Month: May 2025
Seaton revetment works planning application
EDDC have finally submitted the planning application for the revetment repairs between Seaton Esplanade and Seaton Hole. The reference is 25/0968/MFUL and the closing date for comments is 11 June. I haven’t looked at it yet, but was told a couple of months ago that the work would be done later this year (end of summer or early autumn).
Paul Arnott becomes County deputy leader & Green leader joins Cabinet
Paul Arnott becomes Deputy Leader, and Denise Bickley and Richard Jefferies get key cabinet jobs tackling safeguarding and education of Devon’s children New leader makes vulnerable children and fixing roads two of his ‘top priorities’ DCC News 22 May 2025 Top row from left: Cllr Brazil, Cllr Arnott, Cllr Thomas, Cllr Cottle-Hunkin, Councillor Clist. Bottom…
— Read on eastdevonwatch.org/2025/05/23/devon-county-council-cllr-julian-brazil-libdem-elected-leader-and-names-cabinet/
Seaton Museum reopens after uplift
Seaton Museum has opened for its first season after its new Curator, Laura Hewitt, took over late last year. Laura (in red cardigan) and assistant curator Peter Thomas, with support from other volunteers, have reorganised and decorated the Museum over the winter. The museum will be open from 11 a tomorrow and for weekdays from now until the autumn.
Memo to councillors: don’t normalise Reform UK
As we commemorate the 80th anniversary of VE Day, we face within Britain the very same forces that we defeated from outside in 1945. Reform UK are not, yet, a full-blown fascist party, but they are unmistakably from the same family: racist, nationalist, and above all authoritarian and anti-democratic.
You can see this in Nigel Farage’s arrogant dismissal of all initiatives to promote equality and inclusion in our society, and in his attempt to make Reform wipe out, with a stroke of the pen, all the efforts of councils to combat the climate emergency. You can see it, above all, in his slavish worship and aping of Donald Trump’s authoritarian and dictatorial regime.
Remember that Farage defended Trump’s attempted violent coup in 2020. If Reform UK were to come to power in 2029 – thanks to our corrupt first-past-the-post system which might give him victory with 30 per cent of the votes – he would resort to the the antidemocratic steps that Trump took to hang on to power.
So here is my message to our Liberal Democrat, Green and Independent councillors: don’t normalise Reform. Allow then to represent their constituents (if they do), give them their fair share of committee places, but don’t do deals with them, don’t let them run things, keep them well away from power. They need to be defeated as we defeated their forerunners in the 1940s.
Seaton VE Day *today*
9am: Raising of the VE Day Flag ceremony and delivery of the Proclaimation
10am – 3pm – a fascinating exhibition by Seaton Museum will take place in the United Reform Church Hall (Cross St, opposite the gardens) sharing lots of wonderful history, photos and stories of Seaton during Wartime. There will also be a model airplane display and refreshments courtesy of Seaton’s WI
1pm – still in the URC hall, the wonderful Shirley Austin will pay tribute with songs from WW2
2pm – pupils from Seaton Primary School will join Shirley in Windsor Gardens for a special rendition of a very well known song!
6.30pm – St Gregory’s Church will ring the church bells
9pm – Beacon lighting ceremony in Windsor Gardens and reading of the Tribute
Seaton and East Devon reject Reform
Paul Arnott comfortably won the Seaton & Colyton election with 2015 votes compared to 1308 for Reform, 881 for the Conservatives, 638 for John Heath (Independent) and 106 for Labour.
Lib Dems also won in Sidmouth and Honiton, ousting Tory leaders Stuart Hughes and Phil Twiss, while Paul Hayward and Jess Bailey, Independents, won in Axminster and Otter Valley respectively.
Results for Exmouth and Broadclyst, where Reform may do better, are still awaited.
Local far-right extremists were wartime target, Seaton talk hears
A fascinating talk held by the Axe Valley Heritage Association yesterday, which I popped into in between campaigning, heard WWII expert Andrew Chatterton describe the secret auxiliary forces set up in 1940 to attack German forces in the event of an invasion in Devon. Locally, a unit based in Branscombe was one of the most active, and its targets included prominent British Union of Fascists members Lucy and Rafe Cotton, who were expected to become collaborators.
A thought-provoking presentation at a time when would-be far-right dictators and their British fans are once again on the agenda.
Seaton & Colyton MATTERS 