A PUBLIC consultation on the future of Whitestrand in Salcombe saw the town’s district councillors on the front-line defending South Hams Council’s controversial plans.

Ward members Judy Pearce and Simon Wright setup a gazebo with a display of the plans last Friday and Saturday, encouraging residents and visitors to fill in survey with their opinions.

Cllr Pearce explained: ‘Everything is on hold while we complete this consultation. The only thing that’s going ahead is the Wardroom decking area, because no one has objected to this.

‘The railings won’t be going ahead, because we’ve had so many objections that we’re going back to the drawing board. But we’ll have to do something, because the safety audit has flagged this up.’

Cllr Wright said: ‘We’re here because the original planning application upset a lot of people. So we’ve put a halt to it and said “let’s hear the views of Salcombe.”

‘We’re inviting people to come and have a look at the ideas, take a look at Whitestrand and fill in a survey. The survey will then provide us with information and ideas for moving forward.’

The display showed two different sets of plans, including one where the harbour office and lavatories would be knocked down and merged into one new building, including shower facilities for yachtsmen.

Also on display were plans where three parking spaces would be lost, and a larger decked public space would be built over the dinghy tie-up area next to the slipway.

A second plan included one where the car park would be lost for parts of the year, allowing for market stalls and traders to setup at Whitestrand.

Mark Goodie from the Winking Prawn Group took issue with the potential loss of parking spaces, asking ‘where will the extra parking come from?’

‘Parking is a big issue in Salcombe. This seems to be a plan for more people and less parking. Where are the extra people going to park?

‘Let’s see the whole plan for the town, these are just individual pieces. There are lots of great ideas but they need to be collated.’

Jane Tyler from the Winking Prawn Group suggested that the consultation was a PR exercise, saying ‘it will just go ahead.’

But Cllr Wright insisted that people’s opinions will be taken onboard and ‘it won’t just go ahead.’

But Ms Tyler said that ‘most people in the town don’t want anything to happen.’

When Cllr Wright suggested that more people could use the park and ride, Mr Goodie responded: ‘The park and ride doesn’t appeal to the sort of people who come here. People aren’t just going to get on a bus.’

Mr Goodie asked if the park and ride is ‘fit for purpose.’

‘It’s fine for day trippers, but for second homeowners the park and ride just isn’t adequate,’ he added.

Another business owner, who didn’t wish to be named, was generally supportive of the plans: ‘A little bit of change would be nice. It’d be good to encourage people to visit at Christmas and not just in the summer months.

‘I think it’s a brilliant idea, you’ll get more people in the town to congregate here - and the better facilities for yachtsmen would be great.

‘I don’t see why people can’t be positive, this would be a great idea. We want people to invest in Salcombe. It’s great to have something coming back into the area.

‘It’s about time we had facilities like this. And if we only lose three car parking spaces so as to bring more people to Salcombe, it’s surely got to be good for the town.’

Cllr Pearce said: ‘Some people don’t agree, but that’s fine - that’s why we’re holding this consultation.

‘People are passionate on both sides. There have been lots of views and it’s been really good to meet people. Of course some people are diametrically opposed, but as ward members, we’re used to this.

‘The views can’t be sorted by whether people are traders, residents or visitors. Some traders think it’s great, while others don’t. We’ve had all sorts of views from different people.’

The public consultation is open until Friday, November 4 at midnight.

SHDC will publish the results of the consultation once the responses have been collated.