Category Archives: Axminster

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22 Sep 2016

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Affordable and Social Housing, Axminster, Developers/ Development, EDDC

Poor quality of new housing in Axminster

The EDDC Overview Committee deliberated about the poor quality of new private housing being built in East Devon, particularly in Axminster:

“A number of concerns and issues were noted by the Think Tank including common problems such as the quality of finish of plaster and cracking, the fitting of kitchens and bathrooms and other internal cosmetic issues.

More specific issues such as a development in Axminster where the retaining structures supporting split levels between gardens had been made of timber which had subsequently rotted leaving residents with gardens that were subsiding and concerns over who is
responsible for rectifying these fault.”

Click to access 270916-overview-agenda-combined.pdf

They had nothing useful to say about how this could be improved.

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29 Jul 2016

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Axminster, EDDC, Persimmon, Wainhomes

And now Persimmon in trouble for not honouring S106 obligations

Interesting how Plymouth City Council slams an enforcement notice on a developer within a month whereas EDDC asks Wainhomes really, really nicely if the developer could see its way to possibly doing what it was contracted to do in Axminster!

” … the work was scheduled to be completed by Friday August 26, ahead of the new school term, adding: “This will be a huge relief to people living on the estate, especially those with children who have to cross this very busy road every day to get to and from school”.

However, four weeks after the start date and Persimmon Homes had failed to begin any work on the crossing, prompting the threat of legal action by council bosses.

Earlier this week, as still no work had begun, Plymouth City Council announced it had issued a “breach of condition planning enforcement notice requiring developer Persimmon to install a toucan crossing on Billacombe Road by the start of the new school term.”

The council said it reminded the multi-million pound company of its obligations as per the planning agreement, noting how the first homes began being occupied last year.

However, dismissing the threat Persimmon has now blamed Plymouth City Council for the delay, claiming planners had not sat down with the firm for a meeting. In addition, it accuses the council of turning down a plan to create a new access point to the large development.”

http://www.plymouthherald.co.uk/council-issues-house-builder-legal-notice-over-failures-to-build-crossing-lighting-and-solar-panels/story-29565461-detail/story.html

So basically, Persimmon blames the council because it wanted a crossing in a different place – presumably one that didn’t have planning permission and was better for the site rather than the school!

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21 Jul 2016

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Axminster, Cranbrook, EDDC, Exmouth, Local Enterprise Partnership, Ottery St Mary, Regeneration, Richard Cohen, Seaton/ Colyford / Colyton, Sidmouth/ Sidford/ Sidbury

Now Exmouth seafront is up for grabs again, what of Seaton Heights?

East Devon District Council really is having problems with regeneration in Exmouth and Seaton.

In Exmouth, the relationship with preferred developer Moirai Capital Investments (see many East Devon Watch posts) has spectacularly bitten the dust. And what of the development at the old motel site in Seaton – grandly marketed as Seaton Heights:

http://lymebayleisure.co.uk/

which continues to deteriorate badly, despite promises made (many times) to either finish or start construction in June 2016 (it varies a lot depending just which press release you read) having been broken (though the company website STILL touts the off-plan £1,000 deposits it has been marketing for years).

EDDC Deputy CEO Richard Cohen was brought in specially for his regeneration expertise in London but, alas, he seems to have spent the vast majority of his time spearheading the relocation of council offices to Honiton and mopping up development issues in Cranbrook.

Now we have no less than THREE of our major towns with regeneration committees, as Axminster has joined Exmouth and Seaton as being in need of major new investment. Perhaps to be followed by Sidmouth when it is deserted by EDDC and has its replacement influx of more pensioners and Ottery as it struggles with more housing without accompanying infrastructure.

Not really a very good track record, is it?

Still, perhaps our LocalEnterprise Partnership will pump funds into these deprived areas.

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8 Jul 2016

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Axminster, Regeneration

A business too far for Axminster regeneration!

