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Dinosaur theme park could stay for 3 years

Councillors want Exmouth to stay attractive during redevelopment

East Devon District Council had submitted plans to continue the temporary uses on the site until March 2020, as planning permission for the use of the lands expires in March 2019.

The council’s own plans though were withdrawn on Monday, sparking fears over the future of the seafront.

But Cllr Philip Skinner, Chairman of Exmouth Regeneration Board, has confirmed to the Local Democracy Reporting Service that the council has resubmitted the plans to cover the period until March 2022.

Cllr Skinner added: “We have taken the decision to apply for temporary planning permission for Queen’s Drive Space for longer than just one year. We have therefore withdrawn the existing application and resubmitted the application for a three year period.

“The Exmouth Regeneration Board has unanimously agreed that it makes eminent sense that as there is only the ability to apply for temporary use applications twice, we give ourselves the most flexibility to deliver our phasing without being compromised through the planning process.

“With some more flexibility over time allowed for temporary uses, we can balance the phasing in of permanent developments, with the continuation of the popular interim uses that worked well in 2018 such as the free play space and food and drink offer.  That way the seafront stays active and attractive while fresh developments.”

A planning statement, submitted by Alison Hayward, senior manager for regeneration and economic development for the council, adds: “The aim of the application is to allow the temporary uses to continue until the redevelopment takes place. This will avoid the site being unused and derelict in the period before it is development and provide a good mix of high quality attractions for both visitors and residents.

“The temporary uses of the site were well received by the public during summer 2018 and it is therefore the council’s intention to continue them.”

As per this summer, three distinct zones will be provided within the Queen’s Drive space. It will once again include a food and drink space, which may be used for live music, the play space which includes the dinosaur-themed play park, and the zone that will show live cinema screening, music, and outdoor theatre.

Similar conditions as to what were imposed for this summer in terms of noise and finishing time will once again be stipulated.

Cllr Skinner added: “Queen’s Drive Space has been hugely popular with the public this summer as demonstrated by the response to our Queen’s Drive user survey.

“The decision to put on a programme of events was a new venture for the council and was very successful in terms of attendance and appreciation of what was on offer. Excellent reviews were received from people either at the time of the events or on-line afterwards.  The events included film screenings, theatre performances and free live music.

“In the meantime, work is progressing on site with the delivery of Phase 1, the new road and car park, which will enable work to commence on Phase 2, the Watersports centre in summer 2019.”

The news comes as Wayne Hemingway, Design Consultant for Phase 3 of the Queen’s Drive redevelopment, at a meeting last week organised by the council to remarket the plans, said that a proposal submitted by Save Exmouth Seafront – called ‘The Exmouth Egg’ – for special praise.

He said that he ‘liked the idea’ and added that a key element of the proposal for the Arts space would be amazing for the project and the seafront as a whole, Nick Hookway, chairman of Save Exmouth Seafront said.

Their idea that The Exmouth Egg project will be a vibrant focal point for residents and visitors on Queen’s Drive and a hub for the entire seafront.

Facilities as part of the Exmouth project could include:

  • A Biome, similar to that used in the Eden Project, but on a smaller scale and decorated to suggest the top half of a cracked dinosaur egg from the Jurassic period. This biome could provide a flexible space to allow a range of activities that would suit the season and the weather and could in part be used as a meeting place, a work hub, a venue for artistic performances, community groups, crèche, playgroups and so on.
  • A viewing tower within the structure of the biome
  • An Ecology area which would showcase locally grown flowers, shrubs and trees for which the area has a national reputation
  • A puzzle area which could include games, such as open air chess set with seating designed to encourage participation and cooperation
  • A fitness area, which might be suitable for activities which could benefit all users of the Exmouth Egg, regardless of age, condition or disability
  • A Mini Lido specifically designed for people with limited and/or severe mobility issues.

Mr Hookway added that the Exmouth Egg would be a public open space that would provide a calm environment to promote wellbeing, provide a safe environment for young children away from traffic, and available to all, regardless of age, gender, ethnicity and disability.

The co-design survey to get input from residents and visitors in Exmouth to uncover what people wanted from Queen’s Drive and the seafront ran over the summer, with key themes of an attractive place for the young, old and in-between to spend leisure time together and a preference for more active evening events and recreational opportunities as well as creating relaxing and inspiring places to eat and drink throughout the day and evening, being revealed.

It was also clear that the current temporary play area, with seating, pop-up food and drink stalls and a bar – the Queen’s Drive Space which East Devon District Council opened in May – was hugely popular and the majority of respondents would like elements of this to become a permanent feature.

Mr Hemingway added: “From the phenomenal response we’ve received, it’s clear that people are passionate about the site and have wanted to share their views and ideas.  We’re looking forward to the next stage of the process, working further with the people of Exmouth and East Devon District Council to create a destination that enhances Exmouth as a place to live, work and visit.”

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