JP HEDGE Big plans in store for Exeter

OPINION JP HEDGE

Pretty dining domes down at the quay

What lies ahead

JP looks at what the immediate and long-term future holds for Exeter and fi nds hope, support – and a big plan

It’s 5am in the morning in California.

You wouldn’t know anything about the eight hour time zone diff erence as Lord Charles Courtenay, 19th Earl of Devon, warms a virtual room and sets about chairing a packed agenda around delivering much-needed support.

Without blinking, he’s presumably tip toed from his family at the crack of dawn, in the name of dedication, to help the people of Exeter face these unprecedented times.

This Zoom call is one of seven groups involving over 100 people working on all things important to the city.

People are bringing their time and expertise from all walks of life together to create a plan like no other to help us recover.

What amazes me as I write this is that it isn’t somehow out of the ordinary that Charlie should get up all jet-lagged in the middle of the night to help.

Or in fact that any of our leaders of business, education, industries and communities, should break off from dealing with some of the tragic and diffi cult conditions they are currently personally facing, to work unfl inchingly for the greater good of others.

But this is Exeter – the brilliant alternative.

I think we are now all too aware that the virus is not just attacking people’s health and their lives, but also their livelihoods, income and mental health.

“I’ve also never seen so many people step up without hesitation”

I can say without exaggeration that so far the council has done everything it reasonably can to assist. But clearly it has both limited scope, resources and ability. We are a dedicated district council, we aren’t magic.

Luckily this wider city, its people and its players, have your back. They truly do.

In the most testing of days this winter I hope that provides some comfort to know.

After months of work we’ve now had to close the RAMM and other services we just managed to get back open. I took over the running of leisure this week, and had to close the doors of facilities less than 72 hours later. I’m in the running for worst fi rst day ever.

We are already looking at what the immediate and long-term future holds. And the key to this is our ‘recovery plan’.

I’d be the fi rst to admit that this kind of document doesn’t sound particularly sexy. At 76 pages long, normally I wouldn’t even mention it in the pages of a lifestyle magazine.

But it is unprecedented. Over 100 people have contributed.

I’ve not seen a city come together like this before.

There are a huge amount of asks outlined in it, ranging from millions of pounds for fl agship projects through to simple good will and ideas that cost nothing but time.

Excitingly, it is also all backed with the premise that when we do get rid of this virus, which we will, we are going to strengthen our city beyond what it was before.

That includes building in the likes of Net Zero, wellbeing, quality of life, active transport and culture into all the plans.

There are some quite practical easy wins in the document, many of which you will have already seen, such as Visit Exeter’s amazing domes on the high street and Quay.

There are some big hitters that we’ll need to thrive over the next 20 years – like electric buses and retrofi tting homes.

The plan is packed with things to make life better for all.

I’ve also never seen so many people, with so many areas of expertise, genuinely step up without hesitation, to try to do something to help.

The issue comes out in the eye of the storm.

With some potentially dark days of winter ahead I wanted to share that there a lot of people, who you probably don’t know, are working hard for you.

We will get through this Exeter – together. ■

Jon-Paul Hedge is a director at Exeter City Council where he currently looks after leisure. He is a former newspaper editor and lives in the city with his wife and two young children. www.exeter.gov.uk