The photo graph of the scale of the factory is amazing but perhaps not quite the entrepreneurial vision Axminster is seeking!

http://www.exeterexpressandecho.co.uk/axminster-road-closed-after-cannabis-factory-discovered/story-29490906-detail/story.html

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25 Jun 2016

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Axminster, Post-Brexit Adjustments, Seaton/ Colyford / Colyton

The new political landscape

““If you haven’t got money, you vote out.” We were in Collyhurst, the hard-pressed neighbourhood on the northern edge of Manchester city centre last Wednesday, and I had yet to find a remain voter. The woman I was talking to spoke of the lack of a local park, or playground, and her sense that all the good stuff went to the regenerated wonderland of big city Manchester, 10 minutes down the road.”

http://gu.com/p/4my2k

or, in the case of East Devon:

If you are not in with the powerful in-crowd, you vote out. If you are in Axminster on the hard-pressed eastern side of East Devon … that has seen its local playing fields gobbled up by a developer, a muddy broken-down S106 playground that has been hedged in by mean housing, feeling that all the good stuff has gone to the councillors and senior officers in their new HQ in Honiton and the “regenerated” Seaton 10 minutes down the road?

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23 Jun 2016

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Axminster, NHS (local)

Axminster Hospital affected by protracted NHS contract negotiations

“Axminster must accept the closure of its hospital beds and concentrate on re-establishing day case treatment there.

That is what League of Friends’ chairman Dr Phil Taylor told members at their annual general meeting, in The Guildhall, on Friday.

He said: “Your committee agreed that, having fully engaged in the battle over beds, it was time to accept the inevitable and work constructively to ensure that the communities which we serve saw the development of other services which we hoped would mitigate this loss.

“Specifically, we would like to see the re-establishing of day case treatments at Axminster Hospital. This would mean that people who need blood transfusions, infusions for osteoporosis treatments and other intravenous treatments could have these in Axminster. We are also hoping that chemotherapy treatments might also become available locally as well.

“Progress on this has been impeded by the interminable process of contract transfer of the community hospitals – and other services – from Northern Devon Healthcare Trust (NDHT) to the Royal Devon and Exeter NHS Foundation Trust.

“We are also keen that people who are at the end of their lives can be looked after in our community when it is appropriate, the ability to do this having been diminished by the loss of our in-patient beds.

“We have been working with NDHT to see if we can establish two temporary care home beds but perhaps, more excitingly, we are working with the Exeter and District Hospice on extending the Seaton Hospice at Home service into the rest of the Axe Valley.”

http://www.midweekherald.co.uk/news/re_establish_day_cases_at_axminster_hospital_urges_gp_1_4588919

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21 Jun 2016

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Axminster, Bovis, Regeneration, Seaton/ Colyford / Colyton

Axminster – evidence for the need for regeneration? Seaton – booming?

New Bovis home “The Canterbury” style 4-bed home at Axminster – £367,995

New Bovis home “The Canterbury” style 4-bed home at Seaton – £385,000

Source: View from newspaper property section pages 36 and 38, 21 June 2016

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8 Jun 2016

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Andrew Moulding, Axminster, EDDC, Exmouth, Moirai Exmouth project, Regeneration, Seaton/ Colyford / Colyton

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Axminster “Regeneration” Board

So, it now exists …. with senior members of the Conservative majority holding the reins …. the same members that let it get into a position where it needs a regeneration board …. headed by someone who already has two other day jobs.

And they boast of how the have regenerated Seaton and Exmouth …. anyone been to Seaton recently? Where a former mayor has just resigned because he says too much attention is being paid to “Seaton Jurassic” and the Tesco site and not enough attention is being paid to the dying former town centre or other concerns. And where Seaton Heights still sits derelict whilst its owners make fantastic claims about what might happen but show no signs of them ever coming to fruition.

And Exmouth – where “regeneration” has become a dirty word amongst most residents and where EDDC’s chosen partner appears to be floundering with other developments it is involved in – not to mention being unable to file company their accounts on time.

Good luck Axminster.

http://www.sidmouthherald.co.uk/news/axminster_is_the_next_regeneration_town_1_4566363

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28 May 2016

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Axminster, Tax avoidance

HMRC misses out on £50m of stamp duty from Middle Eastern bank

Because it sued the wrong company … who were their lawyers?

“HM Revenue & Customs has lost its bid to recover up to £50m in stamp duty from the sale of the Chelsea Barracks in 2007.
Three Court of Appeal judges decided that the tax office had pursued the wrong party for the tax.

The purchaser, a firm owned by the Qatar Investment Authority, had used a type of Islamic finance that meant a bank actually owned the property.

HMRC said it was “disappointed” by the ruling.

