Seaton seafront enhancement project 'should not be forgotten'

A Seaton resident has called for regular updates on the proposed seafront enhancement project, saying it should not be forgotten or lost.

Seaton Town Council scrapped its seafront enhancement scheme in December, despite having already spent more than £50,000 on the project.

They agreed not to take the enhancement scheme any further, after a number of procedural and financial concerns were raised.

Planning permission for the enhancement scheme was granted in 2017 and it would have included pedestrianisation of sections of the seafront, demolition of the existing public toilets and moridunum and construction of a new building, alterations to the highway layout and a new pedestrian crossing, to allow formation of new public space with raised seating and siting of seasonal huts for commercial use.

But in December the town council admitted the project was "beyond the scope and resources of the town council", and would have been better led by either Devon County Council or East Devon District Council.

The decision was heavily criticised by residents and East Devon District Council later launched discussions on ways in which enhancement of the seafront might be realistically taken forward and in what form.

In a statement read at this month's Seaton Town Council meeting, resident Michele Otter said: "I know a lot of Seaton residents are keen to find out the current situation with the Seaton seafront enhancement scheme. Perhaps this could be a monthly agenda item as it's an important topic.

"Stay at home vacations will be major now and Seaton needs tourism for local businesses to thrive. It's such a wonderful town and we all know how badly the seafront lets it down and how important it is to local residents.

"Please could this be a regular agenda item, even if it's just to say EDDC are still reviewing, at least we will know where we stand.

"I don't want the scheme to be forgotten and lost, it would be criminal after all the hard work and cost. It was a bad decision to scrap the scheme but moving forward we need to ensure not only does it live on but is implemented, and I know many councillors agree."

District councillor Jack Rowland said a meeting was held in January with himself and fellow district councillors Paul Hayward, Marcus Hartnell and Dan Ledger in attendance, as well as relevant officers.

It was agreed that Alison Hayward, who is EDDC's Place, Assets and Commercialisation, would produce an overview and position paper in conjunction with Andrew Wood, EDDC service lead for growth, development and prosperity.

Cllr Rowland said he had hoped to provide a further update on this report at this month's council meeting but he had been unable to get in touch with Alison Hayward, but he would chase this up.

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