourism, new public realm, petrol filling station, hotel, retail development with public open space and access

Tesco planning application - here, there?

2009-01-13T14:44:00.002Z

According to EDDC, the Tesco planning application has been validated and should be available to view at Seaton Town Council offices now. According to Seaton Town Council they have received nothing to date (Tuesday 13 January 2009 14.45).

When does the consultation period start from in these cases? When the district council validates or when the town council receives the plans? And how long will the consultation period be.

Perhaps we can look to EDDC for a press release?

Tesco plans for the regeneration area - which are the right ones?

2009-01-13T11:21:00.003Z

anyone else notice that the plans on page 1 of todays View from Seaton for the regeneration area are totally different to the plans that Tesco put up for exhibition which are shown on page 3 of the same newspaper.

On the front page one, the Seaton Visitor Centre is shown squashed in between the store and what looks like housing or other shops fronting the Underfleet so you can't actually see the Visitor Centre at all well from the road - just glimpses here and there. On the one that was at the Tesco exhibition the Visitor Centre fronted directly on to the Underfleet so that tourists could see it.

AND all the houses and shops on Harbour Road (fish shop, Indian restaurant, Kings Court, etc) seem o have totally disappeared to be replaced by parking! I wonder what the people who live there think!

anyone from Tesco able to explain the difference between the two plans please?

Honiton - important gateway town to the south west

2009-01-12T13:25:00.003Z

Sidmouth Herald, 9 January 2009, regarding the closure of the M&S Food Shop in Honiton:

Councillor Randall Johnson, leader of EDDC, said, "Honiton is an important gateway town to the south west and EDDC will do all it can to help the local economy".

That would be the local Honiton economy then? Nothing to do with same Councillor Randall Johnson who is hoping to stand as a Honiton candidate should there be a unitary authority for Devon? Important gateway town to the south west - would that have anything to do with it being near Exeter Airport perhaps - certainly not major roads.

Seaton is an important gateway town to the World Heritage Jurassic Coast, Councillor Randall Johnson - when did we see you doing all you could to help OUR local economy. Not one of you made a comment about the 170 job losses in Seaton last week - except an EDDC council press release saying if it was making it difficult to pay your council tax to EDDC you should let them know.

Thanks a bunch- it's aways useful to know who your friends are. Trouble is, outside Seaton, we don't seem to have any.

EDDC Regeneration Portfolio holder welcomes Tesco decision

2009-01-10T13:32:00.002Z

Councillor Peter Halse has the Regeneration Portfolio for EDDC. He is reported by the Midweek Herald as saying:

EAST Devon District Council has responded to news that Tesco's appeal for a new store in Honiton has been dismissed.

Councillor Peter Halse said: "The inspector's welcome decision completely vindicates the council's refusal to permit the building of a large Tesco store in Ottery Moor Lane.

"Both officers at the council, as well as the people of Honiton, who eloquently put their case, both in writing and at the public inquiry, have fought hard to prevent what they regard as an inappropriate development of the site, which would be harmful to the economic well-being of the town centre.

"I am pleased that their well-argued case was noted with such positive effect by the inspector.

"Honiton welcomes the involvement of Tesco in the town, which is an excellent store. We will continue to support them, but in the right location.

Good to see that we can rely on EDDC and Councillor Halse for sensible decisions. Bigger store and "inappropriate development, harmful to the economic well-being of the town centre". Hhmmmm.

STOP PRESS - TESCO LOSES HONITON APPEAL

2009-01-09T13:52:00.004Z

Breaking news here.

Full information on exactly why it was refused can be found here.

By the way, Iceland has bought the Honiton Woolworth's store, but has not bought the Seaton store. Pleased or disappointed?

Planning for the future with EDDC?

2009-01-08T18:30:00.004Z

According to the Midweek Herald website, EDDC is going to hold a series of exhibitions across the district in January to give residents and businesses a chance to comment on important planning issues. Here is where the exhibitions will be:

Honiton
Ottery St Mary
Sidmouth
Clyst St Mary
Budleigh Salterton
Broadclyst
Axminster
Exmouth

The Midweek Herald doesn't mention Sidmouth or Seaton, but in fact, according to the Sidmouth Herald, the exhibition will be in Sidmouth on 19 January 2009 at the Library.

Unfortunately, it seems no-one took the responsibility to publicise the event in Seaton which will take place on Friday 30th January 2009 10.15 am - 6.45 pm in the Town Hall.

Let's hope this gets the publicity it deserves.

Neil Parrish, MEP joins fight to save Honiton M and S Food

2009-01-08T10:30:00.002Z

Read the story here.

33 jobs lost in Honiton - EDDC and our local MEP (selected as the next Conservative candidate for the area which will include Honiton and Seaton) spring into action.

170 jobs lost in Seaton last week - hello, hello ........ anyone there?

EDDC tries to stop M and S Food closure in Honiton

2009-01-07T17:43:00.003Z

Full story here.

Now, surely this wouldn't have anything to do with the fact that EDDC Leader Ms Randall Johnson and Chairman Mr Diviani have recently been selected for Honiton seats would it? No, of course not.

What a pity they couldn't do this for the holiday camp and Woolworths in Seaton.

And how lucky they are to have the Honiton Business Centre to meet in. Seaton Town Hall just wouldn't have been the same!

The Tesco press release regarding their planning application

2009-01-05T17:15:00.001Z

So, nothing in the first planning application except the store, filling station and kiosks - no visitor centre, no community and leisure facilities which are all left until "later".

5 January 2009
Tesco submits plans for Seaton*

Tesco has put forward its regeneration plans for Seaton after more than a year of extensive consultation and investigative research.

