Plea for creativity as residents scrutinise Exmouth improvement plan

A plea for creativity has emerged as residents have scrutinised an updated proposal aimed at improving Exmouth town centre.

The Exmouth Placemaking Plan, which focuses on the town and seafront, has identified five objectives as part of efforts to bolster the town’s potential.
Residents got the chance to scrutinise the proposals in person this week, the second such opportunity in recent weeks as part of a consultation process that continues until Tuesday 16 December.
“I’m not so much concerned with the ‘place’ aspect of the plan but with the people aspect,” said Cliff Gorman.
“It takes creatives and entrepreneurs to drive economic growth and support businesses, and so where are the creatives going to come from to do this plan?”.
Mr Gorman, who is part of Exmouth Altogether, a community organisation campaigning for a creative hub in the town, said it was through creativity that the town’s improvement plan could come to life.
“Take signage,” he said.
“The plan proposes improving signage around the town to help residents and visitors navigate it better, but it would be good to employ creative people from the locality to do this rather than just have normal, plain signs.
“This plan is about a vision, but a vision requires people.”
The plan’s official goals include supporting the development of sites in the town centre and on the seafront, making it easier for visitors in particular to find their way around, and improve so-called ‘meanwhile’ uses such as temporary businesses or events in spaces that aren’t occupied all year round.
An area of focus is also the so-called station gateway at the town’s railway station.
Diane Tillotson also visited Exmouth town hall this week to look at the plan.
“Some of it is good and some of it is not,” she said.
“I want more signage in the town as people come out of the train station, and there’s nothing to tell them where the bus station is, and people ask where the town centre is as there’s nothing to tell them.”
Ms Tillotson said she liked Beach Gardens “especially because of the work by Exmouth in Bloom”, and so “definitely want that keeping”.
One of the main aims in the plan is to “transform Beach Gardens car park into a public space for temporary activities and cultural programming as part of a wider redesign of the Beach Gardens / Queens Drive Space public realm”.
Another resident, who gave her name as Coral, queried this aspect.
“If they want to use the Beach Gardens car park for temporary activities, where will people park who want to attend them,” she asked.
She added that she also wanted the town’s history and heritage to be protected.
“It’s such a lovely town and we don’t want it ruined, so we will need to think carefully,” she said.
However, she noted she was pleased that a prospective multi-storey car park, in a previous iteration of the plan, had been removed for the updated version.
Coral backed the move for more signage in the town, though.“I helped a wandering tourist the other day who was trying to get to the seafront,” she said.
“There aren’t enough signs.”
Another resident, who did not want to be named, simple said: “I’m hoping the plan brings about change.
“People need to see change, and there are some good proposals here, but anything significant will cost money and there doesn’t seem to be any money.”
While East Devon District Council has identified sources of potential funding for the plan, it has not yet secured any cash.
However, those behind the plan have stated that improvement plans need to be created before bids for funding are submitted.
Councillor Nick Hookway (Liberal Democrat, Exmouth LIttleham), East Devon District Council’s culture and tourism portfolio holder, said: “This final stage of consultation gives everyone in Exmouth the chance to help shape how the seafront and town will evolve in the years ahead.
“The placemaking plan brings together a wide range of ideas from previous engagements including improving gateways and public spaces along with the aim of supporting walking, cycling, cultural events as well as encouraging local businesses.
“Please take this opportunity to have your say on the projects that matter most to you.”
Residents can still make their views known via the council’s online consultation, open until 11am on Tuesday 16 December.