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11/02/2009, 4:50 PM Watchdog Joined on 07/11/2008 Posts 95 ASDA pulls out of Exmouth deal According to the Journal website, ASDA has today announced it has pulled out of the estuary supermarket development. No doubt the "antis" will be rejoicing, but this a tragedy for Exmouth. Apparently the Journal will have the full story tomorrow.    Report

11/02/2009, 5:10 PM CFrost Re: ASDA pulls out of Exmouth deal Press Release 11 February 2009 ASDA confirms that it has withdrawn from discussions regarding its current proposal for the Exmouth bus station and leisure centre site. ASDA has today confirmed that, after much consideration, it is no longer in a position to continue with its current proposal to redevelop the Exmouth bus station and leisure centre site and has agreed with EDDC to withdraw from discussions relating to the proposal with immediate effect. ASDA and its partners have spent many months developing a proposal that is suitable for the site and that meets the needs and expectations of the local community. Over time ASDA has taken into account the views and requirements of a wide range of interested parties, resulting in changes to the proposal and the incorporation of new elements. Unfortunately, in the time it has taken ASDA to progress the details of these revisions and new elements, the economic climate has deteriorated significantly, impacting the value of the scheme’s residential element and its prospects for rental income. As a result of this, the economics of the development have changed substantially, leaving the proposal, as it stands, unachievable in the current market environment. With this in mind, ASDA believes that the most appropriate action is to withdraw. Chris Marlow, Property Communications Manager, ASDA said; “We are incredibly disappointed to have to announce the end of discussions relating to our current proposal to for the redevelopment of the bus station and leisure centre site. ASDA has been involved in this project for a long time and, recognising the importance of the site to Exmouth, we have worked very hard to create a scheme that fulfils all of the aspirations of the local community in a format and design that is appropriate to the location. Recent support for our proposal suggests that we have achieved this. The site is a complex and physically challenging one due to its estuary location, its proximity to the railway line and the number of elements we were hoping to include. These have substantially increased the forecasted build cost of the development. Regrettably, and despite our best efforts, we can no longer offset these costs against likely income from residential sales and future retail rents due to the current economic climate and the down turn in the property market. We would like to extend our thanks to the many people who have supported this scheme and to all those we have worked with in recent months. ASDA remain convinced that the local area would benefit from more supermarket choice and we will continue to look at opportunities to achieve this.” ENDS This is great news. Perhaps we can now start to develop the Exmouth that Exmothians want, and not EDDC. There are many ways to improve the estuary site .Asda wasn't one of them. There's too much blinkered thinking locally. People seem to think that its Asda or nothing. Asda was only one speculative possibility....

11/02/2009, 6:36 PM Old Boy Joined on 24/12/2008 Posts 28 Re: ASDA pulls out of Exmouth deal Well what a relief. Now I can continue to take in that glorious vista that is a lorry park and a dilapidated station, not to mention a decaying sports centre.    Report

11/02/2009, 8:39 PM CFrost Re: ASDA pulls out of Exmouth deal Fantastic news! EDDC cannot bully residents into accepting a deal that will only enhance their bank balance (which would not be spent on Exmouth)  I actually wanted Asda to come to Exmouth, but not on the estuaryside! Maybe next time they will listen and take notice when they spend our council tax on public consultations!

11/02/2009, 10:14 PM CFrost Re: ASDA pulls out of Exmouth deal Well what a relief. Now I can continue to take in that glorious vista that is a lorry park and a dilapidated station, not to mention a decaying sports centre. Don't you think Old Boy, that you could offer some positive solutions rather than displaying nothing but negative cynicism?

11/02/2009, 10:45 PM King Ludd Joined on 20/12/2008 Posts 35 Re: ASDA pulls out of Exmouth deal .    Report

11/02/2009, 11:11 PM Ian Woolger Joined on 09/09/2008 Budleigh Salterton Posts 211 Re: ASDA pulls out of Exmouth deal Well well, no great surprise at this news in the common economic climate. At least Lidl still looks set to go, so Tesco wont have it all their own way and the "Anti" brigade will be able to "crow" over their victory. It will now be interesting to see if any regeneration of the town takes place? Based on last weeks Journal report about the "Victorian fronted restaurant", being "exactly what the Strand wants", I wont be holding my breath! Perhaps some of those who have been reading the forum posts will come up with some stimulating plans, now safe in the knowledge of no superstore competition. Even "Mr Ludds" food co operative idea, was a reasonable "breath of fresh air" as far as I could see. Hey ho Mr Ludd and Mr Fairclough, it has been enjoyable sparring with you, perhaps the news that Asda is dead in the water will defuse the excuse that "new businesses wont come to Exmouth because of Asda" and we will get some fresh blood into the town, who knows, I certainly wont be able to pass any comments on Asda's success or its possible effect, or have my opinions proven or disproved anymore, so I suppost the future of Exmouth lies in the hands of the people who use its facilities yet again. I await the outcome with interest.... It is criminal to steal a purse, daring to steal a fortune, a mark of greatness to steal a crown. The blame diminishes as the guilt increases    Report