The company has submitted two planning applications. The first is an eco-superstore with a fuel station, car park, retail kiosks and public open space. The second is an outline application for the rest of the regeneration site including housing, a visitors centre and hotel and leisure facilities.

Tesco and its team of engineers and architects have spent months researching the opportunities for the site in consultation with East Devon District Council, Seaton Regeneration Board and the town council. The most time consuming aspect was finding a solution to the flooding risk on the site. The Environment Agency wants the site raised in order to prevent flooding, and this could have meant thousands of lorry loads of fill material.

But Tesco’s engineers have come of with two innovative ways of dramatically reducing the impact. One is to use a form of environmentally friendly expanded polystyrene for part of the store site, and the other is to bring in sea-dredged fill material through a mile-long pipeline – this could fill the rest of the site in only a few weeks.

Melanie Chiswell, Corporate Affairs Manager for Tesco, said the planning applications are a real opportunity for Seaton to put itself on the map as the gateway to the Jurassic Coast. “We have spent a lot of time and money making sure that we can deliver the best possible regeneration plans for the town, within the boundaries of what is physically and commercially viable. This is one of the most challenging schemes we’ve worked on in the South West and we are really looking forward to having the opportunity to turn the plans on paper into a reality.

“We would start by building an eco store – one of the first of our new breed of environmental stores which dramatically reduce our carbon footprint. It would be around twice the size of our Axminster store. Most of Seaton’s population and people living in surrounding villages do their food shopping in nearby towns where the choice and range is better. A new supermarket in Seaton would mean people will not have to travel so far. It will also encourage people to use town centre shops and businesses whilst they park in our car park for free.

“We believe other developers will come on board when they see us start the regeneration process, so new housing and tourist accommodation could follow very soon. Our architects have put the finishing touches to the design for the visitors centre and we’re very keen to work in partnership with East Devon District Council to help bring forward this important tourist facility which will attract thousands more visitors to Seaton.

“In fact, we are proud to be able to invest in regeneration projects and create hundreds of new jobs during a recession when very little other investment is taking place. This is an opportunity for Tesco to use its success and resources to bring forward some really positive regeneration opportunities for Seaton and its residents, and we are the only retailer able to deliver this.”

Tesco held a consultation event in the town in October which was attended by more than 1,000 people, with the majority of those who completed feedback forms saying they were in favour of the proposals.

Ends

*NOTES TO EDITORS*

Release issued by pr dogs limited, public relations consultants, on behalf of Tesco Stores Ltd
For further information contact John Taynton of pr dogs on 01822 600100 or 0773 999 7353 (mobile) or email john.taynton@prdogs.com.

STOP PRESS - TESCO PLANNING APPLICATION HANDED IN TODAY

2009-01-05T14:57:00.001Z

The Tesco planning application has been handed in to EDDC today. Just a coincidence that it is on the day that Lyme Bay Holiday Village closes with the loss of 150 jobs of course.

More soon

So, where is Hugo Swire when you need him?

2009-01-05T12:36:00.003Z

Does anyone remember our MP - Hugo Swire? I vaguely recall seeing him in Seaton just before he was elected to Parliament but he seems to have disappeared since then.

He apparently used to do surgeries at Seaton Town Hall but they stopped months and months - maybe even years - ago. Could this have anything to do with the new boundaries for MPs - when at the next general election Hugo will not need the votes of people in Axminster, Honiton and Seaton as we will all be transferred to the Honiton and Tiverton seat (current MP - Angela Browning, who retires at the next election, person nominated to fight the seat in her place Neil Parish, currently an MEP in Strasbourg). Where does that leave a voice for Seaton in Parliament I wonder? And what exactly is a "constituency MP"? I thought it meant that they dealt with constituents .....

You would think that he would have something to say when nearly 200 jobs have gone in one week in Seaton but there has been a notable silence. Anyone would think he didn't care about the town. Surely not?

I looked at his website to see when his next surgeries would be - there having been quite a few in Exmouth and Sidmouth last year. Interestingly, it says that to see him you have to make an appointment to go to his office in Woodbury Salterton and no surgeries are scheduled for 2009. He has no email address, nor does the Woodbury Salterton office - just a telephone number (01395 233505 if you are interested).

Anyone know how you get by bus from Seaton to Woodbury Salterton and back again in a day? Or what you do if you are disabled and can just about make it into Seaton town but not to Woodbury Salterton?

RIP Lyme Bay Holiday Village

2009-01-04T14:50:00.002Z

RIP LYME BAY HOLIDAY VILLAGE
RIP 400-500 TOURISTS IN SEATON EVERY NIGHT
RIP SEATON'S ONLY GYM
RIP SEATON'S ONLY POOL
RIP 150 JOBS

HELLO DEAD TOWN
HELLO NO TOURISTS
HELLO UNHEALTHY PEOPLE
HELLO NOTHING TO DO AND NOWHERE TO GO IN SEATON
HELLO MORE UNEMPLOYMENT

So, where is the White Knight we were promised who would lead us all out of this?

Village offers euro for the pound

2009-01-03T17:48:00.003Z

Click title for full article, best clip from it is:

"I think there is a great market in Europe. England is a lot cheaper now, there's a new horizon where they can explore England at a lower cost. It's a wonderful opportunity for UK tourism."

Where is this place? Dunster, North Somerset...not a million miles from here.

County Councillor draws attention to cost of dealing with flooding

2008-12-31T19:35:00.003Z

Midweek Herald 31 December 2008 [Ottery St Mary Floods cost at least £500,000 to clear up and may cost up to £600,000]

"The County Council Executive Member for environment, Margaret Rogers said she had been "staggered" at the cost of the flood clean-up and added"It just shows the effects new weather conditions are having on the county. The costs are rising and I don't see them diminishing"."

