Campaigners have hit out at plans for a watersports centre as a ‘major threat’ to Exmouth seafront and urged residents to ‘stop this Trojan horse in its tracks’.
Save Exmouth Seafront (SES) claims Grenadier Estates’ proposals for a two-storey water sports centre, featuring a café and a restaurant, will have a ‘significant’ impact and cause wide-ranging issues.
The group worries planning approval for the Queen’s Drive site would set the tone for the town for the next century and send a clear message to other developers.
An SES spokesman said: “This planning application represents a major threat to Exmouth Seafront in its present unspoilt, natural form.
“The proposed design will have a significant impact, in terms of access, visual amenity and environmental issues.
“If successful, this application will also signal a move to a more commercialised and therefore exclusive use of the seafront.
“Residents are urged to study this planning application which will set the tone for Exmouth seafront for the next 100 years. If this application is approved, will it also send a clear message to other developers?
“SES wonders if residents really want to see such changes to our unique seafront.
“SES therefore encourages all residents to object to this application and stop this Trojan horse in its tracks.”
If approved, the site will be defined as two areas. The west of the plot will be a two-storey building for café and restaurant facilities. The east side will have a watersports zone with wet changing, training, storage and space for retail or other sea-based activities.
The watersports zone will also have timber-ramped access to the beach and there will be a raised decking to ‘define the promenade’ from the centre and café building.
The development represents the second of East Devon District Council’s (EDDC) three-phase regeneration scheme for Queen’s Drive.
Peter Quincey, director of Grenadier Estates, told the Journal last week: “Following the submission of our planning application, we are excited to be moving towards a construction phase of the project.”
The scheme has so far had three letters of objection and two in support on EDDC’s planning portal.
The authority will decide the fate of the application.
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