Cabinet Agenda 4 June 2014
Click to access cabinet_040614__-public_version.pdf
Page 53
4.
To approve next phase of project funding.
Daily Archives: 23 May 2014
Environment Agency picks up the tab for EDDC blunder
Our EDA Environmental Editor reports that a couple of months ago the Environment Agency (EA) put the finishing touches to a £85K flood alleviation scheme by the entrance to Budleigh Salterton cricket field in Granary lane. This is not to protect the cricket field but the handful of houses that have been built in recent years in an area that habitually floods.
It is very welcome news to the residents who have been flooded out four times in in the last couple of years. They had feared they were too few in number to reach the top of EA’s priority list, especially since the coalition cut real expenditure on flood defences. Their urgent needs for protection were also in danger of being deferred as part of longer term studies in how to restore fully functioning tidal flow to the lower reaches of Otter Estuary.
So this is good news, and as an added bonus, the scheme fits unobtrusively into the landscape. Congratulations all round!
However, this £85K expenditure (it’s your money and mine) was entirely avoidable and is the consequence of irresponsible historic planning decisions. Could EDDC make the same mistake again?
Election news from fellow-member of CoVoP
FRAGOFF (Formby Residents Action Group Opposition From Formby), a group from the new national organisation Community Voice on Planning (CoVoP)* of which EDA is an active member, has just sent this e-mail:
Hi All
Many thanks to all our supporters and helpers with our campaign, without whom we would not have been able to put a candidate forward, we won by over 500 votes and FRAG now has a Councillor inside. We have proved if the community stick together no matter what political beliefs they may have you can win and make changes.
Community Action and Not Party Politics has proved to be a winning combination for FRAG and the fact that we are non party political but represent the residents of the community.
Taking a seat from our labour run council who are voting all the housing through makes us feel even better.
If you want to know how we did it just ask us and we can let you know and guide you to a success at your next election. You can do it as well.
Kind regards
Maria
*http://covop.org/
N.B. The East Devon Alliance has not put forward candidates for election, but FRAGOFF’s example serves to show what can be done.
Don’t miss East Devon Writers event TONIGHT at Ottery St Mary !
A lively evening of free entertainment, celebrating East Devon’s literature and the exceptional landscape that has inspired so much of it.
Venue: The Institute, Ottery St Mary
Time: 7.30 -9 pm
Parking: Free after 7 pm at nearby Sainsbury’s car park
East Devon landscape makes money..amongst other good things, says RSPB.
See http://www.westernmorningnews.co.uk/s-time-leave-children-better-environment-act/story-21126750-detail/story.html
para 3 – about importance of nature to our wellbeing
para 4 – fundamental to the economic prosperity in Westcountry, “quality of the landscapes that makes the region an attractive place to visit, to work, and to do business.”
para 6 – importance of bees and hoverflies to pollinate crops
“Should we build less…?”
Are large developments on greenfield sites the only way to solve the housing crisis? Here’s some practical lateral thinking:
http://www.theglasshouse.org.uk/reflections-from-the-glass-house-debate-series-2013-14/
Bloody noses, but will they listen?
Warning shots fired over the bows of all the major parties and now the war is escalating and there are likely to be major casualties – mostly US. Will the major parties (which now presumably includes UKIP) listen?
We will be here.
East Devon Watch 