Now that the dust has settled on the district council elections I would like to extend my sincere thanks to the voters in the Sidmouth Rural Ward who in last week’s elections re-elected me with a 73% share of the vote. It is humbling to have so many people to place their faith in me and in what I expressed to them through my election communications. I intend to continue to represent them, and our wider Sidmouth and Sid Valley communities to the best of my ability.

Given the outcome of the elections I anticipate that the broad coalition of Independents, Greens and Liberal Democrats will return to form the new council Administration within which I hope to again serve as a Cabinet member.

The next few years are only going to become even more financially challenging which will bring further difficult decisions, but that’s what we are elected to handle. I trust those who have been elected and will sit outside of the ruling group will show some respect for the mandate given by electors to those who will be in the Administration.

Its easy to criticise from the side lines, its much harder and more grown up to take or support the difficult decisions.

Continuing to stand up for Sidmouth & the Sid Valley, not national politics

Local issues, local voice

My election leaflet sets out what my key objectives will be over the next four years if I am re-elected as the Ward Member for Sidmouth Rural. This is what I have said in my leaflet –

As your District Councillor, my key objectives will be to:

• promote the best interests of Sidmouth and the Sid Valley
• continue to listen to, and reflect the views and needs of local residents and businesses
• keep communicating with local residents through the local press, social media and on my public access blog pages
• ensure the District Council has sound financial management and delivers quality best value services
• continue to support the Sidmouth Beach Management Plan, which will protect East Beach cliffs and Sidmouth from future rising sea levels
• carry on working in partnership with Sidmouth Town Council
• support further actions to create local jobs, along with affordable and social homes, whilst respecting the AONB
• keep campaigning to retain a ‘green belt’ between Sidford and Sidbury
• continue to support the application of the Sid Valley Neighbourhood Plan in local planning matters
• make sure that our local planning policies always balance the needs of our communities with the desires of developers
• support the promotion of Sidmouth and the Sid Valley as tourist destinations within the East Devon Tourism Strategy
• support the development of local amenities and clubs, especially for young people and families
• continue to press the County Council to deliver the long over-due Sidbury to Sidford cycle/footpath along the most appropriate route
• support the creation of the next Council Plan that reflects and builds upon the objectives of the current Plan https://eastdevon.gov.uk/council-plan/

Local issues, local voice

I previously posted on this site an article headed “Unwanted Change at Salcombe Regis”.  Unfortunately, that article contained the following inaccurate and untrue comments by me about Serenity Leisure Parks Limited:

• “At the beginning of the year the site was purchased by Serenity Parks which according to its website ‘specialises in providing an ideal lifestyle for our residents in later life, offering a accessible yet high-end park homes in desirable locations across the UK’” 

The reference to Serenity Parks as being the owner of the caravan park at Salcombe Regis is incorrect as the caravan park is owned by a different company altogether called Serenity Leisure Parks Limited which is a holiday park operator that provides camping, caravanning and static caravan holidays. 

• “It is clear from a planning application that Serenity Parks recently submitted to the District Council – planning reference 23/0615/VAR – that they want to change the site from its traditional camping and caravan site into a site for permanent mobile homes that in volume would probably increase the population of Salcombe Regis by 200% or 300%” 

Serenity Leisure Parks Limited has not provided any specific numbers in its application and therefore the claim I made regarding the increase in the population of the village was untrue and is simply conjecture on my part. 

• “This change to the site is understandably unacceptable to the village residents with whom i have been working and on whose behalf, as ward Member, I have written to the Planning Officer objecting to Serenity Parks proposal. Unfortunately, their application is for a variation of use of the site and the outcome will be determined by how previous planning consents are interpreted along with how their application sits within planning law” 

Serenity Parks has never submitted any planning application.  Serenity Leisure Parks Limited has made an application for a Certificate of Lawful Use to confirm the existing planning status of the caravan park.  This application is not for a change or variation of use of the caravan park as it will continue to be operated as a camping, caravanning and static caravan park.

