Parking in Sidmouth: District Council 'now needs to work in an open and transparent way and in consultation with residents and businesses.'

The District Council would like to build affordable housing in the centre of Sidmouth:
Futures Forum: A solution to our housing problems: build on car parks

However, exactly the same proposal has been interpreted as counterproductive:
Futures Forum: Sidmouth parking issues: decreasing capacity at Ham Lane

In fact there has been a huge amount of political fallout:
Futures Forum: The District Council, developing Mill Street in Sidmouth ... and transparency
Futures Forum: Mill Street Blues
Futures Forum: Mill St and “making political capital out of the vital issue of providing homes for Sidmouth’s young families”

... as well as some amusing comment:
Futures Forum: Mill Street housing @ Maunsell Fort

These issues are indeed interconnected:
Futures Forum: Proposals for Mill Street - Port Royal - Neighbourhood Plan

The biggest connection is to what will happen in the Eastern Town:
Futures Forum: Plans for Port Royal: anticipating a Regeneration Board >>> a summary of the issues
Futures Forum: Plans for Port Royal: anticipating a Regeneration Board >>> 'a clever design that incorporates multi-storey parking and residential homes with affordable housing'

It is clear that the business community is very unhappy with the proposals
- as shown on the front page of the latest Herald:

Breaking news & sport in Sidmouth | Sidmouth Herald
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