Plans for Port Royal: anticipating a Regeneration Board >> Scoping Study consultants' report presented to Reference Group > press release

The Port Royal reference group, as part of the Scoping Study, met last week to consider the work being done by the consultants:
Futures Forum: Plans for Port Royal: anticipating a Regeneration Board >> Scoping Study consultants' report presented to Reference Group

This is a piece from the press from last week:
Debate next week over Sidmouth seafront future as consultation responses revealed - Devon Live

There is still the question of what exactly has been 'decided':
Futures Forum: Plans for Port Royal: anticipating a Regeneration Board >> and plans for Exmouth: When "nothing's been decided" means "something's been decided"

There is also the question of how joined-up the thinking presented in report will be.

A commentator notes:

Still no reference in these reports to the two key issues on which clarity is needed before any meaningful decision can be made:

> the town Transport and Traffic plan and

> the Eastern Beach Management Plan.

Because everything is connected:

Futures Forum: The Neighbourhood Plan connected to > The Port Royal scoping report connected to > The Beach Management Plan connected to > The Re-imagining Port Royal architecture competition >>> "We should look at everything that's currently on the table and try to do some joined up thinking!"


Here is the official press release from today: 

Port Royal Reference Group discuss consultation findings

When this content has been created

27 September 2017

Scoping Study report to go before Reference Group next month

Sidmouth Town Council and East Devon District Council have recently commissioned, as a first step, a scoping study to understand the key opportunities and constraints for possible improvements of Port Royal.  An integral part of this process is, of course, meaningful consultation.

Almost 250 responses were received from individuals and organisations during a five-week consultation held during the summer. Additionally, a Sid Valley Neighbourhood Plan Steering Group survey  which included questions about Port Royal was completed by more than 1,800 households and these responses are being included in the overall consultation.

The Port Royal Reference Group met on Thursday (September 21, 2017) to discuss the responses from both consultations. The Reference Group is made up of representatives of Sidmouth town organisations including the Sid Valley Neighbourhood Plan Group, the Sid Vale Association, Sidmouth Vision Group and the Sidmouth Chamber of Commerce along with Sidmouth Town, East Devon District and Devon County Councils.

The consultation brings into sharp focus the strength of feeling about the need to develop sympathetically and people who responded to the consultation said that among other issues, the height of buildings and how they relate to the surroundings of the area, was a concern as would be a loss of car parking spaces.

It is clear through both consultations that people see that Port Royal has a special identity around fishing, water activities and maritime heritage.  It is clear too that, in the main, the people of Sidmouth would like to see bars and restaurants as a feature of any proposed development and that the Lifeboat Station is integral to future plans.  A new multi-function facility which could host water activity and The Sailing Club, and an increase in pedestrianised areas were also supported. 

Cllr David Barratt, a Sidmouth town and district councillor, who chaired Thursday’s meeting of the Reference Group, said:

On behalf of both councils, I would like to say how grateful we are to all those who took part in the consultation and gave us their views. We are listening to what people say and hear you loud and clear. We also understand how significant Port Royal is to the town and how important it is that we get this right. We look forward to receiving the scoping study report.

The next stage is for the full findings of the independent Port Royal Scoping Study to go before the Reference Group in October. A report and the scoping study findings will then be considered by both councils in November so that councillors from both authorities can determine how to proceed.

27 September 2017 - Port Royal Reference Group discuss consultation findings - East Devon

Not much has been mentioned about the Neighbourhood Plan's findings that 
> most respondents to the latest questionnaire wanted 'community space' and 'performance venue' 
> 'restaurants' came a poor third:
Futures Forum: Neighbourhood Plan > interim report on Port Royal >>> "A focus on community space" >>> "Repeated narrative comments supported this approach as opposed to a development which is weighted towards commercial and housing purposes, stressing the importance of community and visitor use."
Futures Forum: Plans for Port Royal: presenting the evidence

In other words, how much has already been 'decided'?
Futures Forum: Plans for Port Royal: anticipating a Regeneration Board >> "Nothing is decided" > full report
Futures Forum: Plans for Port Royal: anticipating a Regeneration Board >> “Nothing is decided on Port Royal – it could see anything from a massive redevelopment to no change at all.”>>> “There could be a range of options – from something that incorporates everything allocated in the Local Plan to doing nothing, potentially.” >>> “There are many other [options] we can consider.”
Futures Forum: Plans for Port Royal: anticipating a Regeneration Board >> Scoping Study consultation and "independent experts"
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