Classic quote from an EDDC councillor

The Sidmouth Herald of Friday 21 November 2008 leads with a story that Sidmouth Garden Centre were told (by email) by a senior EDDC officer that it would be OK for Riverdale Organics to have an annex there. The emails were copied to the Development Control Manager, Mr Belli, and to the Planning Department and, with apparently no negative response, the building and leasing of the annex etc then took place.

Sidmouth Garden Centre were then apparently told by EDDC planners - after Riverdale had moved in and started trading - that, in fact, they were in breach of planning regulations and the Riverdale store would have to close because the business is not "ancillary to the garden centre".

Head of Planning, Mrs Kate Little, is qyoted by the Sidmouth Herald as saying: "We have acknowledged the fault made in advice. We accept that it was wrong. Advice should always be in writing, formally, with the planning authority if you want to proceed". One would have thought that copying in the Head of Development Control and planning into an official email which generated no negative response would be formal enough.

The classic quote by EDDC Councillor Mrs Ann Liverton - a member of the EDDC Development Control Committee - also in the Sidmouth Herald:

"Members of the public don't understand this. They think if they call the council and get advice that what they are given is right".

Too right, Mrs Liverton, too right. And these are the people who hold Seaton's future in their hands.