Residents of Cranbrook were asked to put forward  questions for a “no holds barred” question and answer session.  The full post is here.  Some comments which show that things are not quite going to plan are highlighted 9by us) in BOLD.

TRANSPORT 

Railway Station

RC/BR informed the Community that currently the Railway Station is expected to be completed by the end of 2014, which is the timescales expected under the 106 agreement.
The sign stating that the Railway Station will be completed by Autumn/Winter 2013 was put up by the Consortium and was deemed by RC/BR and the Community to be a marketing ploy.
BR advised that Network Rail are due to commence work on the Station in spring 2014 and are due to complete their work by September 2014.  The railway line is on the London Waterloo line and at Cranbrook will be a single line. BR informed the Community that if by the time the 2000th home is occupied and the Railway Station is not complete, the Consortium, due to a legal agreement, would have to sort out other means of transport of the Community.
AW confirmed that trains will stop at Exeter St. David’s Station and Central Station.

Bus Services 

RC/BR informed the Community that the bus prices and level of service (i.e. current service only Mon – Sat) are nothing to do with the Local Authority and have been set by Stagecoach.

Roads, Parking and Speed Limits

A discussion was held around traffic speed limits for Cranbrook. Generally it was felt by those in attendance that the proposed 30mph limit is too high and the limit should be reduced to 20mph for safety reason. A resident informed the Community that she had been in contact with EDDC regarding speed limits and EDDC have confirmed that the speed limit on all Cranbrook roads will be 30mph to reduce the number of 20mph road signs required. 

A suggestion was made to have a ‘you are entering a 20mph zone’ sign on the roads leading into Cranbrook from London Road to save on the number of 20mph signs needing to be located around Cranbrook.

Action: RC/BR to found out if this would be possible and report back to the Forum.

RC/BR informed the community of the following:

Developers have not set a date for the roads to be adopted by Devon County Council. This could be years away

Some roads have been designed to be narrow to give a village feel to the town and also a traffic calming measure. 

Younghayes Road is currently at base level and the final surface has not been applied due to the road still being classed as a construction site. The look of Younghayes Road will change dramatically in due course with the addition of trees along the road and traffic calming measures.

Younghayes Road will not be used by construction traffic to access Phase 2. The Phase 2 site entrance will be located on the Phase 2 side of the Country Park.

Once the roads are adopted it will be the responsibility of Devon County Council to grit the roads in icy/ snowy conditions. However, in the meantime, as the roads are privately owned by the Consortium, it is the Consortiums responsibility.

Mud is likely to be on the roads for a number of years, however, for Phase 2 wheel washers for construction vehicles will be provide. 

A discussion was held around the level of parking for residents and visitors including the lack of off-road parking and safety risks of vehicle parking on pavements. 

RC commented as follows: 

The issues of parking and narrowness of roads is something you can’t win either way

It’s about striking a happy medium which is hard 

If you allow more spaces people will still require more spaces

Community/Forum comments have been looked regarding degree of parking and it is something that can be considered for Phase 2

BR commented as follows:

We have gone through the last decade and a ½ of having standards where you can’t provide more than x amount of spaces per property, which is the current policy at EDDC.

The incoming local plan has a policy with a minimum standard which is like what it was in the 1970s, which is good and bad. 

What we are doing for Phase 2 is looking at a slightly higher parking level, more in line with the new policy and see how that goes, however, by increasing the parking it will make the streets look busier and will give a different urban design feel.

It’s all about getting the balance right between Cranbrook being a place for people and not just for cars.

Other 

AW advised the Community that more work is to be carried out on the old A30.

A discussion was held around safety concerns relating to Station Road. RC/BR confirmed that Devon County Council have set aside £140,000 for safety improvement, however, no improvements have be designed to date and the money will not be for bridge improvements. 

Concerns were raised in relation to the school pick up by Carmel Coaches taking place in the lay by located between the Taylor Wimpey/Charles Church roundabout and the Bovis/Persimmon roundabout.

BR confirmed that a cycle route will go through the Country Park.

