Rockfish restaurant to open in Sidmouth

It was a pleasure to meet up with both Karl Hancock Chief Exec and Joe Bulmer Editor of Sidmouth's very own online newspaper Nub News who asked if I'd be willing to contribute to this very exciting new initiative. Welcome to this, my very first 'Hughes Report'.

East Devon's Cabinet met this week and made what must surely be the right decision in agreeing that their preferred bidder for the Drill Hall site Rockfish-ticks all the boxes and this must surely be a win win for Sidmouth.

Their Exmouth site is fabulous, using sustainably caught fish, local where possible and in Sidmouth with the Bagwells local fishmongers they won't need to look too far. As the proposal from the preferred bidder is a sympathetic renovation of The Drill Hall, it gives an excellent opportunity for the fishing heritage of Sidmouth to play a prominent role, and will also fit in nicely with the annual SeaFest event, as a further incentive for people to visit Sidmouth.

At the meeting I asked a question of the leader of the council if he would assure me that the premium from the sale of the Drill Hall will be ring fenced towards the much needed Beach Management Plan project which had been previously proposed as one of the benefits of the sale & also to re-visit a low level rock revetment scheme to help dissipate the wave action from pounding the base of the cliffs twice a day and stem the rate of erosion.

I was informed that the premium couldn't be ring fenced and would go into central pot, but I'm hoping the low level revetment will be looked at as I believe the proposal on the table at present is a tough financial hurdle to overcome.

As cabinet member for Highways Management on Devon County Council I have been working with our bridge engineers at County Hall to see if we could provide a temporary bridge across the Sid at Fortescue that the Environment Agency would agree to while South West Water carry out work on their sewage plant.

I'm pleased to say we have now found the solution which I'm sure the residents and young people who use this route to college and other schools will welcome.

It will also be good news for the many visitors / walkers/ cyclists who use this route across the River Sid to reach the Byes and go into town.

Once South West Water has completed its work the County Council will be installing a new permanent bridge which I was successful in securing funding for.

Repair of the broken and loose paving slabs in Fore Street will take place from March 15 to 19. South West Highways have carried out some really good work in Old Fore Street and Church Street and have also erected two additional bollards to prevent vehicles from over riding and parking on the extended foot-way in Church Street.

Written by Stuart Hughes, county councillor for Sidmouth and cabinet member for Highways Management.