"Why is Sidmouth being left a little behind?"

Sidmouth in Bloom has been doing really well - and hopes to do even better:
Futures Forum: Sidmouth in Bloom looks to 'champion of champions' title > with 'innovations and colour' and 'a great community feel'
Futures Forum: Sidmouth wins RHS South West in Bloom gold - following on from RHS Britain in Bloom gold for small coastal town

And the judges been particularly praising of the community:
Futures Forum: Britain in Bloom judges praise ‘vibrant’ Sidmouth

However, the feeling is that much more could be done - especially by the high street businesses: 

Sidmouth being ‘left behind’ with lack of town restoration

09 November 2018

Sam Cooper



The pavements in Fore Street Sidmouth. Ref shs 34 17TI 9754. Picture: Terry Ife

There were calls for businesses to ‘get their act together’ as councillors debated the issue of Sidmouth’s dirty streets.

Sidmouth in Bloom’s chairman, Lynette Talbot, raised the problem of the increasingly dirty streets in an impassioned speech to the town council on Monday (November 5).

She said: “You’re going have to bite the bullet and start fighting for your patch. If Seaton can have great improvements done to it and Exmouth can have a nice new town square, why can’t we have new paving down the Fore Street and the market square? Why is Sidmouth being left a little behind?”

Lynette suffers from severe erosive inflammatory arthritis and fibromyalgia but manages to de-weed areas of the town.

She said: “The reason why there’s weeds down the streets is because no shopkeeper is going out on the whole, some are doing it but not all of them, are going out with a broom and sweeping into corners.”

Councillor and independent trader Marc Kilsbie said larger chains need to pull their weight.

He said: “I’m just about to start my 12th year of trading. In that entire time, Boots’ gutters have never, ever been cleaned out. I appreciate, we’ve all got a heavy work load and we’ve all got a lot to do but we all need to our bit - not just half a dozen independent traders.”

Boots had not replied to a request for comment at the time of going to press.

Cllr Ian Barlow said: “East Devon District Council (EDDC) were saying the other day of all the things they’ve achieved but perhaps what they should do is start looking at the town and perhaps they should start putting pressure on things that matter to people.”

A spokeswoman for EDDC said the authority does the ‘utmost to keep Sidmouth looking it’s best using our limited resources’.

“We have a dedicated team across the district and in Sidmouth we have two street cleaners and a mechanical sweeper driver. Recent feedback from our viewpoint residents survey showed that 71% of residents think that litter and rubbish ‘isn’t a very big problem’ or ‘isn’t a problem at all’.

“We’ve also recently started working with the Town Council to staff a monthly action day, where we target areas of concern or work on particular projects to clean up the town. This is working very well.”

Sidmouth being ‘left behind’ with lack of town restoration | Latest Sidmouth and Ottery News - Sidmouth Herald

There are a load of issues and players invovled here...

One problem is that we have got too complacent, whether in failing the next generation or not taking care of our visitors - and this certainly involves the council, but also those putting together festivals and events to make the town attractive:
Futures Forum: The tourist industry in Sidmouth: 'we can’t be complacent'

Similarly, everyone needs to pull together over pollution, waste, rubbish, litter and the like:
Futures Forum: Sidmouth and sewage
Futures Forum: Getting the backing of the town council for a plastic-free Sidmouth @ annual Town Assembly > Monday 9th April

Back in 2013, the SVA set out to do its bit and set up the Keith Owen Fund, one purpose of which is to 'keep Sidmouth beautiful': 

Canadian Keith Owen, 69, made his fortune in the financial industry and travelled the world - but always returned to his favourite place - Sidmouth in Devon... Keith's massive £2.3million estate - £1,5million in cash and £800,000 from properties - was handed over with a stipulation it had to be spent keeping Sidmouth "beautiful".

Banker leaves £2.3 million to seaside village with instructions to plant one million flowers - Telegraph

Finally, there is the decidedly unattractive eastern end of the Esplanade - but pulling down an old building isn't necessarily going to make things look better:
Futures Forum: Plans for Port Royal: Drill Hall on the open market
Futures Forum: Plans for Port Royal: anticipating a Regeneration Board >> Scoping Study consultants' "final report" to be presented to Town Council > Monday 5th February

Because, as Lynette Talbot of Sidmouth in Bloom says:

"If Seaton can have great improvements done to it and Exmouth can have a nice new town square, why can’t we have new paving down the Fore Street and the market square? Why is Sidmouth being left a little behind?"

Sidmouth being ‘left behind’ with lack of town restoration | Latest Sidmouth and Ottery News - Sidmouth Herald
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