PROJECTS MISS OUT ON £50M LOTTERY GRANT

11:00 - 10 August 2006
Some of the region's leading projects were yesterday dusting themselves down after experiencing the disappointment of failing to reach the shortlist for a possible £50 million Lottery grant. Hundreds had submitted plans for a share of the Living Landmarks coffers but only three projects have made it through to the next stage of the competition: The Eden Project, Somerset's Waterlinks and Kerrier in Cornwall.

Those left disappointed far outweigh the success stories. In Plymouth, the campaign to create an Olympic-standard sports facility, despite being rejected by Living Landmarks, continues.

Cornwall fishing ports have been set back, too, after a harbours regeneration plan was thrown out. And in East Devon and Dorset, there was a major setback after the World Heritage site, the Jurassic Coast, was unexpectedly turned down.

The plans were to create a series of visitor centres along the coast. In Exmouth, there were hopes for a high-tech interpretation centre featuring displays on the Jurassic Coast and the Exe Estuary wildlife. In Seaton, there would have been a centre looking at the local geology, wildlife and landscapes.

East Devon District Council's corporate director for the environment, Karime Hassan, said: "We now need to take stock and consider how we go forward in progressing these two centres, to celebrate East Devon's Jurassic Coast and help regenerate important coastal towns such as Seaton and Exmouth."

At Lyme Regis, West Dorset, a cultural quarter project would have addressed the natural and cultural heritage of the area. Those behind the project, collectively known as Evolution, have vowed to continue in their bid to bring it to fruition.

Dorset County Council's cabinet member for the environment, Hilary Cox, said: "This is not the end of the road for Evolution and all projects will continue to develop and look for alternative sources of funding."

Elsewhere in Cornwall, there have been mixed emotions to the Living Landmarks announcement. While the Eden Project and a scheme to create a park and visitors' centre in Pool have made it to the next round, The Harbours Project was omitted. The five harbours were Newlyn, Falmouth, Looe, Newquay and Portreath.

The plans included in the Cornish Harbours bid were: a new multi-use fish market building at Newlyn; the refurbishment of an Edwardian pier and the provision of a new marine college at Falmouth; a new promenade for the seafront at East Looe; an events area and seafront pathway at Newquay, and the development of a community marina at Portreath.

Newquay Fishermen's Association chairman Bill Trebilcock said: "The harbours that were included in the bid all need investment. People come to Cornwall to see quaint little harbours. If they are left to continue crumbling as they currently are then people won't want to come back."

The Heartlands Project aims to create world-class facilities involving leisure, health and community uses in Pool but the minds behind the scheme were left disappointed when they too failed to make it through to stage two.

The hope is to create a replacement for Carn Brea Leisure Centre with new health facilities, spa and active adventure centre on publicly-owned land next to the Tesco Extra at Dudnance Lane, Pool.

Spyrys was not the only leisure facility project to be left disappointed. In Plymouth yesterday, council bosses vowed to continue their fight to create the £54 million Life Centre.

Having received the backing of thousands of city residents and Sports England, the council has said it will continue to press ahead with the plans to create the leisure complex in Central Park.

Managers were yesterday looking at alternative funding for the scheme which would include a 50-metre swimming pool, as well as top quality facilities for health, music and drama.

Mark Cotton, Big Lottery Fund head of region for the South West, said: "We made it clear to applicants only a handful of projects would eventually be awarded a grant. Each long-listed application was considered in great detail."