• “I have now discovered that Serenity Parks have a habit of purchasing innocuous camping and caravan sites and then using planning challenges to seek to bring about changes of use, such as they are seeking to do in Salcombe Regis.  They are seeking to change the use of Chivenor Caravan Park in Barnstable, as well as at Headland Caravan Park at Tintagel”

None of the sites which have been acquired by Serenity Leisure Parks Limited have been subject to any changes of use but instead they have all maintained their existing use as holiday caravan parks throughout the company’s ownership.

I wish to apologise unreserved for any upset, confusion or damage that may have been caused to Serenity Leisure Parks Limited and to its reputation by the publication of that article. 

Continuing to stand up for Sidmouth & the Sid Valley, not national politics

Local issues, local voice

My election leaflet sets out what my key objectives will be over the next four years if I am re-elected as the Ward Member for Sidmouth Rural. This is what I have said in my leaflet –

As your District Councillor, my key objectives will be to:

• promote the best interests of Sidmouth and the Sid Valley
• continue to listen to, and reflect the views and needs of local residents and businesses
• keep communicating with local residents through the local press, social media and on my public access blog pages
• ensure the District Council has sound financial management and delivers quality best value services
• continue to support the Sidmouth Beach Management Plan, which will protect East Beach cliffs and Sidmouth from future rising sea levels
• carry on working in partnership with Sidmouth Town Council
• support further actions to create local jobs, along with affordable and social homes, whilst respecting the AONB
• keep campaigning to retain a ‘green belt’ between Sidford and Sidbury
• continue to support the application of the Sid Valley Neighbourhood Plan in local planning matters
• make sure that our local planning policies always balance the needs of our communities with the desires of developers
• support the promotion of Sidmouth and the Sid Valley as tourist destinations within the East Devon Tourism Strategy
• support the development of local amenities and clubs, especially for young people and families
• continue to press the County Council to deliver the long over-due Sidbury to Sidford cycle/footpath along the most appropriate route
• support the creation of the next Council Plan that reflects and builds upon the objectives of the current Plan https://eastdevon.gov.uk/council-plan/

Local issues, local voice

The biggest lesson I have learnt over years of delivering leaflets is to protect your fingers!

Protect them not only the barking dog couped up indoors but also letterboxes. Letterboxes can be difficult to push open, they can snap shut, they are stiff and heavy and some have draught excluder that makes its very difficult o push a leaflet through.

So, I find the best way to retain all my fingers intact and unscathed, as well as to avoid a dog’s paws or teeth is to rely upon a cheap (and unused) cooking spatula. Available from all cookware sections of your supermarket or specialist cook shops! Or even IKEA!

The remainder of my leaflets ready to be distributed by wonderful willing volunteers to whom I am so grateful. These will be coming through your letterboxes by early next week, if not before!

As a proud Sidbury resident I want to continue to represent the Ward where I live, on East Devon District Council.

I have a strong commitment to public service and a proven record of standing up for Sidmouth and the Sid Valley. I want to continue to make positive and effective improvements that support local residents and businesses.

I have no personal vested interest to pursue other than to give something back to our communities. I hold myself to the same ethical and high standards that I demand from everyone else in public life. Tough times, such as now, need high standards and leadership. I will continue to provide both.

I continue to support local community campaigns. Through Sidmouth’s Beach Management Plan, I support residents on Cliff Road, above East Beach, whose gardens are being eroded. I still argue for improved road safety through Sidbury. As the need for the Sidford business park site to be solely an employment site has changed, I support houses being built there.

I am standing as an Independent candidate. I will continue to work across the political divide in coalition with others who share my objectives, values and priorities. I am a Cabinet Member in this Council Administration and I am proud of our achievements through the pandemic and these tough economic times. Please help me to continue my work.

I was elected to East Devon District Council in 2019. Since then, I have worked across the political divide. In 2020 I joined the current Council coalition Administration and am currently a Cabinet Member. We are proud to have worked positively and collaboratively for the benefit of East Devon’s residents and businesses. With your support I can continue that work.

