Planning Application Thought for the Day - Tuesday
The Environmental Assessment says that the (very small) visitors centre might attract some 250,000 visitors per year. The tramway should attract more than 100,000 visitors a year (as it does now). And the Wetlands Centre – 30,000 visitors a year. Now, let's say that a quarter of those people visit two attractions: that means that the wetlands centre would actually be attracting about 22,500 extra vistiors to the town. The planning application's Environmental Impact Assessment, section 6.65, page 82 says:
“The implementation of the Seaton wetland nature reserve and the visitor numbers that are anticipated would therefore represent a slight beneficial impact on the town’s economy.”
So – all that Section 106 money that SHOULD be going to community AND all the money EDDC will pour into buying up the land for the wetlands project will result in SLIGHT benefits. Why is this being done - at the expense of losing 90% of our overnight tourist beds?
posted by Fighting for East Devon's future @ 9:51 am
3 Comments:
I believe the figure of 250,000 visitors to the visitors centre comes from the original documents for the visitors centre. If so it assumes a larger visitors centre that currently proposed. In addition it will have assumed that Seaton still had its tourist beds. So how many fewer visitors will will we get with nowhere for them to stay and a smaller visitors centre?
a wetlands project will attract visitors to Seaton out of season. Birders will visit a wetland all year round. If a rare bird appears then considerably more visitors will arrive. It is a good project for Seaton - but not good enough to compensate for the loss of Seaton's tourist beds. It is also a project that can easily attract fiunding from other sources. It does not need Section 106 money - even some EDDC staff will tell you that!
I also think the wetlands project is a good one - so good it can stand on its own two feet.
And let's not forget that the holiday camp is also a year round tourist attractor. If it were upgraded, many birdwatchers might well stay there if they sight a rare bird. As it is, they will need a tent!
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