Big turnout for meeting on Seaton’s regeneration plans

Monday, 22 October 2012

by Anders Larsson

ALMOST 200 people took the chance to be briefed on regeneration plans for Seaton.

The briefing took place in Seaton Town Hall on Thursday, October 18th, hosted by Seaton Town Council and its partners - East Devon District Council (EDDC), Devon County Council (DCC) and the Jurassic Coast World Heritage Team.

Those attending could hear about various projects and what progress had been made so far.
Projects include a Jurassic discovery centre, a Jurassic coast waterborne transport service, seafront enhancement and redevelopment of Elizabeth Road Play Park.

It was reported that EDDC and DCC have made money available to take forward the Seaton Jurassic Coast Discovery Centre project.
The crowd also heard that project leaders are assisted by Devon Wildlife Trust, and that a bid for funding is being prepared for submission to the Heritage Lottery Fund.

If all goes to plan, the centre will open in the spring of 2015 and focus on the Jurassic Coast and ‘the amazing natural wealth of the town surroundings’.

On a separate issue Sam Rose, of the Jurassic Coast World Heritage Team, spoke about a Jurassic Coast waterborne transport project which, if it materialises, would place Seaton at the hub of a networked hopper service that could also include Exmouth, Sidmouth, Lyme Regis and West Bay.

Such a scheme would require infrastructure in the form of landing facilities at Seaton and Sidmouth, which is being looked into.
Potential funding sources for this scheme include the Coastal Communities Fund and EU money.

Peter Jeffs, director of Community-Leadership (SW), discussed the seafront area around Fisherman’s Gap and the aims to create a more visually attractive, usable place for visitors and residents alike.

Members of the public were encouraged to come forward with ideas and attend drop-in sessions.
The drop-in sessions are scheduled for Friday, November 16th from 9am- 1pm (at the farmers’ market in the town hall), Monday, November 19th from 4pm-8pm (Seaton Town Hall) and Saturday, December 1st from 10am-1pm (at the gazebo in The Square).

Seaton mayor Peter Burrows commented: “We are pleased that so many people came out to join us in discussing Seaton’s regeneration.
“Our aim was that people would be encouraged by and embrace the plans; and the response we had indicates that they have been well received.
“We are looking forward to working with the people of Seaton to develop plans further and will keep them informed through our website, newsletters and press releases.”

l Seaton Town Council has called an extraordinary meeting for 7pm on Thursday, October 25th in the town hall’s enterprise suite to discuss EDDC’s recent refusal to remove an affordable housing condition from a proposed 90-apartment development on the former Racal site.

When getting outline planning permission, Axe Riverside Company agreed to provide 36 units of social housing, a contribution for loss of employment land, a contribution towards recreational facilities and to carry out work on a walkway.
But, as previously reported, the company then approached EDDC to have some of the conditions removed.

Axe Riverside Company blamed the current economic climate and asked if the requirement for social housing and financial contributions could be removed in exchange for a £500,000 payment. But EDDC’s Development Management Committee refused.

Email: pulmans@tindlenews.co.uk

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