'Nothing decided yet' council say on Sidmouth seafront redevelopment plans | Devon Live
... things are definitely hotting up at Port Royal - as the letters pages in the Herald demonstrates:
Futures Forum: Plans for Port Royal: anticipating a Regeneration Board >> Scoping Study consultation >> "a stitch-up"
And now a new campaign has just been launched:
‘Retain, refurbish, re-use’ - campaigners’ alternative vision for Sidmouth’s Port Royal
PUBLISHED: 10:25 17 July 2017
Stephen Sumner
Distrist councillors Matt Booth, Dawn Manley, Cathy Gardner and Marianne Rixson
Retain, refurbish, re-use – the ‘Three Rs’ to deliver an alternative vision for Port Royal revealed today by campaigners
EDDC and Sidmouth Town Council commissioned a scoping study for Port Royal. This illustrations is only intended to give an impression of the scale and size of a building on the site and how it might appear in relation to other buildings nearby. It is not a proposal for how the building will look.
District councillors Cathy Gardner, Matt Booth, Marianne Rixson and Dawn Manley have challenged suggestions the ‘only apparent option’ for eastern town is to build a multi-use building with 30 homes that could stand up to five storeys high.
Instead, they say the existing buildings and uses should be retained, the whole area should be refurbished as needed, and sites such as the Drill Hall and the old boat park should be re-used.
The councillors are calling on residents and visitors to support their proposal.
Cllr Gardner said: “The Three Rs encapsulate what many people have said they want. We’re not laying out a fixed set of ideas – we want residents to be given a chance to debate the enhancement of the area and to reach a democratic solution.
“We will be holding a public meeting to bring together supporters of this proposal and ideas for funding. We are confident that many people can help to deliver a plan of this kind if it’s adopted, whether by volunteering, donating or fundraising.”
Cllr Booth has previously investigated sources of funding and said: “Funds can be raised for schemes that support the community. There may even be business opportunities in the Drill Hall. We will be calling on East Devon District Council (EDDC) and Sidmouth Town Council to include this proposal in their plans and properly investigate the option of developing community value on the land they own, rather than seeking some financial gain from public land.”
Major landowners EDDC and Sidmouth Town Council are exploring options for Port Royal with a scoping study. They have revealed a concept for the site that could incorporate Sidmouth Lifeboat, the sailing club and up to 30 flats in a new building that could stand up to five storeys high. Their consultation closes on Monday, July 31.
The campaigners are staging a public meeting in All Saints Church Hall from 7pm on Wednesday, August 23. They have also launched a petition that can be found at https://you.38degrees.org.uk/petitions/alternative-plan-for-sidmouth-s-port-royal-the-3r-s.
‘Retain, refurbish, re-use’ - campaigners’ alternative vision for Sidmouth’s Port Royal - Latest Sidmouth and Ottery News - Sidmouth Herald
Alternative vision to 'retain, refurbish, reuse’ launched by councillors for Sidmouth seafront
By DanielClark | Posted: July 17, 2017
An alternative plan for the redevelopment of Sidmouth seafront has been revealed by four of Sidmouth's District Councillors. Consultants are carrying out a scoping study to assess the feasibility of redevelopment of the area on behalf of Sidmouth Town and East Devon District Councils who are the major landowners of the site, and plans went on show at Kennaway House in Sidmouth at the end of June.
They revealed that the seafront could get up to 30 flats that stand five storeys high as part of the redevelopment.
But district councillors Cathy Gardner, Matt Booth, Marianne Rixson and Dawn Manley are challenging the suggestion that the only apparent option for the redevelopment is the implementation of the Local Plan's proposal for a large, multi-use building with 30 homes.
Instead they say that there is a viable alternative that would involve retaining, refurbishing and reusing the buildings.
Read more 'Nothing decided yet' council say on Sidmouth seafront redevelopment plans
Cllr Booth said: “We believe that there is a viable alternative approach and are calling for residents and visitors to support our proposal."
The campaign launched by the four councillors on Monday, Cllr Cathy Gardner said: “The 3R's encapsulates what many people have said they want."
She said that you could retain existing buildings and uses, refurbish the whole area as needed and reuse sites such as the Drill Hall and old boat park.
Cllr Gardner added: “We're not laying out a fixed set of ideas, but we want residents to be given a chance to debate the enhancement of the area and to reach a democratic solution. We will be holding a public meeting to bring together supporters of this proposal and ideas for funding. We are confident that many people can help to deliver a plan of this kind if it's adopted, whether by volunteering, donating or fundraising."
The meeting will be held at All Saints Church Hall, Sidmouth, from 7pm on August 23.
Read more Leading councillor says she was 'alarmed' by Sidmouth seafront...
Cllr Booth has previously investigated sources of funding for this project and added: “Funds can be raised for schemes that support the community. There may even be business opportunities in the Drill Hall. We will be calling on EDDC and STC to include this proposal in their plans and properly investigate the option of developing community value on the land they own, rather than seeking some financial gain from public land."
People can show their support for this campaign by signing a 38degrees petition https://you.38degrees.org.uk/petitions/alternative... ; attending the meeting on 23rd August ; and by writing to Sidmouth Town Council and EDDC.
The consultation on the future of the Port Royal is underway, and an East Devon District Council spokesman said: "The consultant's emerging findings and the consultation are an early step in the process of finding out what is achievable and viable for the renewal of Port Royal. At this stage no detailed designs of lay outs, mix of uses or buildings have been drawn up.
"Next steps will involve looking at a more detailed planning and design exercise for the area, preceded by reports to both councils who will then discuss how the project can go forward."
Read more Sidmouth seafront redevelopment plans revealed
They added that key points of interest to residents and businesses were already emerging and they were that people are pleased that nothing has yet been decided and that the councils have not leapt ahead with detailed plans or designs, the importance of car parks, but equally these were dead space, a need for improved access to the sea for the lifeboat, clubs and water users, whether the lifeboat location could be moved, and there were comments on the potential height of buildings in relation to neighbouring buildings.
The consultation boards say: "The existing lifeboat station and sailing club need to have a waterfront location for operational reasons, but there are no obvious technical reasons that would prevent the lifeboat station, sailing club, Drill Hall and toilet block from being demolished with an alternative development provided on that part of the Study Area."
Under potential development opportunities, the boards say: "The development could comprise a building of between 3 and 5 storeys. It could be a single building incorporating various uses including a new lifeboat station, a multifunction unit that could incorporate the sailing club, other water related clubs already operating, public toilets and wider community use. Space could also be created for a café and restaurant. These could occupy the ground floor and first floor of the building.
"Up to thirty residential apartments with potential to be of various sizes could form part of this development occupying the second, third and fourth floors.
Read more Closed village pub set to become an antiques emporium
"Pedestrianisation ofthe Esplanade from its junction with Ham Lane running eastwards towards Salcombe Hill would create an opportunity for a vibrant, active frontage to the new development on the allocated site where people can use the space free of traffic whilst maintaining access for emergency vehicles, e.g. lifeboat.
"An access road from Ham Lane could be created to provide additional pedestrian access through the site along with access for service vehicles, access to sailing club storage and some water users."
The Ham and East Street car parks have also been included in the scoping study area, but as they are within a high risk flood zone, further discussion will be required with both the Environment Agency and East Devon District Council planning department before any proposals can be taken forward.
Consultants will use the feedback to produce a set of recommendations that balance community expectations with what is achievable in the area.
These recommendations are expected to be considered by Sidmouth Town Council and East Devon District Council later in the year.
Alternative vision to 'retain, refurbish, reuse’ launched by councillors for Sidmouth seafront | Devon Live
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