The Full Council meeting at Knowle this evening began with five clearly-reasoned questions from the public. For Save our Sidmouth, Richard Thurlow (Chair), Richard Eley, and Jeremy Woodward made eloquent challenges to Deputy Chief Executive Richard Cohen’s calculations for the office relocation project he is in charge of. For Knowle Residents’ Association, Michael Temple asked three brief questions, including one about the seemingly surreptitious extension of the surface area to be sold at the Knowle site.
A fifth question, from Dr John Withrington (East Devon Alliance), asked when the Local Plan would be ready. He received no proper answer.
Of the seven Sidmouth Councillors present, only three spoke during the meeting (Cllrs Graham Troman, Stuart Hughes, and Chris Wale.) SOS will give a fuller account in the next few days, but Graham Troman’s input is reported here: http://eastdevonalliance.org/2014/12/17/full-council-votes-for-full-checks-and-balances-on-relocation-costs-which-were-going-to-happen-anyway/
Category Archives: Knowle Watch
On what basis will District Councillors vote this week, on the office relocation project?
EDDC’s office relocation project is on the agenda this Wednesday (17th December) for the last Full Council Meeting of the year. How well-informed councillors are about this doubtfully chameleon project, is of serious concern. One example is illustrated here: http://eastdevonalliance.org/2014/12/14/how-much-of-knowle-is-up-for-sale-do-councillors-really-know/
More on the subject here: https://saveoursidmouth.com/2014/12/11/feedback-from-public-open-meeting-with-sidmouth-district-councillors-called-by-sid-vale-association/
Feedback from Public Open Meeting with Sidmouth District Councillors, called by Sid Vale Association
Knowle relocation, and the proposed Sidford Fields Business Park (Local Plan) were the topics for an exchange of views between District Council representatives for the Sidmouth area, and the public packed into the hall on Tuesday evening (9th Dec). Of the seven Councillors invited by organisers, Sid Vale Association, only one was unable to attend due to another engagement.
The meeting was diplomatically chaired by SVA Chair, Alan Darrant, who requested that the tone of the evening’s discussion should reflect “light rather than heat”. Councillors Christine Drew, Sheila Kerridge, Frances Newth,Peter Sullivan and Chris Wale, were invited to speak first. The many questions from the floor included some from Richard Thurlow, on behalf of Save our Sidmouth, challenging the financial and energy saving basis of the office relocation project; and one from Prospective Parliamentary Candidate for East Devon, Councillor Claire Wright, about spiralling costs and secrecy of the relocation plan process.
More detailed reports at these links:
http://eastdevonalliance.org/2014/12/10/last-nights-meeting-with-sidmouth-district-councillors/
http://eastdevonalliance.org/2014/12/11/the-excellent-move-to-knowle/
http://eastdevonalliance.org/2014/12/11/power-and-absolute-power/
Save Our Sidmouth 