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Stand Up For Seaton (SU4S)

Community Action for Seaton's Regeneration Area, 80% owned by Tesco - a floodplain on a World Heritage site bordered by nature reserves, tidal river, the sea and the unspoilt town. SU4S is a state of mind - no members, no structure, no politics. SU4S has objected to 2 planning applications by Tesco, including one for a massive superstore/dot com distribution centre which led to the recent closure on the site of 400 tourist beds with the loss of 150 jobs,a gym and pool - all used by locals.

Monday, November 27, 2006

The Visitors Centre - can anyone else see problems here?

EDDC proposes to sell its land to the developer when it gets planning permission. I have been asking "What about the Visitor's Centre" and the answer usually comes back "That will be vested in a charitable trust - trust us". However, I can't see this in black and white anywhere. Has anyone else found any reference to this?

Also, think on. Say the Visitor's Centre is vested in a charitable trust and say (we hope) it has the freehold of its building (for, if it doesn't, it's landlord will be whoever next buys the land from the developer which might be, say, the supermarket). Let's imagine that the entrance to that building is on the "Town Square" or on the side of the building facing the Underfleet. Who owns those bits of land? What happens if that owner wants to build or change that land? The supermarket could put up a "newspaper and coffee kiosk" with outdoor seating, and obscure the entrance to the visitors centre. Or the owner of the land to the side on the Underfleet could decide to plant large bushes (like those that now obscture the Tramway Terminus). And say we wanted to have an outdoor concert or other town event in this new prestigous sqaure - who would we have to ask for permission?

What if the Visitors Centre shares facilities with the Tramway (as has been suggested) or is run by the Tramway (as has also been suggested). Say they are short of staff one day - where should you put your remaining staff and why?

Not that simple, is it.

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