Well, at least Devon County Council KNOWS the cost of flood clean up so they won't be able to say that it comes as any surprise if and/or when it happens in Seaton and fortunately Mrs Rogers is a District Councillor Seaton and our County Councillor. The Environment Agency can't say that it is a surprise either.

The article goes on to say that Ottery residents fear insurance premium increases and have called for action to be taken to protect their homes and businesses.

Again, at least EDDC, DCC and the Environment Agency have seen the devastation and heard these comments and can take them into account for Seaton when deciding what to do here in future.

That's lucky for us - isn't it?

"Happy" New Year to all our readers

2008-12-30T09:40:00.005Z

2008 has not been the best of years for any of us, particularly the 150 people who are about to lose their jobs at the holiday village and those tourists and locals who use the holiday camp's facilities. 2009 promises to be not much better as the major supermarkets battle it out as to which of them is to win the prize of Seaton.

It will be more and more important in 2009 to ensure that your voices are heard above those who have armies of people - pr, communications, corporate affairs, call it what you will - whose job it is to impose their views on us - and those who make decisions for us - whether we like it or not.

The people of Seaton have shown countless times that they are prepared to stand up, shout and be counted. Please carry on doing so - public opinion is a powerful tool, especially when it gains the interest of the media.

STAND UP FOR SEATON!

Robin Hood attraction 'may shut'

2008-12-26T13:21:00.002Z

Following on from my post Rent free xmas this article is of some interest.
(click post title)
The item doesn't go into the history of the situation so I won't speculate on it, but it's also interesting that the tenant appears to be at the end of a chain of landlords!

ht: bbc

Plans unveiled to support firms

2008-12-25T10:41:00.001Z

OK not East Devon (as an aside EDDC has a business "champion" somewhere in its org), no this is Teignbridge DC...click title for full article, but here's the intro...

A Devon council could offer free parking as part of a plan to help firms cope with the economic downturn.

A Credit Crunch Commission, set up by Teignbridge District Council with private and voluntary organisations, came up with a range of measures.

Among them are free or reduced parking charges, financial counselling and increased promotion of help services.

The commission also proposes providing new allotments to enable more people to grow their own food.

Kelso - part 2

2008-12-22T19:46:00.003Z

As you will see below, Tesco and Sainsbury's have been slugging it out in the small Scottish town of Kelso, each one trying to deliver the knock-out blow.

What is interesting is that in November 2007 (see here) Tesco were promising to build "the most environmentally-friendly supermarket". "Tesco are reported as having said: "We've had some meetings with the council and are proposing to build a full eco-store, the most environmentally friendly store in the whole of the UK, which the council is very keen on and which we are very keen to deliver."

It also seems from another report that Kelso is surrounded by Tesco stores and the majority of people preferred to have a different supermarket in Kelso.

Now isn't this strange, not only because of all the similarities to Seaton but because they are now promising to build the first small eco-friendly Tesco in Ottery St Mary and the first large eco-friendly Tesco in Seaton - that must upset Kelso who presumably want to be first! Anyone else think that "eco" is overused!

When Supermarket Giants Collide

2008-12-21T09:55:00.003Z

Probably the best bit of the article is>>>

"One intriguing question of this particular struggle has to be: "Why Kelso?".

With a population of about 6,500, the cobbled town is not obviously ripe with development potential.

However, it currently lacks one of the major supermarket chains, making it a prized target."

Click title to read whole article.
Wonder if Kelso gets any amenities. Of course we had some, now we have less.

ht:bbc

Results of Ottery St Mary Tesco consultation 21% yes, 79% no

2008-12-20T14:44:00.003Z

According to the Express and Echo, Ms Melanie Chiswell of Tesco has announced that 600 people visited the Tesco exhibition held at the offices of a local estate agent. 180 people filled in questionnaires of whom 70% were in favour of the store. I'm not good at maths but that seems to be 21% of 600 people were in favour of the store, 79% were not in favour (unless there were some "don't knows" but the article gave no indication that there were any). (If anyone is better at maths, please correct me quickly!)

I have seen a press release from Sainsbury's on the result of their consultation in Seaton - 1,800 visitors, 950 questionnares sent back just under 95% in favour of a Sainsbury's. Seems around 50% of people who visited the Sainsbury's exhibition reported back in Seaton, less than a third filled in forms in Ottery. Seaton can always be relied upon to give its views!

There were 1200 people at the Tesco exhibition and many of them filled in questionnaires. When will we get the Tesco results Ms Chiswell? It has been a LONG time and presumably you counted ours as quickly as you counted those at Ottery St mary

Retailer buys the wind

2008-12-16T21:45:00.001Z

click title for article.

ht:bbc scotland

Pound buying less than a euro

2008-12-14T18:14:00.003Z

OK, what's this got to do with us?
For whatever reason (discuss in the comments if you like!) the pound has now hit parity to the euro...at least as far as tourists are concerned. The cumulative effect of the credit crunch is that any UK resident who might be going on holiday next year has two stark choices...go abroad and take the exchange rate hit, or holiday in the UK. (ok I leave out the do neither option)
East Devon is uniquely placed as a holiday destination with the jurassic coast on the doorstep and open countryside on the other. Seaton (of course) will not be in a position to capitalise on this..wonder if EDDC, SWRDA and SW Tourism can help out...

..ahem..meanwhile, for those interested in the euro, and say have an old keybaord on the pc, the "€" symbol is either (hold together)Ctrl-Alt-4 or Alt- and type "0128" on the numeric keypad, thus proving there is a workaround to most things, if people in the know commit themselves.

