Save Our Sidmouth


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SOS in favour of plans for a ‘Jurassic’ National Park

In an interview this evening for Spotlight TV,  Sid Vale Association Chair Alan Darrant, of Save Our Sidmouth,  made the following comparison. For National Parks, he said, the first priority is the countryside, whereas ” EDDC’s stated first priority is development”.

Representatives of Sidmouth’s Chamber of Commerce, Hospitality Association and Vision Group for Sidmouth (all part of SOS), have also variously expressed enthusiasm.  And senior local Councillors are interested in assessing the economic and environmental  benefits of a possible new National Park spanning East Devon and Dorset. (More information at http://futuresforumvgs.blogspot.co.uk/search?q=National+Park)

Due to present EDDC  and Government policy, East Devon’s AONB is steadily shrinking, and irreplaceable agricultural land is being sacrificed to developers. Perhaps it is time to consider whether  ‘economic and environmental benefits’ are not mutually exclusive?


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Spotlight TV interview with SOS this evening (6.30pm), about call for ‘Jurassic’ National Park

Sid Vale Association Chair, Alan Darrant,  who is also a leading member of Save Our Sidmouth, will give his views on the proposal for a new National Park linking  East Devon and Dorset’s Areas of Outstanding Natural Beauty.

The SVA, the UK’s very first environmental group, are well-respected champions for the protection of AONBs. They are founder members of the Save Our Sidmouth campaign, along with the Sidmouth Chamber of Commerce; the Sidmouth Hospitality Association; and the Vision Group for Sidmouth  (https://visionforsidmouth.org ) 


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EDDC Leader tells Radio Devon, we “do not want or need” a new National Park

On this morning’s BBC Breakfast Radio programme, Councillor Paul Diviani stated his opinion that East Devon’s Areas of Outstanding Beauty would not benefit from closer links with those in Dorset, in the creation of a ‘Jurassic’ National Park.  Tonight’s Cabinet meeting (5.30, Knowle) is due to reiterate that opinion.

Some on the District Council do not necessarily agree, however (See Councillors call for proper debate SOS post, 7th June). And Dorset is firmly in favour of the National Park proposal (See http://futuresforumvgs.blogspot.co.uk/search?q=National+Park )

The debate continues this evening, from 6.30 on Spotlight TV  (Details at next SOS post today)