Seafront leisure centre opening by next Easter?

June 15, 2007, 9:54 am

A NEW multi-million-pound waterfront leisure complex and bowling alley could be open for business by next Easter if planners give the thumbs-up to developers next Tuesday.

Planning officers have endorsed the plans, recommending approval, which will be scrutinised at East Devon District Council’s development control meeting.

The plans went back to the drawing board several months ago, after backer Mark Quinn, of Harlequinns Leisure, changed architects to produce a more eco-friendly design.

The design will now include a range of energy-saving technologies, including wind turbines on the roof to help power the centre. It would be constructed from energy saving materials. The previous plans had a condition, now lifted, that would have prevented work over the summer, effectively putting back the opening by at least three-months.

Mr Quinn said: “This will mean there is a chance the complex will be open by next Easter. If we get permission, it shouldn’t be too long before we can start work.”

The plans include a multi-purpose area, which can be used as an ice rink, three restaurants or bars and several retail outlets, and a rooftop terrace.

There are plans for the roof terrace to close at 9pm, two to three hours before the centre would close.

There are fears that this would spoil one of the attractions of having an open-terrace on the roof of a leisure complex, overlooking a sandy beach, especially on a warm summer evening.

But Peter Wonnacott, planning consultant, is confident this can be resolved. He said: “We have made representations to EDDC and we are hopeful these representations will overcome these restrictions.

This article was taken from: Exmouth Journal