Rent free Christmas

2008-12-11T14:10:00.004Z

A commentator in the previous post suggested that landlords in and around Seaton, in particular those whose tenants are the local shopkeepers, might look to help said tenants.
These are difficult times, even the big successful retailers are attempting price cuts on a massive scale...so what would be in the interest of those landlords?

High street retailing is suffering no matter where you live in the UK, small businesses report difficulty getting support from banks, startups might well not happen this coming year... so come on landlords, a lower income is better than none at all, and you don't have to be the first..see here

+++update+++ Dorset Echo appear to have SNAFU'd the article; for those who missed it, the headline was...

A HOUSING company has given 2300 tenants a Christmas gift of two weeks’ free rent to help with the credit crunch.

Although a quick google reveals other locations looking at this idea.

Starbucks forced to close in Brighton because no planning permission

2008-12-06T12:08:00.002Z

A Starbucks cafe which opened without planning permission in Brighton has been forced to close by the council. Protestors say that the big chain will take business away from the small, independent cafes of which there are enough in the area. (Good to see a council which takes its planning responsibilities seriously!).

In these difficult times, it falls to local people to support local shops wherever they can.

If it were true, as many people say, that large retailers bring benefits to the community can anyone tell us what they are? All profits are remitted to head offices (and then, just as often, abroad). They don't use local people such as plumbers, electricians - they have their own; they don't use local builders or shopfitters. Even if they buy from local suppliers, often all the stuff goes back first to a mega warehouse somewhere else (food miles) before being transported back again and local food is a minute amount of the stock in the store. Yes, they provide jobs - but here in Seaton, with 150 jobs about to go at the holiday camp and many shops having lost staff (and with Woolworths on a knife edge) that just doesn't wear - not to mention that many of them are low paid, part time and there is even a growing trend to employ agency workers rather than permanent staff.

The 400 tourists from the holiday camp spend in Seaton - you see them in the pubs, you see them in the coffee shops, you see them in the newsagent, you see them in Rainbow. Our guess? Watch late January and early February and see how many of the shops that depend on the tourists at the camp go to the wall. No, you can't blame the holiday camp owner, who was given an offer he had no intention of refusing. Why was he made the offer? Well, one Seaton resident apparently asked that question at the Tesco exhibition and was apparently told "Well, if we hadn't bought it, another supermarket might have".

The end of holiday camps?

2008-12-02T15:21:00.002Z

Britain’s holiday camps are seeing a revival of their popularity, and are set to bring in more than a billion pounds annually, new figures suggest.

Part of the resurgence of the centres is due to families making alternative and less-costly choices for their annual holiday break. A record 6.5 million people are now choosing holiday camps each year, according to a study released by industry analysts.

The camps have had to rework their image, though, from the days of the leaky chalets seen on the BBC sitcom Hi De Hi, set in the 1950s.

Over the last five years, the number of holidaymakers choosing camps such as Butlins and Center Parcs has increased in number by nearly 500,000 annually, a rise of eight per cent. At the same time, spending on these destinations has increased to £1.3 billion, up 22 per cent, according to analysts at Mintel.

What the figures suggest is that the holiday camps are attracting more holidaymakers and bigger spenders as well – a major difference from the days when a week at a holiday camp was clearly a low-budget break.

Holiday centres feature on-site restaurants and entertainment venues, as well as children’s clubs and numerous other facilities, and are now attracting many travellers who had previously been taking their family holidays abroad.

The revival in holiday camps started a couple of years ago, as air duty increased, airlines started to fail and the pound dropped against the euro.

www.mintel.com

HT: Dave Smith/asap.co.uk

EDDC wants YOU to help to shape East Devon to 2026

2008-11-28T17:31:00.004Z

Yes, HONESTLY, EDDC says it wants you and me to help them to shape East Devon to 2026! There will apparently be a questionnaire on the EDDC website (www.eastdevon.gov.uk) from 8 December to 13 February. Click on the headline above to be taken to the press release.

There will also be exhibitions being held across the district - of course there will be one in Seaton won't there? Sorry, what's that EDDC you will have to get back to me on that one one, and when you do, you may be right or wrong, so don't contact me us email, send us a formal letter by registered post, and even then, don't bank on what we say being right ..... .

Remember: smoking can kill and the value of your council can go up or down depending on the value of its advice.

Why have the Tesco signs come down?

2008-11-26T18:50:00.003Z

No, it isn't because they have sold the site back to Liatris! It's because East Devon District Council has refused them planning permission (which initially they forgot to ask for but for which eventually they put in a retrospective application).

EDDC say it contravenes Policy D8 of the Local Plan. I looked this up on the EDDC website and it says that Display advertisements will be granted only if

1. the sign is appropriately positioned in relation to the design of the building (!) and is of an appropriate scale

2. the advertisement does not create a hazard to traffic safety (whether vehicular or pedestrian)

3. Advertisements are kept to a minimum, and amalgamated wherever possible, to avoid clutter which would detract from the character of the building and the street scene

4. Where a sign is lit the type and level of illumination is appropriate given the general level of lighting in the area

5. The construction materials and the colours of the advertisement are sympathetic to the building and the area.

Presumably, they refused permission on the grounds of 1, 3 and 5, seeing as how the advertisements were big, on scaffolding and bright blue and orange.

Mondays in Lyme

2008-11-25T07:25:00.004Z

I dropped by the Lyme public meeting last night to do a little fact-finding. Suffice to say that I did indeed find little fact and spent a feedback laden hour with 75-ish others and learnt what?
What I was interested in really was how far the "shop local" campaign had moved the residents.

Bear in mind that the application Tesco are making in Lyme is nothing like a regeneration plan, it revolves around moving into an existing retail premises and therefore there's a series of applications relating to building alterations and the like.

