This is the planning application that does not figure either in the old Local Plan nor the new one- part of this development is from a former East Devon Business Forum member.  The inspector who heard evidence regarding the new Local Plan has promised to communicate his initial findings to EDDC by 31 March 2014.

EDDC says that it “must” decide this planning application within 13 weeks of receiving it.  This is not true.  A council CAN wait longer than 13 weeks to determine a planning application (and many do) but a developer could then appeal because it has taken too long.  However, it is possible that before the developer could appeal on this particular planning application the Planning Inspector might indicate that there is no need for the two developments in this area. In In which case more than 400 extra houses will be built which are not needed.

There is a debate about exactly when that time runs out – it could be early April depending on when you think the last documents were put on the EDDC website.  However, EDDC officers have rushed through a “special” meeting to hear this application before the Planning Inspector’s comments arrive.  Also, there is another DMC meeting on 1 April 2014 and we are entitled to ask:  why is it necessary to hear this application on 25 March (before the Inspector reports) when there is a meeting on 1 April (after the Inspector reports)?

If you want to object to this state of affairs, there are several things you can do:

1.  Turn up at the Development Management Committee meeting on 25 March 2014 at 2 pm and make your views known – you will have up to 3 minutes to speak (provided you do not repeat statements already made by other speakers).

2.  You can write to your local district councillors (if you are not sure who your councillor is find out HERE).

3.  You are allowed to write to individual members of the Development Management Committee individually (using the link to councillors HERE)

4.  Write to your local MP, Hugo Swire, HERE,  telling him how unhappy you are about this.

5.  Write letters to local newspapers about it (and national newspapers if you wish too)