12/02/2009, 7:44 AM Old Boy Joined on 24/12/2008 Posts 28 Re: ASDA pulls out of Exmouth deal Frosty, I may be old and a bit deaf but you don’t have to shout at me ! As far as negative cynicism goes , well that’s what happens when you get as old as I am. The thing is old bean I’ve lived in Exmouth just about all my life and as far as the town centre itself is concerned it’s been downhill all the way. When developing the Magnolia Centre, we managed to pull down the only part of Exmouth that had any heritage and character. Even then we didn’t actually redevelop as was initially envisaged. This auspicious redevelopment being marked with metallic aircraft, designed exclusively for rich people, which no longer flies ! So it’s hardly surprising that I might on occasion sound a bit cynical. With regard to promulgating any positive ideas, well it’s rather difficult when the all the new comers want; No change ! In my humble opinion ( just an opinion ), the Asda cancellation is serious body blow to an already sick patient. When you combine Asda’s withdrawal with the closure of Rolle College, it is hard to see how one can be optimistic about the economic future of Exmouth as a trading centre. We collectively have to decide whether Exmouth should have a separate trading identity to Exeter or continue down the route of becoming ( in trading terms ) a dormitory town ? Just to demonstrate Frosty that even at my advanced age I am still capable of some blue sky thinking , how about deciding that we don’t want any large shops in Exmouth. What we want are small independently owned and run shops run by local people. We could impose a square footage limitation, and in order to promote local business people. The council could take a drastic reduction in rates, by way of pump priming. Or we can continue to look at closed branches of national chains, it’s our choice. Having been castigated by “Frosty” and now advanced some sort of remedy , however ill conceived and naive I would welcome his or her views, and given that I’m a cantankerous old codger I’m quite pleased that I have managed to respond with out the need to shout !    Report

12/02/2009, 9:42 AM Mike Fairclough Joined on 18/04/2008 Posts 115 Re: ASDA pulls out of Exmouth deal Ah ! The "I've been here since time began " card is played yet again!  It holds about as much water as the EDDC support from the "silent" majority! Nevertheless, as a regular at the Foresters Arms in the dim and distant past! I agree wholeheartedly that the problems for Exmouth started when the Magnolia centre was thrown up in the late seventies. Chapel St and Market St and the "bomb site" car park which were there needed updating ... they didn't need destroying . The same applies to the old railway station. It was an edifice, and one worth keeping. Check out the two photos taken from a position by the York Hotel of the Old station and its "brand new" replacement! ( can be seen in the Book of Exmouth by Harry Pascoe) Here you see the problem., local planning. And so it continues . Not much of any merit has been built in Exmouth since the Art Deco pavilion ... yes! Art Deco ... look at the picture hanging in the library of the original pavilion and tell me that you don't see architectural merit in it! and now? Over the years successive councils have overseen the reduction of the building from one of subtle beauty to just another box . After the eastern wing of the  Imperial Hotel burnt down, it was replaced with ..... what look like cheap Spanish holiday flats . The Imperial was symmetrical .. and it should still be. This town needs planners with vision, not blinkers , as EDDC have at present , and it's time they earned their daily crust and stopped being , like Dolly the sheep, a Clone    Report

12/02/2009, 11:17 AM Alice Joined on 12/02/2009 Posts 48 Re: ASDA pulls out of Exmouth deal  Old Boy wrote: Well what a relief. Now I can continue to take in that glorious vista that is a lorry park and a dilapidated station, not to mention a decaying sports centre. LOL. Yes, I hope the 'no asda on the exe' badge wearing brigade enjoy this  'victory' In the mean time could someone please tell me where I can buy childrens clothes/school uniforms/toys at affordable prices? Guess that'll be Exeter then.    Report

12/02/2009, 4:04 PM CFrost Re: ASDA pulls out of Exmouth deal This district council has once again exhibited its greed and complete lack of integrity by allowing the ASDA farce to go on for so long, whilst at the same time encouraging the people of Exmouth to look forward to a developer led renaissance in the town. EDDC should now look at itself with an extremely critical eye. Should there be a change at the top or is it time for the whole lot to go? There have been reports in the Western Morning News to the effect that senior executive officers are deserting councils because of uncertainty over the unitary process. Certainly in East Devon  those officers would probably hardly be missed  if they were going and it is evident that the council itself must be replaced. Exmouth has for 25 years or so been subjected to an extremely self-perpetuating EDDC, which has systematically stripped out most of the assets from the town. It is still trying to extend this by application for the removal of covenants on the Sea front thus making vast tracts of land available for development. Who would do this? It would be very fair to say that the average person would suspect that the links with the "preferred developers" hasve already been made so ensuring that if those covenants are lifted we will see flats built on the second floor of developments as written in the Regeneration of Exmouth documents. <!--[if !supportEmptyParas]--> <!--[endif]-->

12/02/2009, 4:53 PM CFrost Re: ASDA pulls out of Exmouth deal RIP Exmouth Scarred to move forward. No wonder no one likes the place!

12/02/2009, 4:59 PM Ian Woolger Joined on 09/09/2008 Budleigh Salterton Posts 211 Re: ASDA pulls out of Exmouth deal A very good "Freudian slip" LOL It is criminal to steal a purse, daring to steal a fortune, a mark of greatness to steal a crown. The blame diminishes as the guilt increases    Report

12/02/2009, 5:10 PM Mike Fairclough Joined on 18/04/2008 Posts 115 Re: ASDA pulls out of Exmouth deal RIP Exmouth Scarred to move forward. No wonder no one likes the place! please don't speak on my behalf. I've been here since I was a teenager, and I'm still here, and I like the place. There are very few locations in this country to beat Exmouth! IMO ... whoever you might be,  you don't know just how lucky you are!    Report

12/02/2009, 9:06 PM King Ludd Joined on 20/12/2008 Posts 35 Re: ASDA pulls out of Exmouth deal .    Report

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