The briefing is scheduled for 4pm, this Wednesday, 30th October, at Knowle. It will not, of course, be open to the public. EDDC insists, however, that it is open and transparent about the Knowle relocation plans.
The SIN blog has more on this subject, at http://sidmouthindependentnews.wordpress.com Councillor collective amnesia (3 posts on 25th Oct )
Mike Temple of the Knowle Residents’ Association, said:
“Chairman, cllrs,
Would I be right in saying that many of you support the Devon Historic Houses Trust?
In which case are you aware of the recently published book of The Knowle launched last week, describing a site with the richest and most important history of any in this town?
Are you aware, for instance, that many interior features survive of this former hotel building that was described by the Ministry of Housing and Local Government in the nineteen fifties as “of outstanding historical interest” (p49)?
And are you aware (again I quote) that “over the years Knowle has hosted many civic events and the large reception rooms are still in use by many local groups” – for concerts, religious services and wedding receptions, for instance – and that “such a venue will be hard to replace”(p66).
And are cllrs also aware that, in the East Devon Open Space Report last year, Knowle’s grounds, including the fine prospect from its upper lawns, is singled out, along with only Killerton and Connaught Gardens, as of special importance, to be preserved and enhanced?
Would cllrs now agree that it would be an act of civic vandalism to destroy our precious heritage, deprive us of a valued community asset and also spoil our splendid park by demolishing this building and allowing development south into the gardens as far as the listed Gothic folly beyond the edge of the fine lawned prospect?
The question from SOS Chair, referred to in our earlier post today, is published here in full, for your information:
“Chairman, thank you for allowing me to ask a question. I am the Chair of “Save Our Sidmouth” and also of the Sid Vale Conservation and Planning Committee.
About two weeks ago I received a copy of an email sent, in early October, by Cllr Diviani to about 100 people. The email was about budget cuts. In that email he said that
“The Ottery Councillor and her allies in the political opposition groups EDA / SOS are running campaigns which simply do not deal in the facts, invariably giving half a misinformed, (sic), story and making no useful or positive contribution to the debate”
I, on behalf of SOS, wrote to Cllr Diviani.
I explained that SOS is a totally non-political umbrella grouping of organisations in Sidmouth, including the Sid Vale Association, the Sidmouth Chamber of Commerce, the Sidmouth Hospitality Association, and other non political bodies. We have not and do not comment on political issues, nor on any possible budget cuts. All these issues are beyond our remit.
I explained that SOS do oppose certain proposals contained in the Local Plan and those which would desecrate the Knowle, but any comments and objections SOS makes are to the Council as the originating authority for these proposals. All SOS comments and objections, none of them “political”, are based on facts, not on “half a misinformed story”.
In view of this, and the fact that the email had been sent to a number of people, I asked for the withdrawal of his comments and allegations, that we are political in nature, do not deal in the facts, and that we are allies of Councillors.
Cllr Diviani in an email from EDDC, using his full Council credentials, (and many more!), refused to apologise, saying that he stood by his comments, and was entitled to his opinion.
Of course he is entitled to his opinions, and if he keeps them private to himself, then we have no objection. But it is a different matter when these are offensive in their implications and inappropriate from a man in his position and also not kept to himself but sent to over 100 other people.
Since Cllr Diviani has rejected our complaint, we have to pursue the issue more widely.
Consequently my questions to you, the Chairman are;-
• Do you approve of Cllr Diviani’s words and views as regards SOS?
• Do they represent the views of the EDDC?
If not, will you put the record straight?”
Save Our Sidmouth