If my key objectives for Sidmouth and the Sid Valley reflect yours, then please vote to re-elect me as your District Councillor. I will continue to bring positive change locally, and to do so with your support, in the best interests of our Sidmouth and Sid Valley communities.

My key objectives will be posted here as the campaign rolls out and are contained in my election leaflet that should be with you shortly.

I am also active in supporting:                 

• Sidbury Primary School – as a Community Governor
• The Sidmouth Trust – as a Trustee

In addition to informing the local press, I also post Council and election information on social media –

•  Facebook: johnloudoun4sidmouthrural

Continuing to stand up for Sidmouth & the Sid Valley, not national politics

Local issues, local voice

Another election poster should you wish to print and display.

This is the same poster that has been put up across the Ward.

Here’s a handy election window poster. If you’re so minded, please print and display.

This is Part 2 of my reflections of what the current District Council Administration has delivered for residents and businesses across East Devon.

District Councillor’s have responsibilities to speak up for and to defend their Wards and those who live and work within it, but we also have wider responsibilities to all residents and businesses across the whole district. These responsibilities can some times mean that you have to take difficult decisions which are sometimes unpopular or misunderstood.

Equally, as a Ward Councillor you have to accept that your Ward isn’t the centre of the other 59 elected Members world. I have looked back at some of the decisions that Cabinet has pursued for the various towns across the district.

I have already posted an article about the significant progress that the District Council has made towards getting the £20 million Sidmouth Beach Management Plan moving from discussion and deliberation towards achieving funding, detailed design and construction starting in about 24 months’ time.

This has been important to me as the East Beach cliffs and the residents in Cliff Road, who’s gardens are disappearing, are in my Ward. The Beach Management Plan will bring a positive benefit to not only the cliffs but also those residents.

Here I give a flavour of the other attention Cabinet has paid to other key parts of the district –

Cranbrook – is the new town east of Exeter which had been poorly conceived as a developer-led consortium, rather than a proper civic-led project. Cabinet instructed officers to conclude long awaited deals to enable a new town centre and set up the finance for this with a mixture of ring-fenced business rates from the Enterprise Zone and the Public Works Loan Board. There is no doubt that a Conservative administration would not have done this, and we have set up an historic £40 million revolving infrastructure fund to secure future work for the town.

Exmouth – the Cabinet inherited hugely troubled seafront development projects. Therefore, Cabinet set up a new committee for the development of both the town and the seafront and made new officer appointments to deliver this. This is long-term work, but the people of Exmouth can now see or attend all public meetings either personally or watch virtually. We have even recently seen the opening of a new sensory garden.

Seaton – sadly, the Seaton Jurassic centre became a commercial failure, and so cabinet has had to look hard for the best new partners and has now chosen to go in with the highly successful Seaton Tramway operation, although this is proving more difficult to conclude a mutually acceptable contract than we would have liked.

Seaton and Axminster – we applied for Levelling Up Funding for these towns linked by the Axe Valley, which were not successful in attracting government funding.

Sidmouth, Seaton, Budleigh Salterton and Exmouth – Cabinet has worked tirelessly in wanting to deliver various sea defence projects for all these communities and we have been successful in securing additional funding which has been achieved in the face of ever more challenging climactic events and ever-increasing costs.

Sidmouth – Cabinet has spent £200k on Jacob’s Ladder and the Millennium Walkway. We have also finally, after a covid interlude signed a lease with Rockfish to upgrade the Drill Hall on the seafront. This is due to open next year as a restaurant and will significantly make the Ham area look much better.  

Honiton – Cabinet has been working on new social housing in the town as a springboard to rolling out a greater provision should the Administration be elected to serve a second term. This restarts EDDC’s work in providing social housing after twenty years.

Feniton – Cabinet has finally managed to bring to fruition and funded a key flood alleviation scheme.

Cabinet has also been instrumental in pursuing nature projects across the district include the Seaton Wetlands, the new Clyst Valley Park, and the Lower Otter Restoration Project.

This is all but a flavour of the further activities that the current Independent, Liberal Democrat and Greens coalition has achieved over its three-year Administration. If we are re-elected then we are committed to building on all of this.