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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.

Wednesday, January 02, 2008

New Year resolution

My New Year Resolution is to keep plugging away at all those organizations (EDDC, DCC, SWRDA and others) who resolutely seem to want to believe that either Seaton does not exist, or, if it does, needs no help from them. We need their help, they are supposed to be there to help us - we pay our taxes so that they can help us.

I sit and watch coastal towns around us improve in leaps and bounds. West Bay is now about to attract another celebrity chef, Lyme has had so much investment from Dorset County Council it makes me want to weep, other coastal towns in Devon and Cornwall have dragged themselves up by the bootstraps and have become attractive tourist venues.

And poor Seaton? Fifty - maybe a hundred - years of non-investment. Now designated as one of twelve towns in Devon which needs extra help because of its deprivation, particularly worklessness. No community facilities - no youth club (though thanks to Councillor Sophie O'Connell at least a youth venue at The Grove), no community centre, no arts facility, no indoor sports facility - even only one football pitch for more than a dozen teams (so bad that home games have to be played in Sidford!).

It's no use bemoaning how or why we got to this situation - we have to get out of it. But we can't do it alone (how I wish that we could!). So, each and every one of us has to badger those whose job it is to help us to ensure that they do.

Let's start with Devon County Council. They now have the £48 million windfall from the sale of Exeter Airport. So, DCC - you are responsible for youth in this town - let's see you wheedle out of that one. And you own the road on the seafront which we want to have pedestrianised. What's the excuse this time.

Get out your pens and write to EVERYONE who needs to know that Seaton is here and that Seaton wants action!

2 Comments:

At 9:38 am, Anonymous Anonymous said...

A great new year resolution ifever I heard one!

These things can't just be left to the 8 new councillors. They have a hard enough job as it is...

The people of Seaton need to shout too...

 
At 6:43 pm, Anonymous Anonymous said...

I fully agree with all the sentiments expressed. Its never much fun being the poor relation.But to whom should the message be sent? Is there a person or organisation who can be lobbied individually or by groups to try to get Seaton its fair share?

 

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