Streetlife

Dear Jackie

I/we seem often to be the only people in this park...so these people obviously don't use this park!

This is what I don't like about this campaign....if people used the park you would not have to encourage people to state the fact........

When I see the homes in Cliff Road loosing their gardens (soon to be their homes)...more outcry for these people.  The residents of the Knowle area are not about to see their gardens/homes going.........  

The S.O.S. has failed to cover the whole of Sidmouth.  Concerns about the Knowle seem to far outweighed this campaign group.....Port Royal another casing point.

The S.O.S. campaign has been well run for the Knowle area.

We have had the loss of parkland etc.  Well how about returning the main building to a hotel....that would provide jobs and guests could enjoy the grounds.........  Premier Inn are expanding!  That would bring more jobs and holiday makers to the town.

I've got to agree with SS even though I don't want the Knowle sold off.

If people are not using the facilities then it is silly to try to prove they are. Let's concentrate on the things which we know are happening, like employment and important habitats for protected species.

Dear Pining Lass

Totally agree with you.

If S.O.S. start putting up candidates for elections I may start to take them seriously.  They seem to put the fear of god in all of us who live in Sidmouth,  with their campaign.  They still have a lot of parkland left even after the buildings.I just feel we (well SS and Mr SS) have been totally manipulated with S.O.S.  I have stated that the needed to open this parkland up to make people aware they can use this parkland...you can't have it both ways..either you make entry easier for all or you will still get a parkland which hardly anybody uses.

I noticed there is a house for sale in Cliff Road and I bet they would like to have the worries of the Knowle situation....

I echo all the above that has been said about use of the Knowle as public parkland ...................... drive past it at any time of the day and it is deserted. I expect to see a healthy number of candidates from the S.O.S. group standing at the various council elections in the future ................... otherwise they will be dismissed as simply another 'grey haired' protest group ............... and I wouldn't want that. I'm sure they will rally to the flag when the time comes but, in the meantime should encompass more issues that affect us all.

I don't feel manipulated at all :-) I also can't agree that the railings need to go because of the big drop and the road below. I would feel very uneasy letting a small child or a dog run free on there if there was a chance they would follow a ball and go over the edge. I do agree that the gates aren't easily identified and that it is difficult to tell from a distance whether they are open or locked. The gates are in convenient places so if people knew they were open I don't think it would be a problem.

However, the railed parkland isn't going to be lost if the development goes ahead so it is a separate issue. I worry about the loss of all the huge rhododendrons and camellias and exotic trees in the formal gardens which have been growing for about 150 years. Once they are lost it would take another 100 years or so for any replacements to come close to reproducing the effect. We also don't know how rare some of the shrubs are, they could be the only remaining examples of their kind as Exeter was important in the import and development of exotic new plants in the 1800s. I would want them checked by a specialist in their particular species before they were ripped up. If they are common shrubs then the only loss will be environmental/habitat, which is still very important when we have the biggest roost of protected bats in East Devon living in one of the Knowle buildings and that the site has not yet been surveyed for other species which could be at risk.

I do think it would be good if SOS fielded candidates, but as you say there are so many things need dealing with, like the cliffs.

If the levy from new houses built was kept in Sidmouth then perhaps the council could afford to protect the base of Pennington Point?

I do feel manipulated...... because S.O.S. it is like a rally call do this, say you use the park if you live in these areas.  

It has been a well run campaign....but seems Knowle bound.

You have a raised pavement along the edge of a busy road...... to me that needs railings.  I still think the parkland needs to be more inviting and welcoming to all.

Whether there are particular species, bats etc.....all well and good but people don't use that parkland.

From Jackie's post:
So...Calling all Sidmothians and users of Knowle Park and Gardens, especially those who live in the following wards: Sidmouth East, Sidbury, Sidford Village and Salcombe Regis. We need further evidence of any kind of recreational use of Knowle to support our Town Green application. Please contact Kelvin Dent (tel: 514291) or Keith Northover (tel: 515250) or email

This to me says it all - if you are calling on people to state they use the park and they don't!  Is this being honest?

There are certain parts of Sidmouth which need funding the Unitarian Church looks in need........ but have I heard S.O.S. mention this......just the Knowle.

A lot of the parkland is remaining even if they do build, but make the open space inviting to the general public instead of it being the 'Sidmouth Secret Garden'!

Good to hear your views. Suggest you try to get to some Council Meetings at Knowle, for the full story .  (The Standards Committee has recently made a councillor apologise for his bullying at meetings, and others had to publicly apologise for not declaring their Interests when they should have done.)

