Exmouth seafront plans delayed again

A report on phase 3 was expected to be published this summer.

Although not initially on September’s agenda, it was brought forward at the last minute so that they could meet that month and receive the latest information, with a report to come to the October cabinet meeting outling the current position and a timetable of next steps.

Explaining why it was adding as an urgent item, Cllr Ben Ingham, leader of the council, said that had they waited until the next meeting, it would have caused a further delay in progressing the plans.

But the cabinet agenda for tonight’s meeting (Wednesday 2nd October) does not include any items on the Queen’s Drive project. A council spokesman has said though a public engagement event will take place in November.

They said: “A cabinet report will come forward later on regarding progress and next steps on the delivery of Queen’s Drive Phase 3. A public engagement event will be taking place in November led by Hemingway Design who have been leading on a new vision for the Queen’s Drive site.  More information on this will come forward shortly.”

Consultation with the public was undertaken by HemingwayDesign in the summer of 2018 and it was hoped and expected by senior councillors that their report on the options for phase 3 would have been published this summer, but that date has passed.

Phase 1 of the Queen’s Drive project, the realignment of the road and the new car park, was completed in June.

Phase 2, the new watersports centre, is set to open in time for the summer of 2020, and the hoardings have been installed around the new, upcoming watersports development, Sideshore.

The hoarding was designed by Anna Fitzgerald a local artist living and working in Exmouth, and more recently at Powderham Castle, who celebrates nature and wildlife through her unique and vibrant paintings.

Anna has been working closely with five local schools including; St Joseph’s Catholic Primary School, Littleham C of E Primary School, and Exmouth Community College to produce striking images of local wildlife, in particular birds.

As well as the watersports centre, other tenants currently confirmed for the include Edge Watersports and a restaurant run by local and renowned award-winning celebrity chef, Michael Caines.

Phase 3 will see a mixed use leisure area provided on the seafront and a report is planned to come forward with more details on the outcome of the work of Hemingway Design and Lambert Smith Hampton and advising on a timetable of next steps to a future meeting of East Devon District Council’s cabinet.

The cabinet’s next meeting is set to take place on October 30, with a meeting on November 27 also scheduled.