Estuary - The Riverside Park

©Brian Lessware - Click to enlarge

Area Boundary.

- Camperdown Creek
- Langerwehe Way
- Imperial Road
- Marine Way (incl. Halsdon Road)

- Southern Road

- Carter Avenue

- Mudbank Lane

Vision - The Riverside Park.

A leisure area used for a variety of events and entertainments throughout the year attracting visitors from the local area, and further afield. A strong emphasis on boating facilities and a comprehensive transport interchange

Comments

This is a prime location with a dramatic outlook on the river and views stretching all the way to Exeter. It is probably the most important site currently being considered for development in the West Country! With imaginative thinking, it could literally put Exmouth and its surroundings on the map. It should be considered as a whole with the focus being on developing a unique leisure area for the town alongside the river. Nothing in this area should be considered sacrosanct at this stage and redevelopment of any of the existing facilities should be considered if this will enhance the result. In determining any development we should be asking the question "Will this provide Exmouth with a special, or even unique attraction?" Great attention should be placed on appearance and environmental impact. This area should become the focal point for major activities and events drawing people for the south-west and further afield.

Options.

Current suggestions are:

• Boating Centre (Camperdown) - make "The Creek" a self scouring waterway navigable at all states of the tide. Develop the old council depot area into a boat servicing, storage and launching centre. Relocate the existing boat repair and storage area at the rear of the present lorry park. Provide facilities for the sea scouts and sea cadets. Include an all-weather slipway and a sheltered quay for mooring. Reconsider options for the storage, launching and retrieval of boats in the dock basin (Marina).
• Waterside Centre (Camperdown) - an alternative location for the centre currently envisaged for Foxholes. It is adjacent to the boating centre, proposed above, and the estuary provides safe boardsailing throughout the year.
• Supermarket (Bus station) - new good quality, supermarket for the town. Should make good use of the town side of the Estuaryfront location. Level pedestrian links to the town centre would be needed.
• Events Arena (Fairgound/Athletics Ground) - Create a prestious sports arena (athletics and rugby) that can open out onto the grass (fairground) area in order to host major events comparable with those at Powderham.
• Skateboard Park/BMX Track - Professionally designed in consultation with young people.
• Lorry/coach park - relocate.
• Car Parking (Existing car parks and rugby pitch)- Existing spaces plus lorry park and possible use of part of the present rugby pitch area.
• Transport Interchange (Train and bus stations and car parks) - central transport hub for trains, buses, coaches and taxis.
• Coach set down/pick up points (Imperial Road) - for the town centre.
• New hotel (Lorry park) - overlooking the Estuary.
• East Devon Way Nature/Picnic area - Move boat storage to Camperdown and landscape the present vacated space and start of East Devon Way to provide a scenic leisure and bird spotting area.
• Low Cost Housing/Marine Way diversion - Run Marine Way over railway to link with Royal Avenue and through to the roundabout on Langewehe Way. This proposal would release land in front of Halsdon Road for low cost housing development.

• International Swimming Pool - Improve swimming pool to international standards so that it can host major events. May depend upon supermarket decision.

• Riverside Boardwalk/Moorings (Rear of Camperdown Terrace to new boating centre) Scenic pathway to link the marina with the estuary leisure area and the East Devon Walk . Could be used to tie up and board boats in The Creek.