TC meetings

The Special TC meeting started late because of an overrun of the scheduled planning meeting and when it did start at 7.30 the Mayor welcomed very one and called for the registered speakers in turn. each made very valid comments on the proposed development varying from simple information given by one of the current lease holders who indicated that his business if closed would mean job losses in the region of four full time and eight part time trough out the year. Another questioned the (EDDC) councils methods by asking if assessment had been made about the viability, environmental impact etc had been made, another said that the Harbour view cafe should be refurbished and not demolished for rebuilding.The EDDC officer responsible for regeneration projects stated that all studies would be carried out but admitted that they had not yet been done. All councilors than commented All of the Lib Dems spoke strongly against the plans buity as was expected the tories were in favour although two said that they wished that EDDC would talk to the people more before coming up with schemes like this.The Mayor spoke extremely strongly for the proposals but he was forced into taking a recorded vote which he lost by 11 votes to 8 with one abstention.

This meeting ended at 8.30 and the delayed full council meeting then convened and I asked why the council was not doing what the government has told them to do in June 2010 This is to publicise its data clearly with special regard to the information on contracts and tenders which the mayor passed onto the clerk who said that as soon as the new website was up and running then they would be able to do what they should, a completer white again by a council that is out of touch and is surely guilty of maladministration the councilors agreed to extend the time until 9.30 to try and complete its agenda.some housework to adjust working parties and committees to enable the replacement of the late Jean Mitchell on several of the committee that she was a member then took place.The plans for a new school on Goodmores farm was the debated at length and as a result it was resolved that ETC would object to the plans on the grounds that the proposal was too small, in the wrong place and that the estimated growth in primary school children was excessive as already measures have taken place to provide space in the existing schools although the Community College would need to be extended to allow for all of the extra pupils staying on post 16

At 9.40 the press and public were asked to leave so that private debate about the festival 2014 and the strand bus shelter could take place.

I felt aggrieved that they had the nerve to chuck us out so that a debate on the festival and the publicly criticised bus shelter proposal could be had in private.

Local is best

Local rivalry between Exmouth and Exeter is bubbling up prompted by the wishes of Exeter's radio exe to downplay Bay fm from Exmouth, there is little doubt that the winner is Bay fm who have kept their heads down and just got on with doing a very good job for the community. Radio exe is after all a commercial station that has to rely on its advertisers to exist whist Bay fm is a community station that simply broadcasts music, information and news about what is current locally. Leaving out the adverts lets them come to the very top in the battle.
The real competition for Radio exe must be Heart fm that is part of a national group.
Just go to 106.4fm on the dial for the best music and local news I do and can listen to Bay fm over the other side of Exeter in Exwick that is just under the Radio exe transmitter mast.

ERaTA special public meeting held on 10th september

At this meeting the general public were invited to comment upon the way that the money that has been received by EDDC for the Elizabeth hall site should be spent in Exmouth. the main outcome was that there is very little support for the splash proposal although it was commented that to have an indoor play area would keep the facilities open and usable for la longer period.To move the Road over to allow the splash is also not wanted by the general public
There was considerable discussion about the public toilet provision on the Sea front in particular and a desire to have more toilets available and of a much higher standard was expressed. the demolition of Harbour view was not supported as it was believed that to smarten the building up and possibly to add an extension on the water side would be sufficient to bring the building up to a standard that would benefit the town and be very acceptable to residents and holidaymakers alike.
A new cafe at Orombe point combined with a visitor centre was declared a necessity and that as a considerable amount of money had already been put into the visitor centre scheme by the town Council and by public donation there must be a sum to kick start the project swiftly, although the cafe cost should be provided by the operator.. The proposed rebuild of the Mamhead slipway was heavily criticised for being expensive and in the wrong place, a survey of the slips in Exmouth having been previously publicised identified several alternatives and should be reconsidered.
Going onto the Imperial sports ground it was considered undesirable to sell the land for a supermarket or any other sort of development There  target should be to update the present facilities by converting the running track to an all weather surface and allowing the rugby club to remain on site with an extended lease together with help to update and extend the club house.
Briefly to summarise


things that are wanted in Exmouth.

• More better toilets,
• An improved and updated sports ground 
• A slipway to replace the Mamhead slip, but at an alternative place!
•  A cafe/ visitor centre at Orcombe point
• EDDC to employ a specialist fundraiser to access grant funding for projects.
• some part of the existing play park could be covered or made into an indoor facility
• the road at the splash zone to be traffic calmed 
• although it was said that the loss of the Elizabeth hall had resulted in the Town no longer having a public hall in a usable position and it is desirable to have a replacement although there was no firm suggestion about where this should be provided.
• Greater real conversations and consultations about the way that Exmouth people see their town progressing in the future.

Things that are not wanted in Exmouth

• Another supermarket on the sports ground
• another hotel or "holiday accommodation" on the splash site.
• the road at the splash realigned

My comment   If the Exmouth Rugby club should wish to move away from the sports ground at Royal avenue then no one is convinced that they should be prevented from doing so but the cost of the move should then not be covered by the public purse if the sports ground is to be upgraded and improved with a longer lease to enable them to progress and improve their standing in the game.

Special Town Council meeting

There is to be a special town council meeting on 23rd September at 7pm to debate the planning application for the splash after several councillors rebelled at the planning meeting and referred the question to a full meeting so that they could listen to the public and then make up their minds. It is very noticeable that the Tory ruling group has split over this although there may well be a rethink and closing of ranks by the 23rd. Please come to the meeting and show solidarity about this unwanted (by most people) development

New week start over again

had bad news this morning, have lost my Sister in Law, she has succomed to a mixture of age and infirmaty.
A bad day for all our family that puts many other things into the shade.