First the credit, to Lyme's mayor and town clerk for respecting the rules that state that they have a public meeting when requested, thereby having to put up with a jibe by others who thought they shouldn't. Democracy is alive in Lyme and its elected representatives did their job, even if the "I can shout loudest so I'm right" were in residence!

From then on, what started out as a "shop local" campaign centred around the Tesco takeover of the Woolies store started to slide into a "what's wrong with Lyme" type of debate. Of this, sides were quickly drawn, and going by the applause, there were three pretty evenly split groups...the "LoveLyme" group concerned about shopping local; the (for want of a tag) "OldeLymers" who wanted cheap shopping, didn't give a toot about tourist and art shops etc. Then a third group who were either a bit of both, or sat and clapped nothing.
For brevity, that's a bit of simplistic labelling, but it'll give you a feel.

Choice cuts from the meeting?

"Tesco couldn't see the point in coming so that's how much they care"
"They have a narrative of inevitibilty about them (Tesco)"
"The Co-Op is too expensive here, I shop in Seaton/Axminster/Bridport"
"The Co-Op is a convenience store" (met with the rejoinder - "So is the Tesco Express")
"Done Deal", "LymeLuvvies"
and
"Why don't you all move to North Korea?"

But thereafter I witnessed the same old problems it appears that lots of towns face, of empty shops, parking, traffic, affordable housing, the balance between tourism and local trade, and how far you'll go to shop. This last one seemed to be answered not by whether a superstore solves this, but, people will travel in any case, one resident openly saying they go to Sidmouth.

So the idea that we (Seaton) all travel to Exeter because of the lack of shops, isn't so, a more accurate answer is "Have car, will travel"

After an hour, the meeting started to meander, and it was time I ate, there's a chippy outside the Marine Theatre...but it was Monday so it was home for a sandwich.

What did I learn then?

+++UPDATE: another view of the meeting can be seen here

I also see that the "view from seaton" is publishing letters about the Lyme situation, which adds to confusion as you have to know what's happening over there to know it's Lyme they're referring to.

Careful with that taser Eugene

2008-11-24T11:45:00.001Z

While Seaton Quay sleeps

2008-11-24T08:54:00.003Z

Over at Weymouth, they have started consultation for Osprey Quay.

Click on the title to go the full article but here's a few excerpts:-

"The South West Regional Development Agency has appointed a sustainable developer to build 70 eco-homes at Officer's Field, Osprey Quay."

Councillor Tim Munro, mayor of Weymouth and Portland Borough Council added: "This scheme is a vitally important key to unlocking the overall regeneration of Portland and will go a long way in meeting the housing needs of the future."

Councillor Richard Denton-White from Portland Town Council "The community have fought very hard to retain it as a public open space. We understand that there is now money available to beef up the leisure and sports use of this area and I... am delighted to see local people given a genuine opportunity to put forward their own ideas."

Today's news and rumour

2008-11-22T15:13:00.003Z

News: another Seaton shop closed. I haven't seen this for myself - in Fore Street - so I won't name it until I am sure that it has happened. If it has, it won't be the last.

Rumour: overheard by a correspondent in local chemist shop: Tesco pulling out of Seaton.
Personally, I think it unlikely given the millions they have spent on buying the floodplain (!) but you never know - perhaps they have their hands so full with Ottery, Honiton and Lyme they have decided to punish us by not coming here!

Classic quote from an EDDC councillor

2008-11-21T14:44:00.003Z

The Sidmouth Herald of Friday 21 November 2008 leads with a story that Sidmouth Garden Centre were told (by email) by a senior EDDC officer that it would be OK for Riverdale Organics to have an annex there. The emails were copied to the Development Control Manager, Mr Belli, and to the Planning Department and, with apparently no negative response, the building and leasing of the annex etc then took place.

Sidmouth Garden Centre were then apparently told by EDDC planners - after Riverdale had moved in and started trading - that, in fact, they were in breach of planning regulations and the Riverdale store would have to close because the business is not "ancillary to the garden centre".

Head of Planning, Mrs Kate Little, is qyoted by the Sidmouth Herald as saying: "We have acknowledged the fault made in advice. We accept that it was wrong. Advice should always be in writing, formally, with the planning authority if you want to proceed". One would have thought that copying in the Head of Development Control and planning into an official email which generated no negative response would be formal enough.

The classic quote by EDDC Councillor Mrs Ann Liverton - a member of the EDDC Development Control Committee - also in the Sidmouth Herald:

"Members of the public don't understand this. They think if they call the council and get advice that what they are given is right".

Too right, Mrs Liverton, too right. And these are the people who hold Seaton's future in their hands.

Everything Lyme Regis ever wanted to ask Tesco and their (PR company's) reply

2008-11-19T19:48:00.002Z

Lyme Regis residents and councillors had a meeting with "Tesco" on 28 October 2008. However, it appears that their PR guru John Taynton from Tesco-nominated PR Dogs was the person put in the firing line.

Read about it here.

Really, the number of times he said "I don't know, I'll get back to you on that" (between 6 and 8 times depending on how you define his answers) makes you wonder why Tesco can't front their own meetings. But perhaps they think there is no point in having a dog and barking yourself. Though, in this case, it might have been the better way!

The Axe Riverside site - update

2008-11-14T15:09:00.002Z

A correspondant has asked that we talk about the Axe Riverside site. Here is what we think we know.

The Axe Riverside Company put in their planning application for around 90 flats on their site, 40% of which would be affordable about a month ago - this was reported in the press. They put their plans in the library for people to see and on the hoarding in front of their site (they called it Seaton Quay).

The town council was due to hear the planning application about 2 weeks ago but just before their meeting Axe Riverside were told that East Devon needed more documents so the town council were not able to discuss it because the paperwork wasn't complete.

