Just had a chance to listen to Mr Diviani “justify” the move to Skypark. The interviews with Claire Wright and him are here:
Reporter, Sophie Pierce’s introduction and clips of Ms Wright’s interview are on at 53.32 and EDDC leader, Paul Diviani is on at 01.42.08.
What a pathetic performance! He said that if people in Axminster couldn’t get to Skypark then “people” would come to visit Axminster. What people? When? How? What if they forget something!
But the most amazing part was when he justified commuting to Skypark from his home. He says takes him 30 minutes to get to Sidmouth, would have taken only 10 minutes to get to Honiton but will take him 17 minutes to get to Skypark.
Er, why does that interest us Mr Diviani? If I live in Seaton or Colyford I have to stay a night at the Hilton Hotel or your officer has to make a round trip of about 50 miles to visit me.
Still, it will be nice for people in Seaton and Axmi ster and Upottery to have a chat and a cup of tea with senior officers in your own homes, won’t it! But I do hope that they will reimburse us for the cup of tea from their expenses.
And to make it worse, the next item was about the government funding cuts made in rural communities!
Sidmouth Independent News 
Councillor Diviani stated in the radio interview that there were 13,000 face to face meetings with East Devon residents each year. This is highly significant. What is the increase in mileage travelled for these individuals if they have to travel to SkyPark. Add to this the loss in revenue from rural East Devon to Exeter …….