Exmouth Town Councillors reject Pavilion on the Strand

EXMOUTH'S Pavilion on the Strand has been thrown into fresh controversy after Exmouth town councillors emphatically rejected the latest revised application. The town council's advice and comments – along with a petition against the new proposal, signed by 900 local people – will be passed on to East Devon District Council's planning department, who will make the final decision...

The vote to reject the application – amid renewed calls from the public for a referendum should EDDC wish to go ahead with the building – came during a packed and heated planning meeting at Exmouth's Town Hall on Monday night (19 December). 

Councillors described the proposed multi-functional glass building – now just a single-storey, reduced in height by 1.5 metres and incorporating a bus shelter, a performance backdrop and a retail sales or 'small-scale' catering space inside – as "inappropriate" and "unsympathetic" to the surrounding buildings, and "out of keeping" with the area. 

Concerns were also raised about collection of grey water, possible graffiti on the glass and sunlight dazzling passing traffic. In addition, councillors flagged up difficulties of refuse collection and access to the building's public toilets, created by changes to the original plans.

However two councillors were in favour of the revised proposal, one saying that the modern glass and steel structure was "brave" and "reflected the 21st Century", and flagging up the need for the building's associated performance space, following the recent Remembrance Sunday service (where few could see what was going on) and the Christmas Cracker (where a large stage had to be hired in).

Chaired by Lynn Elson, the Conservative member for Halsdon, the meeting began with six members of the public being allowed to express their views. These included Jacquie Haywood of Franklins Café – a long-standing and outspoken critic of the plans – and Geoff Morris, chairman of Exmouth Residents' Association.

Mrs Haywood reiterated her concerns that the proposed A3 use of the building (as a restaurant/café) would put great pressure on the Strand's current café and restaurant owners, and could endanger local jobs. Mr Morris flagged up the fact that the building was inappropriate alongside a listed War Memorial. And Richard Benford asked for assurances from the Council that a rumoured arrangement with Costa Coffee to run the proposed café had not been agreed. Councillors denied any involvement with the coffee chain.

After an hour of debate, the chair asked the councillors to vote. Two were in favour of the application, with eight against. And so, to the delight of many members of the public at the meeting, the application was rejected. For detailed views from Exmouth town councilors, and why they were for or against the Strand Pavilion, see: Pavilion on the Strand – Exmouth's town councillors speak out