“The Court of Appeal ruling supports our view that SDLT [stamp duty land tax] is payable. We are disappointed that the decision makes that tax much harder to collect so we are considering an appeal,” HMRC said.

The judges’ decision is likely to reignite criticism of the complexity of the UK tax system, if HMRC itself can be caught off guard. It will also expose alternative financing arrangements to more scrutiny from tax campaigners.”

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/business-36397905

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27 May 2016

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Axminster, Neighbourhood Plans, Persimmon

Axminster: Persimmon and Crown Estates meet the neighbours

DEVELOPERS have met with the people of Axminster face-to-face to discuss plans on a massive development to the east of the town.

Persimmon Homes had plans for a large development turned down in January 2015 and are now attempting to right that wrong by consulting with local residents over their plan for the land between Sector Lane and Chard Road.

Persimmon Homes said: “East Devon District Council have a newly-adopted Local Plan – Persimmon submitted proposals in the form of a planning application in January 2015 to commence the process of implementing the council’s strategy. EDDC refused the applications.

“We are aware that Axminster Town Council is preparing a Neighbourhood Plan and wish to hear how Persimmon’s proposal might contribute to that. We wanted to hear views in the issues that are important to Axminster.”

The application site forms part of the Local Plan and is allocated for mixed use. The site is available for the delivery 650 dwellings, employment land, community and open space facilities, a primary school and a north/south relief road. A road linking through the scheme would act as a relief road to traffic from the A358 Chard Road to the north and Lyme Road to the south.

At the public meeting Persimmon laid out some of the positives of the site and also how they will deal with some of the constraints.

They stated that the site benefits from its green surroundings, there are good existing road links to provide access, an existing public footpath provides walks to the countryside, plenty of views to the surrounding hills and a provision of a relief road would ease congestion in the town.

Persimmon said: “Existing significant trees and hedgerows on the site boundary will need to be protected; Weycroft Hall and Mill Brook at the north of the site both require sensitive treatment. Residential edges would be dealt with carefully and industrial edges of the site will need buffers.”

The Crown Estate, who owns around 50 per cent of the land Persimmon hopes to build on, were also at the public consultation and explained their role.

The Crown Estate said: “We are committed to working with the local community, other landowners including Persimmon and the district and town council to deliver the vision set out in the Local Plan.

“We understand there are realistic concerns about traffic levels and are looking at options to address this, including a possible relief road. We will look to carry out further public consultations on our emerging proposals later this year and will announce more details nearer the time.”

Plans for the original development were turned down in January last year for several reasons, including an unacceptable masterplan that had not been subjected to meaningful consultation.

There was also a failure to provide an acceptable level of affordable housing.

Persimmon Homes will look to re-submit plans for the new development later this year factoring in details that have arisen from meeting with local residents.

http://www.viewnews.co.uk/housing-developers-face-public/

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12 May 2016

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Accountability, Andrew Moulding, Axminster, DCC, EDDC

Moulding new Chairman of Devon County Council

How ever will he find the time to regenerate Axminster?

And remember Stuart Hughes was sacked from an EDDC committee because he was deemed “too busy” with his EDDC and DCC jobs!

Still, he has got Cloakham Lawn sorted to his satisfaction.

http://www.exeterexpressandecho.co.uk/Devon-County-Council-appoints-new-chairman/story-29265721-detail/story.html

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10 May 2016

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Accountability, Axminster, Transparency

A tale of two local newspapers …

Both reporting on the democratic election of Councillor Paul Hayward as Mayor of Axminster:

First, the Midweek Herald – a local newspaper owned by one of the small number of powerful regional chains:

“Axminster elected a new town mayor and deputy tonight (Monday May 09)

“Paul Hayward won a secret ballot to deny veteran councillor Douglas Hull the customary second term in office.

Cllr Lara Rowe was elected unopposed as his deputy – replacing Graham Godbeer who said he was not prepared to accept Cllr John Jeffery’s nomination to serve a second term.

Meanwhile two members of the council have resigned – Joy Raymond and Chris Tipping.”

http://www.midweekherald.co.uk/news/change_of_leaders_at_axminster_town_council_1_4528621

and here the totally local and very independent View from Axminster:

“A “NEW generation” took over the reins of Axminster Town Council tonight (Monday) as Councillor Paul Hayward was elected mayor of the town.

Councillor Hayward takes over the role from the council’s longest-serving member, Councillor Douglas Hull.

