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The Council’s Response to the Proposed Plan for Seaton’s Regeneration Area

The master plan for Seaton’s Regeneration Area was presented to Seaton Town Council by Signet Planning at an informal meeting on 7th July 2006. This plan was discussed by Members and their response was as follows:

The Council is largely supportive of the principles contained within the master plan. However, they have concerns about a number of specifics:

View from Jubilee Gardens

1) Holiday Camp.

Members are opposed to the loss of the holiday camp as this will result in the loss of the town’s main tourist facility, community facilities and venue for major local, national and international events and functions and therefore a loss to Seaton of these events.

Projected visitor numbers identified in the feasibility study for the Visitor Centre are between 230,000 – 270,000 annually and it is essential that not only are current tourist facilities retained, but that additional tourism space is allocated within the regeneration area to meet this demand.

This area must be developed in accordance with the O’Rourke report.

There must be no loss to Seaton of employment opportunities, indeed for the town to regenerate, increased employment opportunities must be incorporated.

An additional facility currently housed in the holiday camp is a Day Nursery for 28 children. This is the only day nursery in Seaton. If the closure of this facility is forced, alternative premises must be provided, incorporating sufficient space to meet the increased demand from the additional houses.

2) Housing

Please explain why the proposed housing has increased from 400, as stated in the Devon Structure Plan and East Devon Local Plan, to 450. This Council is totally opposed to any development over 400 dwellings.

There is no commitment to quality of design. Please specify.

3) Visitor Centre

The Visitor Centre must be allocated the space identified in the Locum Report, i.e. 1,500 sq m.

The Visitor Centre must provide facilities in accordance with those stated in the Locum Report

The Town Council supports the Visitor Centre being developed as a stand-alone building and should not form part of the Tramway development

The Visitor Centre is the principal stimulus for regeneration and the proposed revised siting of the supermarket north and therefore adjacent to the Centre will detract from it and does not meet the WHS brand.

4) Tourism

The lack of tourism space and facilities in the master plan is contrary to the East Devon Local Plan policy TO2 and TO3 and the Devon Structure Plan T01. It is also contrary to EDDC development plan which states that the regeneration site should encourage more and longer stay visits to the town.

Appropriate bed space and youth hostel type facility is essential to meet the demands from identified increased tourism.

5) Harbour Road

The Council is opposed to the proposal to turn Harbour Road into an arterial route for the proposed supermarket and diy store. This will create an even greater barrier than at present to effective access to the seafront, and will separate the seafront and thereby the World Heritage Coast from the Visitor Centre, Tramway, Marshes and necessary tourist facilities

6) Flooding

Much concern has been expressed at building on the flood plain. We would like to see the environment agency report; we request an environment agency assessment into the risk of flooding over the next 50 years to be made available and also request assurance from the developers that a report will be made available indicating how properties in that area will be rated for insurance purposes.

The effect of run-off from the raised site onto the Harbour Road properties needs to be assessed and published.

7) Parking

This Council has always stated the need for current parking provision - which is at times insufficient to meet demand in the high season - to be a minimum. Parking must be provided to meet tourist needs and not retail needs from the proposed supermarket and diy store. Details are requested for proposals for residential parking.

8) Community Facilities

There do not appear to be any community facilities provided at all within the regeneration area, nor is there space identified for such facilities. It is essential that such facilities are provided similar to those in the Town Hall. Likewise facilities for the youth. Please identify. Community involvement was paramount in enabling application to the Big Lottery to secure funding for the Visitor Centre – please explain why facilities for the community are not identified.

9) Play Area

The Council supports the community’s strong reaction against the proposed removal of the play area in the north west corner of the site. This must be reinstated and not turned into a car park. This play area provides a facility for tourists as well as residents and cannot be replaced with smaller facilities in residential areas.

10) Retail

The Council is concerned that the layout will result in Seaton becoming two towns. The links between the regeneration site and the old town are poor, which is likely to result in the old town dying. The links must be identified and strengthened, perhaps by creating trails from new to old. Please identify proposals.

11) Supermarket

Would you please explain why the supermarket has been moved northwards from the site for which outline planning permission had previously been granted.

12) Boulevard

The Council maintains its previously stated support for a boulevard, which was to provide a clear vision from the north west corner of the site to the Haven Cliffs, thereby supporting the world heritage coast designation. This boulevard was identified in the O’Rourke report as being fronted by live/work units which would provide business opportunities to support the visitor centre, thus providing further stimulus for regeneration. Tourist and not resident parking was also to be accommodated .

13)Schools and Medical

Please advise where on the regeneration site the space is allocated for additional medical, education, dentist facilities, all of which will be required to support the anticipated 1000+ extra residents.

14) DIY Store

The proposal to build a large DIY store in Seaton has never been made before. Please provide evidence of need. This Council does not support such large retail build in the middle of town, particularly when a serious lack of community services and tourist facilities are identified.

15) Transport

The proposals to not support green transport, nor do they support the principles of the Visitor Centre or WHC strategy which promote green transport.

The Highways Agency is currently refusing to grant local councils planning permission for large housing developments where roads are unable to cope; please confirm whether this policy will apply to these proposals.

Please specify how materials and machinery will be brought to site. This Council would support as much as possible being transported by sea; if by road, please specify designated routes.

16) Pollution

This Council is concerned at the high levels of construction pollution which will result from this large-scale housing development;

Seaton is bounded by the natural environment and Areas of Great Landscape Value. Please advise what measure will be taken to ensure there is no increase in light and noise pollution from proposed large-scale housing development.

Finally, please confirm that Seaton Town Council and its neighbouring parish councils will from now on form part of the continuing consultation process prior to planning applications being submitted for this site. There is much in this master plan which is contrary to proposals previously agreed through public consultation, i.e. the O’Rourke Report, and it is strongly felt that the elected representatives of the communities affected need to be in kept informed of any possible major changes to those previously stated proposals.

24th July 2006

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