THE vice chairman of Sidmouth Town Council suggested that a massive piece of ‘recreational’ land could be used as an alternative for an employment site.

Councillor John Hollick floated the idea to colleagues and described the tucked away plot at Bulverton as “another option”.

He told last Wednesday’s meeting that the site off the B3176 and Station Road - which is classed as a ‘recreation area’ - was once looked at as a possible location for the town’s swimming pool.

He said, if the land ever did come about as an alternative, its status would have to be altered to employment use and the owner would have to want to sell it.

Cllr Hollick suggested part of the plot could be used for employment – taking the need for a site at Sidford “out of the equation”.

He also suggested it could accommodate a nursing home proposed for Knowle and that a subsequent re-jig of plans for that site could then see most of its parkland remain untouched.

Mr Hollick added that, should a “local businessman” relocate from the Alexandria Industrial Estate, that site could also take some of the contentious Knowle housing – thus “eliminating fears of a supermarket” there.

Mr Hollick’s idea was recognised by town council chairman, Cllr Stuart Hughes, who said: “It is certainly worth exploring.”

However, the suggestion was not debated any further as members formulated a response to the district authority’s Local Plan.