An observer at the Overview and Scrutiny Committee at the Knowle this evening (25/10/12) writes:
‘The Chair, Cllr Stuart Hughes, asked The Leader about his reported claim that access to the Alexandria Road was “too problematic”. Cllr Paul Diviani said he would have liked more notice of the question. He then said he had no recollection of making any such statement to the reporter from the Sidmouth Herald.’
So the reporter ‘obviously misreported him, or misinterpreted him, or misheard him!’
The observer has written to the Herald to ask, ‘Will you publish an apology and clarification next week, or will you ask Diviani to give us all a clarification of what he really said? There are several other clarifications needed from Cllr Diviani but I will save them for later. The claim that the Herald cannot be relied on to tell us what councillors say is the most important point I am sure you will agree.’
Sidmouth Independent News 
Access to Alexandra Road is NOT problematic, or rather if it is, it is a problem that can almost certainly be solved. It can be solved by the will of the Council and either a Section 106 contribution or Community Infrastructure Levy from the developer of the site. The current owners could even do it at their own expense if they wished to expand on the site. Councillor Hughes (Sidmouth) is the DCC Portfolio Holder for Highways. He has top-notch access to the DCC experts on access – so he should know. At last night’s Overview and Scrutiny Committee, Councillor Hughes made his view on the matter quite clear. For details, see today’s blog on http://www.claire-wright-org
This is yet another reason why ALL Council meetings should be broadcast on the web, like DCC, in order that there would be no excuse for either misreported or misconstrued comments. However, maybe this would be too controversal for our unelected leader.
In my past life I was a Highway Engineer. I have inspected the site and its topography and I have no doubt that a reasonably straightforwrd acces is possible frm the Bulverton Road.
I totally forgot to mention that Parliament is broadcast live – so why not our tin-pot dictatorship EDDC ?