Consultation on the new Exmouth Splash continues

What do you think of plans for the new ‘Exmouth Splash?’ That’s the question East Devon District Council has been asking all Exmouth residents and visitors about plans for a new, vibrant and colourful leisure and recreation area on Exmouth seafront.

Go to www.eastdevon.gov.uk/exmouthsplash to see the plans in full and for details of how to give EDDC your views.

‘Exmouth Splash’ covers the area between the old Lifeboat Station and the Maer on Queen’s Drive. There will be two large play and recreation areas, a public square, shops, amenities and a new ‘watersports hub’ offering hiring, training and retail facilities for all the water sports popular in Exmouth.

A hotel or holiday accommodation scheme is proposed for the north-west of the site. The current Harbour View café building would be removed to make way for a new two storey café and/or restaurant. EDDC now anticipates that a new safety tower would be provided as part of any re-development. Car parking with at least 200 spaces would be moved to the rear of the site, with the current road moved back from the seafront to allow direct access to the beach and sea for all enjoying the watersports and play areas.

“It’s great to see these plans finally go on show to the public,” said Cllr Andrew Moulding, Exmouth Regeneration Board Chairman. “They are strongly rooted in the vision for the town as set out in the Exmouth Masterplan, so it will be really interesting to find out what residents and visitors alike think.

“We welcome thoughts and comments from across the board; old and young, residents and businesses, from those who know Exmouth well to those who may only visit occasionally.

“This is a really important step in securing a bright future for the town so it is important to get it right now.”

The plans, including architect’s drawings and full descriptions of each element of the proposed ‘Exmouth Splash’, are available for all to see online at www.eastdevon.gov.uk/exmouthsplash

An on-line questionnaire has been designed to allow wide-ranging feedback on all the proposed features. Visitors to the Exmouth Christmas Cracker on 1st December were able to view and talk to EDDC councillors and officers about the plans, as well as get hold of the questionnaire, and all the proposals have been be on display in the former Thomas Tucker shop window in Exmouth town centre since Monday 3rd December.

A leaflet detailing the plans, as well as the questionnaire, will also be available to collect at Exmouth Town Hall. The plans will also be sent by post to a random sample of Exmouth residents and businesses.

EDDC and Exmouth Community College are working to agree an event in the new year specifically to learn the views of younger people. Anyone can ask for a copy of the questionnaire directly by e-mailing jbuckley@eastdevon.gov.uk or by phoning 01395 517569.

The consultation will continue until 14th January, but the East Devon District Council have responded to some issues people have raised so far:

Hotel/holiday accommodation scheme: The Exmouth Town Centre and Seafront Masterplan published earlier in 2012 indicated that the proposed Splash area be ‘a fully integrated tourism/leisure zone’ with tourist accommodation clearly part of that ambition. Also, EDDC has been as clear as we can about the need to raise money to make ‘Exmouth Splash’ happen. The proposed hotel or holiday accommodation scheme – which would be no higher than three stories – would hopefully raise the £1 million needed to move the road and undertake other infrastructure improvements. Neither EDDC or Devon County Council has the resources to do this otherwise. Through this consultation we are asking the public for views on other land sales or leases which could raise such a sum and we will look carefully at all serious alternative suggestions put forward.

Car Parking: The main proposed car parking area would more than replace the 200 spaces available currently at Queen’s Drive. The hotel/holiday accommodation scheme would have its own private parking spaces and at least 20 more spaces would be available behind the old lifeboat station. To increase capacity further part of the main parking area might be built as two-tier, but we welcome public views on whether this is a good idea.

Cricket and Bowls clubs: Land currently used by both Exmouth Cricket Club and the Madeira Bowls Club is entirely unaffected by these proposals.