Splash design with numbers

Final proposals for the regeneration of Exmouth seafront will be filed next month.

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More than 500 residents, businesses, organisations and visitors had their say on the Exmouth Splash proposals between November last year and last month.

This week, district council bosses released the results – and the views are mixed

The questionnaires returned to East Devon District Council (EDDC) had views on proposals for play and recreation areas, a water sports hub, new cafés and restaurants and re-aligning Queen’s Drive.

When asked for a ‘general opinion’ 52 per cent said they did like the overall proposals and 41 per cent said they did not.

Seven per cent did not express a preference either way.

A council spokesman said that the most popular parts of the ‘Exmouth Splash’ proposal were the watersports hub, moving the road and Exmouth ‘needing to develop and move on’.

Of those people who didn’t like the proposal, the main concern was that Exmouth would lose its natural character and open seafront, and it would look the same as all other seaside towns.

Some also said that the facilities already there should simply be re-furbished.

He said that EDDC councillors and officers were studying the responses carefully to see how they might help shape the final planning application for ‘Exmouth Splash’, due to be submitted in March.

“We are grateful that so many people took the time to give us their detailed thoughts about the Exmouth Splash proposal and how it might be improved,” said Councillor Andrew Moulding, chairman of the Exmouth Regeneration Programme Board.

“In most cases there is a wide range of views and comments made about each of the proposed developments.

“Some are in favour, some are against.

“At each end of the spectrum, some want us to just get on with it, while others believe everything should be left as it is.

“This means we have some hard choices ahead to make Exmouth Splash the best it can be.

“We are still studying the detail closely before deciding how to shape the final proposal. We will incorporate as many suggestions as we can, although clearly it looks like we can’t satisfy everyone.”

Detailed responses to the consultation are now published and can be seen on-line at www.eastdevon.gov.uk/exmouthsplashconsultationreport