by Alan Quick

CREDITON business owners who feel their future trade could be adversely affected if a multi-million pound visitor retail and leisure attraction near Tiverton goes ahead say they are to attend a public meeting to be held in the town on Saturday, September 10.

Earlier this year Sir Tim Smit, one of the creators of the Eden Project, and representatives from the partnership behind the project, told a group of Crediton residents and Crediton Town Councillors, the plan for Eden Westwood near Junction 27 could have many benefits for the town, including bringing in more tourists.

Mr Smit said that businesses from the Crediton area could become suppliers and there were many options.

The ambitious proposals for the £200 million year-round visitor destination include a surf lake and beach, service station, restaurants, a food and drink centre and a designer outlet village, centred around a glass Ark.

At the meeting in Crediton those attending, with Mr Smit, said that the 90 hectare site could create up to 3,500 jobs and as an example, surf boards made in Crediton could be sold and/or used at the surf lake at Eden Westwood.

Eight separate zones are proposed, including a concert venue, cinema, hotel and conference centre, upmarket motorway services etc but no housing is proposed.

There was also a suggestion that an electric car hire scheme could operate from Eden Westwood, making the cars available for visitors to visit towns like Crediton, perhaps where a car charging point could be installed and thus bringing visitors to the town.

There was some criticism of the plan at the Crediton meeting, including that it could just become a businesses distribution centre and less of a tourist attraction.

Fears also included issues surrounding the immediate local economy and whether it would detract from visitors going to other locations in the county or South West.

It has also been said that the scheme would not be “in keeping” with the attractions people would want to see.

It has also said that plans for the lorry distribution aspect of the plan will now be withdrawn.

Eden Westwood says it will be a destination "genuinely unlike any other in the world: one that mixes indoor and outdoor recreation; education and enterprise; commercial and non-commercial elements; and that promotes local food, the importance of farming, sustainability and the Devon lifestyle, all shaped by the distinctive Eden brand".

The MP for Tiverton and Honiton, Neil Parish, is among those who support the proposition.

However, some Crediton traders have said High Street shops and other businesses may not be able to continue if shoppers travel to Eden Westwood rather than shop in Crediton itself.

Mid Devon District Council has yet to include the proposal in the Mid Devon Local Plan, the blueprint for the district for the next 20 years.

In April, however, councillors agreed to look again at the Local Plan, but have not, as yet, confirmed the inclusion of Eden Westwood.

The Eden Westwood website says that a planning application for the project would soon be submitted to Mid Devon District Council.

First, however, the public is being invited to view and comment on the plans.

An exhibition will be held in Cullompton on Thursday, September 8 and on Friday, September 9 an exhibition will be staged at Tiverton Town Hall from 12 noon to 8pm.

The Crediton exhibition will take place on Saturday, September 10, in the Council Chamber, Market Street, Crediton, from 12 noon to 4pm and all are invited to attend.

Eden Westwood said: "We hope very much that you will be able to join us to meet the project team and ask any questions you might have.  

"If you are not able to attend but would like more information, please email: [email protected] ."

For further details, visit: www.edenwestwood.com .

• What do you think of the plans for Eden Westwood?

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Write a letter, suitable for publication, to: The Editorial Manager, “Crediton Courier”, 102 High Street, Crediton EX17 3LF or email: [email protected] .