THE recession may be seeing public works being slashed all round the country, but with up to �15million of projects planned or already underway you would be forgiven for thinking that Exmouth is escaping the worst.

THE recession may be seeing public works being slashed all round the country, but with up to �15million of projects planned or already underway you would be forgiven for thinking that Exmouth is escaping the worst.With a dizzying list of projects, proposals and improvements, as the town attracts both public and private funding for leisure, arts and the environment, Exmouth is on the cusp of becoming a world-class 21st century holiday destination.And to mark this, East Devon District Council has produced a colour leaflet as cash-strapped British holidaymakers head towards the coast this summer to holiday at home.The leaflet charts the progress of major schemes including the multi-million-pound Harlequins bowling centre and RNLI lifeboat station and the enhancement of The Strand - to which the county council and EDDC have pledged �3million.A new �78,000 adventure playground at The Maer has been planned, while the �2.2 million Exe Estuary Cycle Trail opened last year.The projects coincide with a massive increase in summer pre-bookings in local holiday parks, with Crealy up 40 per cent on 2008, Ladram Bay up 130 per cent, Webbers in Woodbury up 20 per cent and Devon Cliffs up 25 per cent.And further improvements in the pipeline include a visitor centre, more retail units, extra town centre parking at the London Inn site - for which millions have been earmarked - and news that Rolle College will be transformed in a post-16 training centre.Councillor Peter Halse, chairman of Exmouth Regeneration Programme Board, said: "I'm delighted that there is so much to celebrate about the progress being made in Exmouth. "It shows that both public and private investors have great faith in the town's future and this can only be a good sign as Exmouth prepares to take a lead role in boosting East Devon's vibrant economy.