Councillor Hull was nominated to serve another year by his deputy, Councillor Graham Godbeer, seconded by Councillor Andrew Moulding who pointed out that it was tradition for mayors to serve two years and said Councillor Hull should be offered his second year.

However, Councillor Jeremy Walden nominated Councillor Hayward for the position, seconded by Councillor Carol Doherty.

Members then carried out an anonymous ballot and Councillor Hayward was announced as the new mayor.

He then received the mayoral chains from Councillor Hull, who commented: “Thank you to all those who supported me. I now have time to do lots of other things and will enjoy my future time on the town council.”

Councillor John Jeffery said that the town owed “a great deal of gratitude” to Councillor Hull and his wife, fellow councillor Joy Hull, for their long service.

“Time moves on and it’s sad to see Councillor Hull go from the top stop, but he’s still got lots of good work to do on the council,” he added.

“We now move to a new generation with younger people with lots of new ideas, but we owe Douglas and Joy a great deal of gratitude.”

Councillor Hayward thanked Councillor Jeffery for his comments, saying he “wholeheartedly agreed”.

Nominations were then taken for deputy mayor with Councillor Jeffery nominating existing deputy mayor, Councillor Godbeer. However, Councillor Godbeer said he was not prepared to accept his nomination.

Councillor Lara Rowe was then nominated by Councillor Walden, and with no other nominations was elected.

Councillor Hayward thanked Councillor Godbeer for his tenure as deputy mayor and said he hoped he could call on him and Councillor Hull for advice during his first term.

Open and transparent

Speaking later in the meeting during the town forum, the new mayor was questioned over the council and Guildhall’s finances and administration by a resident, and said it was his “heartfelt promise” to be as open and transparent as possible.

“I won’t say there will be changes, but there will be progress,” he added.

Councillor Mervyn Symes added: “We hope that it will be more transparent and that we will know what’s going on in that council office rather than not knowing.”

Councillor Hull asked Councillor Symes to give an example of what he was referring to, adding that he had made a “slanderous comment”.

Councillors Symes replied: “It was not a slanderous comment. We don’t all know what is going on in the office.”

Councillor Hayward said that all councillors were equal and no one councillor should have more power than others.

He added: “All councillors need to be fully aware of all decisions and discussions. Without that information we are acting blind which is not constitutionally correct.

“I will be working with our administrative staff to ensure all members have the information they need to do their job legally and to the satisfaction of the public.”

Resignation

It was also announced at the meeting that Councillor Joy Raymond had tendered her resignation.

Councillor Hayward said that Councillor Raymond had announced her resignation that morning, adding to the vacancy already caused by the recent resignation of Chris Tipping.

He said that due process would be followed to fill the two vacancies and urged people to step forward for by-election, asking: “What can you do for your town?”

Town clerk Hilary Kirkcaldie added that if no candidates came forward the vacancies would be filled by co-option.

‘New generation’ takes over as Paul Hayward elected Mayor of Axminster

Owl would say again, pays yer money takes yer choice, but they are both free newspapers!

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10 May 2016

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Axminster, Independent Councillors

‘New generation’ takes over in Axminster

Unfortunately, only at the Town Council, where scourge of the old ways, Paul Hayward, has been elected Mayor after long decrying the old method of “Buggin’s Turn” and campaigning strongly for openness and transparency.

At district level, the town, now a regeneration area because it has slipped so far behind all the other towns in East Devon (including Seaton) is still in the firm grip of long-time councillors Moulding and Godbeer.

After an effusive speech thanking Councillor Hull (past Mayor) Councillor Godbeer refused to be nominated for the post of Deputy Mayor:

“Nominations were then taken for deputy mayor with Councillor Jeffery nominating existing deputy mayor, Councillor Godbeer. However, Councillor Godbeer said he was not prepared to accept his nomination.”

‘New generation’ takes over as Paul Hayward elected Mayor of Axminster

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4 Apr 2016

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Axminster, Regeneration

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Axminster regeneration

A number of correspondents have pointed out that one part of Axminster that DOESN’T need regenerating is the 400 dwelling Millwey Rise estate, constructed by Bovis, built on land originally owned by Axminster Carpets and adjacent to Cloakham Lawns Sports Centre. Axminster Carpets was an enthusiastic member of the East Devon Business Forum.

