Axe Valley loses out on £11.2million Levelling Up funding

The Axe Valley has lost out on £11.2million, as East Devon District Council was told its bid for the government's Levelling Up funding had been rejected. 

The council made the bid with a specific focus on improving Seaton seafront and developing new office and work spaces in Axminster, which they planned to match with £4million of their own funding. 

The government announced £2billion in funding for 100 successful projects across the UK, but East Devon District Council's bid was turned down, along with one for Mid Devon. 

Almost £16million was awarded for projects that will extend Dinan Way and improve the Exmouth Gateway transport hub, along with delivering better cycling routes and footpaths, to help reduce congestion and improve journey times.

Responding to the news, Liberal Democrat MP for Tiverton & Honiton, Richard Foord, said: "This news is a body blow for our communities, who have been crying out for this vital investment for years.

"By failing to honour their commitments to level up our part of Devon, the Conservatives have shown just how woefully out of touch they are.

"It's clear they are continuing to take our communities for granted and have yet to hear the message from their by-election loss last summer.

"People across Tiverton & Honiton will rightly be outraged by this decision, which is holding up key projects like the Cullompton Relief Road and investment in both Axminster and Seaton.

"I will continue to hold the government to account and demand that the South West gets the investment we have long been promised – so we can unlock the true potential of our part of Devon."

The funding would have seen Seaton seafront transformed, including redevelopment of old the public toilets and moridunum.

Seaton Town Council was heavily criticised when it scrapped its seafront enhancement scheme in December 2020 despite having already spent more than £50,000 on the project.

They agreed not to take the enhancement scheme any further, after a number of procedural and financial concerns were raised.

Town and district councillor Dan Ledger responded to criticism on social media this week, saying he understood the public frustration but he stood by decisions of the past four years and always acted "with Seaton's best interests in mind".

"I want to see this place flourish and reach the potential we all know it has," he added

Cllr Ledger said that EDDC were now meeting with officers next month to discuss the next steps for the Axe Valley projects.