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Time for a re-think as ASDA withdraws

Wednesday 11 February

Deeply disappointed - that was the reaction this week from East Devon District Council at news that supermarket giant ASDA had confirmed it will not proceed with its plans for a supermarket development on the Royal Avenue site.

The Council heard on Monday that ASDA’s Development Team were unwilling to satisfy the council’s requirements with a package of community benefits to the town, including:

• A new sports centre and swimming pool
• A Jurassic Coast visitor centre
• A new library
• A large town-centre food store and supermarket

The news means that a complete re-think will be needed by the various agencies that had been pinning hopes of regeneration on a major injection of private cash.

Ambitious

Councillor Ray Franklin, EDDC’s Portfolio Holder Strategic Planning and Regeneration, said: “This is deeply disappointing. We felt we were reaching out for some really ambitious but exciting plans for Exmouth. In these difficult times, it is not a complete surprise that any company is cautious about a massive investment such as this, but it is still a great shame.

“We have always stated that provision of a new sports centre and swimming pool was the price that had to be paid for developing on the Royal Avenue site.

“The supermarket was part of a package of facilities that we insisted on if this development was to go ahead. We would not dream of accepting second best. We would not sell Exmouth short”.

Councillor Peter Halse, EDDC’s Portfolio Holder Economy, and Chairman of the Exmouth Regeneration Programme Board, said “We will now have to let the dust settle and have a re-think about the future. The implications of this news are obviously far-reaching.

“This is not the end of the road by any means, but it will take time to come up with alternative ideas and we will actively investigate other options”.

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