Pavilion on the Strand – Exmouth's town councillors speak out

ON MONDAY night, Exmouth town councillors rejected the revised application for the Pavilion on the Strand. Here are some of their views about the controversial building, and what they think will happen now…

Bill Nash, the Conservative councillor for Littleham, was in favour of the Pavilion going ahead. Speaking to Exmouth People after the meeting, he said, "We did not want a two-storey building… it would have been too dominant. Single storey is much better. The design is different, it's modern, quite futuristic and actually will blend in very well with the mixture of the 19th and 20th century buildings there. I think when visitors and all our holiday makers we rely upon will come into The Strand and will say, 'That's an interesting building… look at that!' And that's what we want, and that's why I supported it.

"We need a stage there, for example when we have a memorial service there. We've got the Queen's Diamond Jubilee coming up, and when you've got that sort of public event, you need something, but I think a lot of people are thinking, 'Oh God, this is going to be like the performance stage in the Manor Gardens. They're going to have groups, bands and pop concerts.' No, that's not what it's for."

Councillor Nash wasn't disappointed that the proposal was rejected. "I was pleased to see a democracy happening in Exmouth," he said. "I was so pleased that so many people came along… the greatest number of people we've had for years coming along to a planning meeting. It was great, and people said what they felt. OK, I might disagree, but at the end of the day, I'm pleased that the right decision – the one people wanted – was taken. No problem."

Not the right place or the right thing

Trevor Cope, the Independent councillor for Brixington, was against the proposal. "And I will continue to reject it as well," he said. "I don't think it's the right place or the right thing. I don't think that there's a lot of difference between this proposal and the previous one. The size of the thing and the design are not suitable for the area where it's in. The Strand is a public open space. There should remain some space, which clearly there isn't if this thing is in there.

"I'm not too sure of the reason behind the performance area. The performance area is actually in the right place in the Manor Gardens, and is used by the town band and other performers throughout the Festival and other times. That's a much more sensible place to have it because it's recognised as such. It's the perfect place for it, and it's where it should be.

"I didn't see the point of the extra staging. We've had the Remembrance Services in the Strand for as long as I can remember. We haven't bothered to bring in extra staging and things in. We've managed to deal with the issue relating to where the vicar stands, and so on, without having to elevate them or change them, so I'm not quite sure why we needed to bring in staging this time, but I guess somebody decided we needed to and therefore did it. I don't quite get it, but that's the decision of that particular committee, so be it.

"At the moment I think rejection of the proposal is the best solution. The Town Council has made a decision to reject it, and that is the key in my view. Unfortunately I don't think that will make much difference to EDDC. There's a lot more to do. There will be something on that site. It's just a question of what and when…"

A sympathetic building

Alison Greenhalgh, the Conservative councillor for Littleham, was in favour of the proposal.

"I think it's a building that would be sympathetic with the new development in the Strand," she said. "It would finish it off, draw the whole thing together and would bring regeneration to Exmouth. I'm very keen for the performance stage because if you haven't got a proper stage it's difficult to see what's going on at events like the Christmas Cracker and the Memorial Service. It would definitely enhance those occasions.

"I wasn't surprised that the application was rejected because it was rejected previously. There are two aspects. There are people not liking the architecture and what the building will eventually be used for.

"The problem with it is that it's a matter of taste. Some people are quite traditional in what they like. Other people have different ideas as to what's appropriate. I quite like modern art and modern architecture and I think it can be sympathetic and you can have both styles alongside each other. I think we should have some architecture in Exmouth that is more modern and reflects the 21st century. We mustn't try and reproduce architecture from previous centuries.

"I don't think it's disrespectful of the memorial. This was mentioned at the meeting, that the Strand should be a garden of remembrance. I'm sure that's not the intention and it wouldn't have been the intention of those people who were killed during wars. Surely they would be wanting The Strand to be used in a positive way?

"As for what the building is going to be used for… Right from the beginning it was decided that they would need to look at the Strand to be an area that could be funded. One of the main ways of funding the Strand and keeping it up to a very good standard of cleanliness was to get revenue from that building, and that has been a bit of a sticking point.

"There's also the whole issue of the Strand and the number of cafes. Recently two cafes have opened – the Deli on the Strand and Shakers – and nobody mentioned those. They didn't cause any problems at all."

The right thing

Stephen Wragg, the Lib Dem councillor for Withycombe, rejected the proposal. "I think the Committee did the right thing, given the information that they had. Quite frankly we're going to end up getting it whether the public like it or not because it's something that the officers at EDDC and DCC want. I think this is very much officer-driven.

"What I find very strange – and unbusiness-like – is that they seem to be putting up a building and then they are going to go out and find out if anyone actually wants to occupy it. To me, I'd go out and find out if anyone was actually interested in it first before I built it, and perhaps build it to their spec.

"My concern is that they say it's multi-purpose. Firstly it's going to be primarily retail, because that's a retail area. Why would it want to be open seven days a week, from 8am to midnight, plus Bank Holidays? The other concern I have is that they went primarily for only one use, which is A3. The officers at Devon County Council are saying 'A is A. What does it matter? A1, A2 and A3 are pretty much the same.' They are not. Although you can change from A3 down to A1 or A2 – that comes under permitted development rights – you couldn't automatically change to food and drink – A3. You'd have to go through a change of use."

So what now?

Following Monday's night decision, the application will now be reconsidered by the development committee at EDDC and DCC.

"What happens then is anyone's guess," said Councillor Cope, "because there were requests on Monday night for a referendum. Referenda are exceptionally expensive and cumbersome. The Chief Executive at East Devon will do everything within his power to make certain that there's no expenditure made for a referenda in Exmouth. He told us previously that, 'It was a decided question'. I think that's the way in which they will look at it again. A decision will be made by the development management committee and it will be put as a decided question, which means you can't do very much about it.

"The difficulty with the planning system as it presently stands is that there is no way you can appeal against a decision unless you're the person who has put the planning application in. The system works in that direction and has always been that way and the Government will not alter that… That's the way appeals work. They work against the council and against the people who are attempting to stop any action. So the only person who can appeal is, in fact, the person who put the application in in the first place.

"In this case it would Devon County Council, and I can't see East Devon District Council going against Devon County Council's plans.

"But the Town Council has made a statement, and we stand by that statement. The thing is too big, in the wrong place and inappropriate for that particular position. That's where I am, and I think that's where a number of other people are as well."

What are your views about the Strand Pavilion? Do we really need it? Should it still go ahead? If so what should it be? Post your views here...