Here are three things about SOS:
1. It isn't a council! Cliff erosion is serious, but not part of the man-made  Local Plan.

2.. SOS is a group for anyone living and working here, who sees that the Sid Valley will be spoiled by  EDDC's Local Plan.    (=huge business park on Sidford Floodplain..not a great idea!!.There are loads of empty industrial sites nearby, with better infrastructure. A Herald article last year said that a clothing distribution company, a sweet distribution company, and a French pharmaceutical company were interested in a Sidford base. Does this mean warehouse jobs with low pay, and profits going abroad?

3. Knowle is more than just a park. The move to Honiton
a) could be very expensive for us taxpayers (As West Somerset and Dorchester people have found out..their council's new HQs are white elephants)
b) means Sidmouth loses its biggest employer....therefore concreting over Sidford Fields for an employment site gets permission, although it's an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty which brings in money to  our towns.
c) More parks are going to be needed now EDDC has just approved a green-light for Developers (That's why people were so angry not to be allowed to speak at last week's meeting ..Herald front page last week).

Since yesterday, SOS is part of a new non-party-poliitical East Devon Alliance.  Details on www.saveoursidmouth.com

Seagull..I'm a bit puzzled. Why would anyone say they use the Knowle park if they don't? I wouldn't, would you? Most people don't know there's an application for Knowle to be kept as a Town Green, do they? Those who have used it regularly might want to say so.....but there's no party whip so this is entirely voluntary.

Jackie G

To ask people to state they use the open space is odd.

People should be actively encouraged to use this open space - it is greatly underused.

Open it up - let people know about it and use it.

Will S.O.S. be putting up anybody for the local Council elections?

I totally agree with Tell It As It Is when he states they should be involved with more issues concerning Sidmouth than the Knowle.

As mentioned in my previous post, the people at Cliff Road would rather have the problem with PART of the parkland being built on I expect - than the potential loss of all of their property............   In my mind there are far more issues than the Knowle....yet this gets all the attention.  If there was another march I don't expect many would turn out because Sidmouth's hopes and aspirations for Save our Sidmouth seems to be obsessed/pre-occupied with the Knowle.

As for the parkland I suggest CCTV/security for the offices may prove how many people use this open space.  

See you at some of the council meetings, Seagull. Public welcome.

Will S.O.S. be putting up anybody for the local Council elections?

I have been to public meetings....anyone can go....even Seagulls!...but I ask the question again above again.

I have this feeling that once the Knowle saga is over....... will S.O.S. be over?

There are acres of farmland owned by developers around Sidmouth....which to me is far more worrying with the current change in planning law.....    you start building on the green belt and you set a precedence.   

Claire Wright in my opinion is active, as a Councillor and working hard for all her wards......not just one issue.  This is what I hoped S.O.S.would engage in all planning matters for Sidmouth area.

Although I support SOS over The Knowle affair - it seems to have forgotten The Drill Hall campaign.

As I mentioned before this parkland was used by the Folk Festival  used to use these grounds.  The Caribbean night too was held here too.

The use of the Knowle for the above at least generated  an income.These grounds have to be maintained......with the costs involved.

Hibou.....totally agree....The Drill Hall on a flood plain......but it's location.  What about the industrial land at Sidford too?

TIAII  Check SOS  website if you want to know what's going on. www.saveoursidmouth.com . All age groups, from all over East Devon, now involved. Fighting the Local Plan is not just a Sidmouth issue! For Sidmouth's local issues, lobby, or join, the  Council...it's their job).

Jackie G

I thought S.O.S. - (Save our Sidmouth) was a campaign group to promote this.

Save our Sidmouth.

What other campaigns has Save our Sidmouth apart from the Knowle and a little bit on Sidford has S.O.S. been involved?

In one of your posts you state low pay and warehouse jobs, Sidmouth is a low paying area.  I would image any job would be welcome in the present economic climate - though not on the Sidford site!

I think they have been doing a lot of work on the Local Plan, which has now been sent to the Inspector who will rule at the end of this year. I tried to read the local plan and it made my head hurt! Well done to those who could make it through the whole document!
Also they are working on the Drill Hall problem although they haven't publicised this as much as I would like. I think people are very concerned about the Drill Hall and Port Royal possible development because it will be really noticeable. People seem to be passionately for or against and I think SOS should start putting more effort into that (which is part of the local plan) now there is nothing much to do on the Knowle application until the application has been ruled on by the Planning Committee.