Last chance to have your say on sea front plans

Local residents and businesses are being invited to take part in a public consultation event to comment on a new masterplan for Ilfracombe seafront.

As part of Ilfracombe’s Strategic Plan 2015-2025, North Devon Council and the Ilfracombe Regeneration Board have been working together to oversee the process of a new public realm masterplan for Ilfracombe seafront. Consultants Node were appointed to create a masterplan that will enhance the seafront’s natural beauty, draw tourists and local residents to the seafront area of the town and help regenerate the area.

A stakeholder consultation took place last year, during which members from a wide range of Ilfracombe’s community groups were asked to help shape the masterplan in a way that represented the views of Ilfracombe. Now the public are being invited to share their own ideas in a six week online consultation.

Some of the ideas that are the subject of the Ilfracombe seafront masterplan consultation are:
* improve accessibility and connections to the High Street and the harbour
* more seating, shelter, lighting, interpretation and dog bins are needed throughout the seafront area
* public spaces need a clear function and purpose in order to make the seafront a better experience the wilderness and natural aspects of Capstone Hill should be protected
* more activities for all ages including young and elderly should be provided
* play park precedents from Paignton and Minehead should be looked at
* the museum should be extended or possibly relocated to the old pavilion site a fitness and/or art trail could be incorporated that also includes sculpture and work by local artists
* an outdoor amphitheatre / stage should be incorporated with three possible locations: Jubilee Gardens / Capstone Hill top / Old Pavilion site

North Devon Council’s Lead Member for Economic Development and Strategic Planning Policy, Councillor Malcolm Prowse, said: “We have lots of exciting ideas for how we would like Ilfracombe’s seafront to be regenerated. “We now want to hear from our residents about what they’d like to see, to make sure we have captured their views.”

A public consultation event has already taken place at the Landmark, but if you missed it you can still have your say. You can take part by completing an online survey at www.northdevon. gov.uk/Ilfracombe-consultation up until March 9, 2020