At the time this article was prepared, more than 145 individuals and resident associations had lodged formal objections against Clinton Devon Estate’s (CDE) planning application 17/3022 to create new industrial units on the Blackhill Quarry site. The condition on granting the original quarry licence was that when extraction ceased, the site should be returned to its natural state.
This number of objections is rising hourly, in spite of a determined PR campaign by CDE in the Exmouth Journal and local Parish Magazines to spin a favourable case (It’s only a small bit of land… the site proposed is currently covered in concrete and any restoration to high quality habitat will be problematic…. mitigation proposals that might secure significantly more wildlife benefits for the surrounding heathland are being discussed. Etc.) The consultation period has been extended.
Owl recalls last May CDE launched an on line “tell us what you think” survey with the introduction:
“We look to listen carefully to our staff, customers and those in our community. How we engage with you and what you think about our approach to sustainability is important to us and we want to get it right. Your feedback to this survey will play an important part in helping us develop our future communications.”
The survey asked questions such as:
To what extent do you agree with the following?
1. Clinton Devon Estates puts responsible stewardship and sustainable development at the heart of everything they do?
2. Clinton Devon Estates understands and conserves the wildlife it manages. And
3. How credible do you think “We pledge to do today what is right for tomorrow” is as a statement from Clinton Devon Estates?
anyone want to rethink their rezponses in light of the above?
East Devon Watch 