With regards to pedestrian access being made from the Railway Station access road to the Co-op in Broadclyst, the land that is located between the station and the Co-op belongs to National Trust and is out of EDDC control. There are no current plans under the planning permission for this access. This may be able to be looked into in the future, when the expansion development areas of Cranbrook are developed. 

FACILITIES 

Doctors

The Doctors Surgery will be located in the Community Centre and will have its own separate entrance, 3 Consultation rooms and a Reception, which has been design to Primary Care Trust Specification at the time.

AW advised the Community that the NHS have to run a Procurement exercise and go out to local GP Surgeries and enquire who would like to run the Surgery. They did the exercise once which was aborted as they didn’t get a suitable proposal. 

What the NHS are looking to do now is understand the requirements of the Community by way of collating the results of the questionnaire issue to the Community, prior to re-running the procurement exercise.  Timescales are unknown at this stage. 

Concerns were raised by members of the Community that currently to enable them to get to Pinhoe Surgery they have to catch a bus into Exeter City Centre and a separate bus out to Pinhoe to attend appointments. 

Some suggestions put forward were to see if it was possible for:

Transport to be provide from Cranbrook to both Pinhoe and Broadclyst Surgery

Could Pinhoe Surgery provide daily locum service at the Cranbrook Surgery.

AW advised that discussion have previous been held with Pinhoe Surgery regarding having some sort of facility in Cranbrook, however, it takes a lot of funds to fit out a surgery even after the actual building has been provided. 

Angie Hurren from Broadclyst Parish Council reiterated AW comments adding that she has also had similar discussions with Andy Potter, Managing Director of Pinhoe/Broadclyst Surgery.  They are more than willing to provide some sort of service, however, it comes down to money and they are not in the position to equip a room and provide everything that goes with it like a Receptionist.  Broadclyst and Pinhoe will provide a home visit service for those too ill to attend appointments at the Surgery. 

Action: Forum to become engaged in the process.

Community Centre

RC/BR advised that details and the Community Centre car park caused the delays in the opening of the Community Centre. 

PS informed the Community that discussions are currently being undertaken between EDDC and the Forum in relation to booking procedures and cost for hiring the Community Centre. Further information will be issued in due course.

Shops 

Confirmation has been received that a Co-op store is going in one of the 6 units near the Community Centre.

RC/BR confirmed that 14 residential flats will be built over the 6 units and the shops have been granted planning consent, however, the Consortium were not happy with some of the planning conditions which included 10pm closing and consent for take-aways. They have told EDDC that commercial they cannot let the Supermarket unless they have more flexibility and they are seeking to put an application (no. 13/2573/MRES) in to relax the hours (opening times be up to 11.30pm) and for up to 300 of the 1000Sq/m be allocated for take-away facilities. 

The application will be dealt with in the New Year.

PS advised the Community that as the Consortium have indicated that the Co-op cannot be provided until the request for opening hours until 11.30pm has been granted, we either have to allow a 11.30pm closure for 3 possible take-aways or there could be a delay with regards to getting the Co-op. The Forum have challenged this along with Environmental Health on grounds of quality of life and public safety issues likely to affect future residents living above the commercial units, and in close vicinity, and also on grounds of loss of potential public amenity which could be provided by other shop types enabling community gathering during the day time.

Kitchen will also need to be design and PS, BR and AB have had discussion regarding this.

If permission is granted it will be difficult in the future to reduce the opening hours.

PS requested that any comments regarding the planning application 13/2573/MRES are sent to April Waterman, Senior Planning Officer Major Project at EDDC (AWaterman@eastdevon.gov.uk) and copy the forum into the e-mail (info.cranbrookforum@gmail.com)

Post Meeting Note:  The consultation period for the planning application 13/2573/MRES has now finished

Action: Steering Group to investigate the possibility of having a sub-post office located in the Co-op

PLAY AREA

RC/BR informed the community that approval had only just been received from the Consortium (Thursday 5th December 2013) to allow access to the play area site. Since approval has been received a meeting has been held on site with the play company to measure up.  EDDC have provided the funds for the play area from an existing budget to bring forward the work, even though they are unable to invoice the Consortium until January 2014 for the play equipment.

The play equipment is due to be delivered week commencing 16th December 2013 and will be left on site over Christmas in containers to enable installers to commence work in January 2014.

