Rejection South Seafront Scheme

Shock as £15m regeneration dream rejected

Front page Headlines in the

local Evening Star Paper dated 14 July 2004 by Richard Cornwall

The  press report of the Council area development control sub Committee's rejection by six votes to three of the scheme  and contains many revealing facts concerning the future of Felixstowe's South Seafront regeneration. The discussion revealed the truth that has been stated by objectors all along. That:-

In no way could it be described  as "a major open-air activity park" to attract visitors  - and claimed that village playing fields had more to offer. Too much housing, serious concerns about traffic and the proposed amphitheatre and no guarantee for use of the Martello tower which was supposed to be the sites focal point. Councillors  identified  several ways it breached their own policy and said they must stick to the local plan not waive it when it suits them, "not one rule for the district council and a different rule for someone else." The houses were the dominant feature  and the park reduced to a strip of land beside the sea wall.  Traffic congestion  fears were that  730 spaces would be removed and replaced  by 217  for 50,000 visitors!  Councillor Dot Paddick  said that resident's views had been  consistently ignored and the scheme was "marred by profit and greed"

Mike Jones solicitor for the Save South Seafront Soak away Group put forward 12 breaches of the local plan and afterwards said "common sense prevailed."

Councillor Mike Ninnmey said " the decision has restored my faith in local government."

Cabinet Member Responsible  for the project Andy Smith was "surprised and distraught"

Thoughts

Council Officers concerned  with getting the project through are still not listening ! Will further tax payers money be wasted  on  councillors personal  preferences? The independence of the sub committee is indeed to be applauded, but the amazing standpoint of the two Tories who are reported to have said the scheme should go ahead because basically it was "better than nothing" cast's a worrying shadow over local politics.