The disgraceful Queen's Drive situation and the future of the Exmouth Pavilion | Opinion

Firstly, Happy New Year to all.

For this article I am going to look at 'placemaking' in Exmouth.

Placemaking definition

I think it's worth noting when looking at placemaking that the renowned Spanish artist and architect Cesar Manrique coined the phrase "Nature has given us the splendour of life, and as a splendid mother we have a duty to protect her from all danger as it is on her that we depend".

This was said in 1992, and although Manrique never visited Exmouth, his thoughts are very inspiring when considering placemaking.

This is because the definition of placemaking is that it is the process of creating quality places that people want to live, work, play and learn in.

It has five characteristics: firstly that a place is accessible, secondly carefully designed, thirdly people can engage in activities, fourthly clean, comfortable, attractively and carefully designed and fifthly, engaging for a wide demographic.

This, then, is what is understood by placemaking.

Queen's Drive situation 'a disgrace'

The council has now included Queens Drive within its overall placemaking strategy.

As I see it there have only been one or two actual outcomes that have actually achieved anything.

Firstly, the creation of a fitness space but of course this has had to be balanced by the initial costs in setting it up and the resulting loss of income from the temporary overflow car park which it formerly was.

Secondly, as I argued for at the meeting, a small budget has been identified for car park signage and this will proceed with colleagues who look after car parking in Exmouth.

We are also going to employ consultants whose role will be to prepare development briefs for those regeneration or development sites identified in the outline business case and investment strategy that are also particularly critical to the establishment or maintenance of a sense of place, as discussed in the placemaking strategy.

In broad terms, the selection of such sites should be based on the prominence or environmental sensitivity of a development. The briefs should comply with the emerging Local Development Plan.

I think readers that we have been here before with the recommendations of Wayne Hemingway MBE which the Council simply ignored and went out for yet another round of consultations, then it changed the name of the group all of which has of course led to further delays for the Queens Drive Project.

Now, as we approach the local elections in May, no further progress has been made and will not be made until at least January 2024.

This is a disgrace I think but readers may disagree and be happy with this state of affairs. Do let me know what you think.

The future of the Exmouth Pavilion

Councillors now find in addition to all this going on that the much-loved Exmouth Pavilion is no longer considered fit for purpose by the council.

The roof requires repairs which will cost in the region of £390,500 and the council is struggling to decide if this should be done given that it wants to include the Pavilion within its overall Exmouth placemaking strategy.

I believe that the roof should be repaired so that it can continue to operate in the medium term and I am pleased to see that Cllr Hookway my fellow ward member does support this action.

We will await the actions of cabinet to see if this will happen as per the recommendation put forward.

The issue for Exmouth residents and councillors is to consider what is the future of the Pavilion given that it's costing so much in repairs.

As members said we cannot get to where we have no theatre in Exmouth. Various options have been put forward for the Pavilion and the option favoured by several members according to the report is to consolidate the leisure provision in Exmouth and relocate, including leisure centre to a new purpose-built facility, along with possibly relocating town hall and other public sector customer facing and back office accommodation (various such examples in Exmouth) all into the same facility, perhaps at Imperial Road site or Estuary car park, replacing lost car parking with decking/ multi-storey as needed.

This option (and is an option to consider, not a recommendation), might appear overly ambitious but could be a real game-changer for the town.

If EDDC (we) were to take the Imperial Road or Estuary car park sites, the council benefits from owning this large expanse of site, in a central location, adjacent to the railway station and a transport interchange, with what must be some of the best – if not the best – estuary views, but is a site that is currently under-utilised.

This superb location generates not only social value, but also financial value and environmental value should different uses be made of this site.

Of course, if this were to happen, this would then result in the demolition of the current Exmouth Pavilion so as Cllr Hookway pointed out to get to this point could take at least eight years or more and in the meantime Exmouth cannot be without a theatre as this is a really popular entertainment venue for Exmouth.

As the LED report says the broad range of shows and events has seen a shift in the demographic of the Pavilion's customers to incorporate a larger contingent of younger customers and families, with the average age now in the early 40s.

The café attracts an older customer base during the weekday in school term time, although this changes at weekends and during school holidays when many families come in. I would say that this is a very good leisure facility for Exmouth.

To conclude, as readers can see there are real challenges ahead in placemaking for whoever gets to run the Council from May.

Residents deserve some closure for Queens Drive and the council needs to work out its leisure strategy to ensure that Exmouth does not get culturally left behind if the Pavilion is demolished.

If you would like to read about the options for the Exmouth Pavilion, click here.