We assume that this is what is now holding the planning application up. Not sure if the plans are still in the library - they probably are and may also be at the town hall. If you want to be up to date about what is happening, contact the planning department at East Devon District Council or Axe Riverside on the number they show on their publicity material.

Magna Housing and Sainsbury's talking together about building leisure facilities?

2008-11-11T14:31:00.005Z

According to the View from Seaton today Magna Housing say they are in talks with Sainsburys about providing leisure and community facilities across the road from their projected new housing development on Harepath Road.

This seems surprising as Sainsburys never mentioned this at their exhibition and yet Magna say they have been talking to the district council for two years about their proposed housing site and the proposed industrial and recreational land on the other side of the road. Surely Sainsburys would have mentioned this - it might have got them 100% backing from everyone in Seaton if it is correct!

Perhaps Magna or Sainsburys could enlighten us, as you can bet your bottom dollar EDDC won't!

Tesco trying to stop Sainsbury's building in Dawlish

2008-11-09T16:44:00.004Z

Sainsbury's was given planning permission to build a store in Dawlish. On the day that planning permission was granted to Sainsbury's Tesco put in a planning application which was later refused on the grounds that planning permission had already been given to Sainsbury's.

Tesco are not happy with this and are threatening legal action. See full story here. From what has been said, Tesco will be putting in their planning application in Seaton before Sainsbury's, so if they are successful, presumably Sainsbury's can use the arguments against Tesco in Seaton that Tesco are using in Dawlish! It's a strange world.

And yes, yes, yes - if you can find a similar story about Sainsbury's doing the same thing to Tesco we WILL publish it! ALL stories of supermarkets doing unusual things are published here if we get the information.

The more green spaces the healthier the people

2008-11-08T16:21:00.002Z

Full story here.

So that's Seaton's health down the pan then - fewer and fewer green spaces, no gym, no swimming pool. Anyone would thing someone wanted to polish us all off!

Tesco buys Old Mill site at Ottery St Mary

2008-11-02T20:16:00.003Z

We gather (although we have not yet verified this for ourselves, others may do so) that, according to records at the Land Registry, Tesco unconditionally purchased the Town Mill in Ottery St Mary in February 2008. Apparently,they are working with a company called Churchill Property Group (South West) Ltd. on a planning application, which will presumably include a Tesco store.

The size of superstores

2008-11-01T16:58:00.002Z

Reading the comments of late, there is a side issue developing on the sizes of the stores. In order to give people a reference to work around, here is the story so far...**

Population - approx 7000
Tesco store - approx 40000 sq ft
Sainsburys - approx 25000 sq ft

OK, these are just numbers, a completely off the wall comparision (and to prove that SU4S is watching all supermarkets) let's go to Crewkerne.

Crewkerne has a similar size of population, and guess what? Yep it's having a supermarket, this one is Waitrose and it's projected as a 19300 sq ft one.
As far as I know, Waitrose doesn't do white goods (yes there is a a small John Lewis bit in the Sidmouth store) so it would be a reasonable assumption that Tesco propose to do white goods or similar, whereas Sainsburys may not be able to fit them in. Please discuss in the comments section, that's what it's there for.

**happy to be corrected on these numbers

Call for 'crisis' talks on homes

2008-10-29T05:43:00.002Z

Interesting article on the SW housing problem (it's long been recognised that there is a real problem over affordable housing in the region)
On the issue of "urban sprawl" there is this incisive remark...

>>There is a shortage of housing in the area, but any development needs to support our towns and villages, not destroy them

Julia Goldsworthy, MP<<

Full article here

ht:bbc

Thanks to everyone who supported SU4S at the two recent exhibitions

2008-10-26T08:49:00.002Z

Just to say thank you to everyone who gave us their time and support at the two recent exhibitions by Tesco and Sainsburys. We counted in about 1,200 people at the Tesco exhibition and about 1,800 at the Sainsburys exhibition - a massive turnout when you think there are only around 7,000 people in the town. One of the exhibitors said that the most people they had ever had to an exhibition was around 1,000 - well, Seaton showed 'em!

Many, many people came to talk to us at Temptations restaurant when the Tesco exhibition took place and in the foyer of the Town Hall when the Sainsburys exhibition took place. It gave us the opportunity to hear from to SO many people, many, many of whom told us how much they supported the concept of "Standing Up for Seaton".

Early feedback from Tesco and Sainsbury exhibitions

2008-10-25T16:51:00.003+01:00

Stand Up For Seaton volunteers counted in everyone who went to the Tesco exhibition and everyone who went to the Sainsbury exhibition.

The Tesco exhibition had (rounding up) 650 visitors on the first day and 550 visitors on the second day making a total of 1,200 in all.

Sainsburys had (rounding up) 1100 visitors on the first day and 700 visitors on the second day making a total of 1,800 in all.

Tesco have not given us the (verifiable by us) results of their visitor survey (we did not ask them to but would hope that they would let us know); Sainsburys have said they will give us their (verifiable by us) results within the next few days (we did not ask them, they volunteered to do this).

As soon as each supermarket can give us their (verifiable by us) for/against totals and (verifiable by us) number of papers handed in, we will post the results here. We will not post results that we are not able to verify to our satisfaction as this could be misleading.

SAINSBURY'S EXHIBITION THIS WEEK

2008-10-25T16:00:00.000+01:00

This post will be "sticky" (at the top) until 4 pm Saturday 25th October 2008.
STAND UP FOR SEATON HAS BOOKED THE FOYER OF THE TOWN HALL FOR THE DURATION OF THE SAINSBURY'S EXHIBITION SO YOU CAN GIVE US FEEDBACK STRAIGHT AWAY

Sainsbury's are taking their turn to tell us what they have planned for Seaton this week. They will be exhibiting in the Town Hall on:

Friday 24th October from 10 am to 7 pm
and
Saturday 25th October 10 am to 4 pm

Please make every effort to attend - we need to weigh up the two alternatives and we need your evidence to back up our findings.