BR added that the works are technically ahead of schedule as a legal agreement states that they can invoice the Consortium after 500 homes are occupied.

Post Meeting Note: Work now commenced on the play area.

COUNTRY PARK 

RC/BR confirmed that planning permission has been granted and the Consortium have up to two years to commence work, however, work on the Country Park is expected to start in the New Year on the Phase 1 side of the stream.  A Country Park Ranger is to be employed on part-time basis.

PS informed the Community that at the next Steering Group meeting (which is not a whole Community meeting) on 14th January 2014, Charlie Plowden from East Devon District Council will be attending this meeting to discuss proposals for the development of the Country Park with the Forum.

HOUSING 

Housing Makeup / Tenure

RC/BR informed the Community that EDDC have a policy were they try to achieve 40% of affordable housing across a development. In Cranbrook Phase 1 the idea was to ‘pepper pot’ the affordable housing elements around the town and therefore be ‘tenure blind’ i.e. it would be difficult to distinguish what area were affordable housing and which were not.

The 40% affordable housing is made up of the following:

10% is affordable by design

21% is social rented via housing associations

9% is shared ownership

Terry Black from Sovereign Housing informed the Community that Sovereign Housing have 106 properties in Phase 1 and 280 residents. 46% of the residents are under the age of 18 and 30% of the properties are shared ownership.

PS advised that both Sovereign Housing and Devon & Cornwall Housing have provided funding to the Cranbrook Community Forum and thanked them both for their contribution and help.

E-on / Solar Panelling

AW confirmed that an 80 year contract is in place with e.on and prices guarantees are part of the contract. 

AW advised the Community that he is in discussion with e.on regarding arranging a visit to the e.on Centre to enable residents the opportunity to find out/ understand more about how the system works.

A discussion was held around the issues with the e.on units.  400 properties have been fitted with Italian electrical model. All new properties being built are having a German mechanical model installed. 

A question was raised as to what e.on proposes to do for the 400 properties, which have the Italian model installed in their properties. Will they replace the Italian unit with the German Model?  AW informed the Community that this is unlikely as it will cost e.on hundreds of thousands of pounds.

It appears that faulty valves have been the cause of the cold showers experienced.  PS requested that any issues with e.on are sent to the forum e-mail address (info.cranbrookforum@gmail.com) to enable the issues to be collated. 

BR confirmed that in Phase 2, solar panelling is to be actively marketed to households and that each Developer is required to sign up to say they will actively market solar panelling.

OTHER 

A discussion was held regarding the recycling of cardboard and whether green wheelie bins can be provided for garden waste. RB advised that EDDC have a contract with Otter Rotters which are a company that collects and recycles garden waste.

RC added that it is very expensive to collect cardboard. A brief discussion was held on the £150 Consortium fee.  BR confirmed that the fee was between the residents of Cranbrook and the Consortium and it has nothing to do with EDDC. 

Members of the Community require clarification on the following from the Consortium:

What the £150 fee goes to towards?

Is it an annual charge?

Why are residents paying this fee in addition to Council Tax?

When are accounts being published?

The Community in attendance at the meeting requested a response from Mike Owen and the Consortium to all the questions submitted to Mike Owen prior to the meeting.  The response is to be published on the website in due course.

Action: MO to provide feedback to the Forum for all questions submitted prior to the meeting

At various point during the meeting delay were discussed i.e. the Community Centre and the Play Park.  In response BR advised that there will be times where triggers won’t have been met, like the slight delay with the Community Centre being transferred, however, to date nothing else has been delayed, including the Play Park. In response to this the Community informed RC/BR that at the last meeting held in September 2013, we were given the impression that all that was required was the matter of signing a bit of paper then works could commence on the Play Park and it would probably be installed in time for the October half-term. When people are expecting something,  to the Community is does not matter about triggers, like 500 homes, a 1000 homes as we have been provided with a proposed delivery date, therefore hopes get raised and then are dashed when something is not delivered by the time given. BR responded by saying that EDDC are now going to be very cautious in the future with regards to raising expectations, as something can happen behind the scenes for example with contracts, that could impact on delivery times.