ECA ideas

Who really needs to be wasting money on private sector consultants?

Exmouth Community Assn have published it's views on enhancement to the seafront, selected extracts are published in the Journal. There's a lot of common sense, perhaps it doesn't go far enough. Though I must emphasise to date I've only seen the Journal extracts. 

Their main thrusts are to join up the seafront with the town centre , to maintain the seafront views and to improve the pedestrian/cycle/mobility scooter experience.

Piazzas on the seafront and a footbridge over Carlton slipway are great ideas. The present promenade is too narrow even out of season and a seafront walk often spoilt by the aggressive brinkmanship of some pedestrians determined to take possession of the cycle path. Perhaps ECA's plans don't go far enough with this. How much vehicle access do we need between Alexandra Terrace and the new lifeboat station? 

Reducing access along to Orcombe Point is also suggested, but how much could be taken without limiting or spoiling the pleasure of sitting in the car eating fish and chips whatever the weather? A cafe at Orcombe Point is a must, though not on the beach(dog loo). There was one and it never should have been taken away. A replacement has to walk the line between being a magnet, white elephant and vandalism target.

Perhaps it should be simple to create a pleasurable Strand to Orcombe Point experience without too much expense or difficulty. Bath Road would have to be made more inviting and the two brash pubs en route would need strictly enforced guidelines on broken glass outside their premises. In fact the whole issue of glass in the town /seafront areas needs to be addressed.

No further intrusion on the view is a no brainer. But so it was before the bowling alley was allowed to ruin the Salterton Road/Carlton Hill vista and the developers were allowed to do their worst with the entrance to the docks. I was talking to a consultant engineer from Manchester recently, who told me that up there if a building exceeds its height it has to be lowered. No such backbone or attention to duty here. 

Sorry this is so Exmouth centred so far. I just don't get out enough. And every time I think of Seaton seafront my blood boils. Plenty of buildings there wouldn't have been put up without a backhander, would never be seen in Sidmouth. Especially the one that looks like a seventies CD tower.