Is Sidmouth more upmarket than Seaton?

2008-10-24T12:47:00.000+01:00

Sidmouth more upmarket than Seaton?

EDDC have sent out a press release about the granting of a licence to the old Dove pub for gaming machines. The press release says:

"The Sidmouth proposal had been vociferously opposed by some 36 objectors, who feared that the gaming centre would be more like an open-fronted, noisy amusement arcade such as those at seaside resorts that do not enjoy Sidmouth's up-market image."

Seaton, as you may all know, has a very small, open-fronted, not particularly noisy amusement arcade close to its seafront - a family-owned business which has been there for many, many years and as far as I can recall has caused no offence to anyone at all. Sidmouth now has a REALLY big (though closed-fronted), presumably slightly noisy amusement arcade close to its seafront.

Does that make us more up-market than Sidmouth, or the exactly the same market as them - we are certainly not less up-market now!

Is this blog anti-Tesco?

2008-10-22T16:48:00.003+01:00

A recent commentator has said that this blog is anti-Tesco. We pointed out that Tesco has more supermarket stores than all the other big 4 supermarkets put together and that, much as we try to find topical posts about the other 3 store groups (Sainsburys, Asda, Morrison) there just isn't the same amount of stuff out there about them.

Also, let us be aware that Tesco is not just a supermarket company that wants to come to Seaton and build a shop. It owns as an investor 80% of the Seaton REGENERATION area and, as such, has to be responsible for 80% of the regeneration of the whole site.

However, it got us thinking and we have analysed all the postings for September 2008, which cover:

building swimming pools cheaply, supermarkets (all of them) selling sugary foods at discount prices, charity shops, Tesco chief says we must go green, tourism, Pink Floyd (?), delisting of world heritage sites, building on flood plains, Sheringham wins planning inquiry against Tesco, regeneration (general), EDDC's Swimathon (drawing attention to the fact that we are about to lose our pool), Pink Floyd (again!), insurance policies for people whose houses are built on flood plains, Tesco and Sainsburys exhibition dates, the Axe Riverside planning application, holiday camp profits soar, coastal erosion, the community art project, climate change, reminder about Tesco exhibition times.

So, there was one item that might be construed as "anti" Tesco (the Sheringham planning inquiry). Building on floodplains would apply to anyone who owns a floodplain site.

What we do bang on about, again and again, is that this is a REGENERATION site and not a DEVELOPMENT site and that Tesco knew this when they bought it.

WHAT IS REGENERATION?

To see ten definitions of what constitutes regeneration from 10 important people in the construction and related industries see here.

Basically these 10 different people, who come from all areas, say regeneration should include:

investment in social capital (e.g. facilities for the whole community, not just development), social, economic and physical action to help people in neighbourhoods experiencing multiple deprivation to reverse decline and create sustainable communities, not property development by another name, partnerships, creation of aspirational new environments that work both on an economic level and for the community as a whole, makes people feel good and makes them proud to be part of it, comprehensive and integrated vision and action that leads to the resolution of urban problems and which seeks to bring about a lasting improvement in the economic, physical, social and environmental condition of an area, no "one size fits all approach", responsive to local and market needs, social, economic and environmental benefits, good design, visually attractive buildings that will stand the test of time and make long term contributions to their surroundings, revitalising an area by attracting economic investment and new employment, a good quality of life for the people who live and work there, ensuring that everyone in the community benefits.

This is what ANY owner of the vast majority of the Seaton Regeneration area must expect to sign up to. None of it is new and anyone buying a regeneration site can expect these criteria to rule.

Fresher's Fair

2008-10-19T11:22:00.002+01:00

Just to say a big thank-you to Councillor Graham Jones who put in so much effort with the Fresher's Fair yesterday. It was brilliant to see so many Seaton groups showing what they are doing in the town. The hall was also packed with people wanting to see what is going on and to volunteer for things - that's Seaton for you. The Stand Up For Seaton desk was busy all day - particulary with comments about the regeneration area - all of which are being fed into our report which will be available after the Sainsbury's meeting later this week.

Thanks also to Seaton Town Council for letting us all attend this event free of charge.

Tesco builds health centre to replace one they demolished

2008-10-19T11:20:00.002+01:00

As part of the planning permission for a store in Failsworth, Tesco paid to rebuild the local health centre, which has a pharmacy next door, because the old one was demolished to make way for Tesco's petrol station.

So we can rest assured that Tesco will pay to rebuild holiday facilities on the Seaton regeneration site then because they will be demolished to make way for a ....... ah, I see the problem. Being demolished to make way for nothing at all ......

Still, surely Sainsbury's will pay to rebuild the youth and community centre .....

So where's my leaflet Tesco?

2008-10-16T20:56:00.002+01:00

Tesco promised to send their regeneration leaflet to every home in Seaton? Have you received yours? And where's the result of the survey they did of the 1000 plus people who went to their exhibition. I think we should be told! (But I want to see ALL the reply cards for myself too).

Tesco buys Woolworths Store in Lyme Regis

2008-10-14T13:46:00.005+01:00

The Woolworths store in Lyme Regis (near the Co-op) has been bought by Tesco. It will close in a few days and re-open as a Tesco. This will make a total of 13 Tesco stores within 25 miles of Seaton.

Nearest Sainsbury's is Exeter, nearest Morrison's is Bridport, nearest Asda store is Taunton.

