Major Devon town opts for middle road with improvement project

One of Devon’s major towns looks set to propose a middle way forward for its prospective improvement plan with the most ambitious version deemed less viable.

Long-running discussions have occurred about improving the experience of navigating Exmouth town centre – for both residents and tourists – and updating existing public spaces in areas such as Beach Gardens and Queen’s Drive Space.
But progress has been slow with uncertainty around how to proceed.
Now, the Placemaking in Exmouth Town and Seafront (PETS) group has been told by planners that the ‘moderate’ version of the plan looks to be the most viable.
This would improve the likes of signage in the town to help residents and visitors navigate the centre better, as well as the route from the town to the beach, while seeking to improve public areas and open spaces that Exmouth already has.
This is seen as the preferred option, and better than the ‘minimum’ alternative but not as ambitious as the ‘maximum’ proposal.
The ‘maximum’ option included the idea of creating new spaces and destinations through “transformative projects” and even creating “new development opportunities.
Residents will get a chance to offer their feedback before the year is out, with a public consultation, in person and online, at some point in November or December most likely in Exmouth Town Hall.
Responses will be reviewed in January and February next year, then sent to Exmouth Town Council and Devon County Council for their approval in March, with East Devon’s prospective sign off in April.
Councillor Nick Hookway (Liberal Democrat, Exmouth Littleham), the chair of PETS, acknowledged progress had been slow but this update represented “progress”.
“It has taken a long time, but as I have mentioned before, it’s about due process and this particular report is absolutely crucial to the process of getting this placemaking plan adopted in the spring of next year.”
Councillor Anne Hall (Liberal Democrat, Exmouth Littleham) said connecting the so-called gateway, where the train station is located, through to the town centre, then Manor Gardens and the beach is an issue that “has come up again and again”.
She suggested one easy way to improve the journey between those parts of the town would be to automate pedestrian crossings, and coordinate their timing so that less traffic congestion built up.
Cllr Hookway said he agreed, but also noted that securing funding from Devon County Council could be challenging in the context of squeezed budgets.
He added that money had been available for a plan to improve the gateway area, but that a majority of residents voted against the proposals, which included filling in the subway under the road.