Final Draft of ‘The Vision for Exmouth’

TheMasterplan is a Vision of building
work over the next 15-25 years, but it is also a vision of a built
environment that should last much longer.  the Masterplan needs to
take into account environmental changes that the government has projected
over the life time of the buildings, not
just over the life time of the building work. 


The Masterplan is silent on the risks
posed by sea level rise and other factors that will increase the risk of
flooding.  Government has set out clearly the increased risk of
flooding due to the combination of higher sea levels, storm surges, and
rainfall. Yet the Masterplan proposes various new buildings within the
area that is already in the Floodzone, and will be below the Annual High
Tide by 2100, according to the EA maps (which are not mentioned). 
The unwritten assumption is that the sea wall will be raised and the line
will be held, (except the Maer green area).  This assumption needs to be made explicit in
future, and the underlying assumptions should be explicit.
The Masterplan ought to include some
account of the likely form of the sea defences.
The next draft of the Masterplan should
also  explain that raising the sea defences by a metre will not fix
the problem for all time, as UK
Climate Projections give the sea level rising much faster by the time it
has risen a metre.
The Masterplan rightly emphasises the
importance of the connection with the sea and the estuary, in terms of
aesthetic and visual connections, and in terms of leisure and recreational
use.  However there is no mention of the challenge that will be
imposed by raised sea defences.   This deficit needs to be
addressed in the next draft of the Masterplan. 
The Masterplan fails to mention that the flood
defences are not and will not be infallible, and that on current official
estimates, some flooding may take place in these buildings, both now and
in the future.  The Masterplan should note that the ground floors of
new buildings should not be given planning permission for residential use,
because of the risk of flooding.  The Masterplan should set out what
uses are appropriate for buildings at risk of flooding.
At no point does the Masterplan even
mention the risk that properties in the lower lying will have to be
abandoned.  However there might be some merit in "thinking the
unthinkable" and discussing a "managed retreat" from some of the more at
risk areas. 
The
above amendments would offer a more realistic Vision for Exmouth.

from Henry Gent, Press Officer, East Devon Green Party (henry.gent@btinternet.com)

I have only recently been able to view the Exmouth Master Plan and must say it is most impressive. My only concern is the building of homes and offices in section D on estuary site. Please try to keep this open as a park to enhance the car park and estuary. It is very precious to those of us who love Exmouth.
Whilst I agree that we must improve Exmouth, I do feel that we should not forget the empty,shabby shops and gum covered pavements. Something must be done about these if we are to continue to be a tourist centre.