The Tesco exhibition - feedback

2008-10-03T16:42:00.003+01:00

Thank you to everyone who took the time to talk to us before and after they visited the Tesco exhibition at the Eyre Court Hotel yesterday (Friday) and today (Saturday) and thanks to Temptations for letting us have space in their restaurant for the 2 days.

Feedback on the comments made to SU4S during the Tesco exhibition will appear here after it ends as will feedback after the Sainsbury's exhibition at the end of the month.

You can hand in your questionnaire or leave comments over the next few days at Steve's Print and Byrne-Jones in Fore Street or the Starboard Pets in Queen Street.

Your feedback is just as important to us as it is to Tesco so please make contact with us, whether you are for or against or undecided by what you have seen. We will be making a report of feedback we have received both from Tesco and Sainsbury's which will be sent to Tesco, Sainsbury's, Seaton Town Council, East Devon District Council and others to keep them informed of what the people of Seaton are thinking - and expecting - from them.

VOLUNTEER TO HELP STAND UP FOR SEATON

2008-10-02T11:55:00.002+01:00

This post is "sticky" until the 2nd Oct, so all new posts will appear below it until that time: hence the date. To read new messages, just scroll down past this one.

It seems that the future of the Seaton Regeneration area will probably become clearer in the next couple of months, with both Tesco and Sainsbury promising to hold exhibitions about their plans. After each of these exhibitions it is important that Stand Up For Seaton is able to let people know of any concerns that may be raised about the regeneration area and for the town as a whole. To be able to do this it needs the help of volunteers of all kinds and with all types of skills. The only requirement is that you have the best interests of Seaton at heart.

If you want to help Stand Up For Seaton to protect our town, please contact Lizzie on

07853 277 801

This is also the number to call if you are a journalist wanting more information about Stand Up For Seaton.

Tesco exhibition times

2008-09-30T13:12:00.002+01:00

Tesco has advertised in the View from Seaton that its open days at the Eyre Court Hotel will be:

Friday 3 October 2008 - 11 am - 7 pm
Saturday 4 October 2008 - 10 am - 5 pm

They have also set up a web site where residents can email comments (see above), although it appears not to be working at the time of posting this blog entry.

Should you make comments to either supermarket during the exhibitions we would be pleased to hear what you have said - post your comments here. It would also probably be a good idea for you to let EDDC and Seaton Town Council know what your views are.

The effects of climate change on flooding in the UK

2008-09-29T09:51:00.002+01:00

Click on the link above to see several articles on how ill-prepared the UK is for floods such as the ones we have had in the last couple of years.

Windows project:- Local businesses read on...

2008-09-27T12:06:00.005+01:00

Following up the "views from seaton" windows project, the SU4S blog is opening up the top right hand 2 spaces for local businesses to advertise.
If you can get your artwork into a readable 275pixel wide space (I can attempt this feat for you) and get it to me with a crisp £5 note attached, I'll make sure it's displayed for a week, minimum. Beer taxis have already come forward, so you can see where I'm talking about.
The money? I'll give that to Seaton Phoenix, a local charity for causes within Seaton (and probably nearby villages for all I know).

Use the email "contact us" button.

A little bit of history - Hallsands

2008-09-26T08:52:00.003+01:00

For those with an interest in man and the sea, have a read at BBC Devon here

Also worth a morning's surf time (apologies for the pun) we have the extract below from this page

It has been suggested (Joint Nature Conservation Committee, 1996) that large areas of sea bed sediments in Lyme Bay and seawards of the 20m isobath south of Hope's Nose are 'lag' (winnowed) deposits. This is easiest to accept where there are local accumulations of gravels and sandy gravels containing flint, sandstone, chalk and limestone clasts. However, recent and modern abrasion of the clay bedrock beneath shallow water in Lyme Bay could create fine material that occupies the interstices between coarse clastic particles (Pingree, et al, 1983). It is therefore likely that gravel and coarse sandy deposits are relict, (probably pre-Holocene in age) and immobile under the present day seabed hydrodynamic regime.

and lots more at SCOPAC

Holiday Camp profits soar - tourists looking for greater value

2008-09-25T11:26:00.003+01:00

Western Daily Press, Monday 22 September 2008, front page main headline:
"Holiday Camp profits soar". Second page headline: Tourists looking for greater value

Main points:

Butlins annual profits up more than £100 million revealing that hard-up holidaymakers are choosing destinations like Minehead over sunnier climes such as Malaga.
Bourne Leisure and Haven UK caravan park at sites such as Weymouth, Poole, Burnham on Sea and Doniford Bay say profits rise 6.7%.
Visitor numbers at Butlins increased by 15% over this summer.
The figures are no surprise to South West Tourism with head of marketing, Kirsty Cumming saying holiday camps' soaring profits were a true reflection of current trends in holiday-making. "People are lookingg for more value for money when taking holidays at the moment" she said.

Axe Riverside has put in its planning application for the Racal site

2008-09-23T13:16:00.001+01:00

Axe Riverside have put in a planning application to EDDC for the Racal site. Copies of their preliminary brochure outlining their plans are available at Seaton Town Hall and at Seaton Library.

Dates for Tesco and Sainsbury presentations announced

2008-09-23T13:13:00.005+01:00

Dates havenow been announced for both the Tesco and Sainsbury presentations for the Seaton Regeneration area.

Tesco will present first at the Eyre Court Hotel on 2, 3 and 4 October 2008. Sainsbury will then present on 23, 24 and 25 October 2008 at the Town Hall. Times for each presentation are not yet available.

Please note that no planning applications have been put in so far by either Tesco or Sainsbury, only by Axe Riverside (Racal site) - see above re Racal site.