Cloakham Lawns Sports Centre Ltd now pays a pappercorn rent to Bovis and benefits from sponsorship.

Directors of Cloakham Lawns Sports Centre Limited are:

Nicholas Alexander Yool
David Allan Pike
Andrew Timothy Moulding

There was a bitterly fight about the development, detailed here:
http://www.viewfrompublishing.co.uk/news_view/10297/21/1/axminster-the-big-cloakham-housing-debate

NOTE: AS PER THE COMMENT ON THIS ARTICLE THIS IS NOT THE PAUL ARNOTT OF EAST DEVON ALLIANCE – IT IS A COMPLETELY DIFFERENT PERSON WITH THE SAME NAME!

Here is how the pros and cons development were explained at the time (Owl has no idea how these panned out and would appreciate an update):

““Affordable housing will be provided at 40 per cent of the overall dwellings developed on the site, with 70 per cent will be rented and 30 per cent shared equity or similar intermediate housing unless otherwise agreed between the parties. The agreed mix of houses are: one bed dwellings 10 per cent; two bed dwellings 53 per cent; three bed dwellings 35 per cent; four bed dwellings two per cent.

• Each new resident at the proposed Cloakham Lawns site would receive a Travel Pack including a free two week taster ticket for local bus services and a £100 voucher to buy a bicycle.

• Axminster Primary School would face a shortfall of 83 places caused by the extra 100 primary aged pupils generated from the proposed 400 new houses. The extra 60 secondary aged pupils generated would mean The Axe Valley Community College, which in Autumn 2009 was already 17 pupils over capacity, would also be oversubscribed.

• A report confirmed there were some Roman archaeological features in the eastern part of the site, which lies in an Area of Archaeological Potential adjacent to the Roman Foss way.

• EDDC recommended the existing recreational facilities at the Cloakham Lawn Sports Club would be transferred to the Cloakham Lawns Association, with new occupants receiving 12 months free membership of the Cloakham Lawns Association.”

Details of the planning application are here:

http://www.cpredevon.org.uk/issue/cloakham-lawns-axminster-400-dwellings-permitted/

There is currently an acrimonious dispute with developer Bovis concerning a “temporary” footpath diversion in the area of the sports centre and the Bovis development.

http://www.axminster-today.co.uk/article.cfm?id=103216&headline=AXMINSTER%3A%20Developer%20promises%20to%20sort%20out%20footpath&sectionIs=news&searchyear=2016

Councillor Moulding declared a personal interest as President (and director) of Cloakham Lawns Sports Centre Limited.

So, now western Axminster and Cloakhan Lawns seems sorted (except for the footpath problems) councillors can turn their attention to other areas needing their input.

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2 Apr 2016

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Axminster

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Axminster needs regenerating: who took their eye off the ball?

News is that Axminster is going to get a regeneration board a la Exmouth and Seaton.

Time was that Seaton was the poor town of East Devon. Now, with the promise of a Premier Inn and the opening of the Jurassic Centre it finally appears that it might just be on the way up.

Axminster has been ruled by two of EDDC’s leading Tory Cabinet members for years (Moulding*** and Godbeer) and by the Lib Dems Douglas Hull – a councillor for more than 50 years. They seem to rotate the Mayorality on a regular basis. Moulding is current deputy leader of EDDC, Godbeer was the previous chairman of EDDC before current Chairman, Stuart Hughes.

Question: Who took their eye off the ball and allowed Axminster to get into such a state it needs regenerating?

Or is it just an excuse to redefine areas so that planning permissions can be fast-tracked and/or a “partner” like Moirai (Exmouth) or Tesco (Seaton) can take over?

***
All the more worrying why Axminster lost the plot given Councillor Moulding’s extensive DCC and EDDC experience:

DCC
Chair of “Place” Committee (Which exists to “review the implementation of existing policies and to consider the scope for new policies with regard to all aspects of the discharge of the Council’s functions concerning the environment, economic activity and enterprise, integrated planning and transport and community services, including community safety and emergency planning, libraries, arts and cultural heritage of the County.”

EDDC

Deputy Leader of the Council

Portfolio – Strategic development and partnerships

Committee membership
Cabinet (vice chairman)
Interviewing chief officers committee (vice chairman)
Employment appeals committee (chairman)
Panels and forum membership
Asset management forum
Budget working party
Capital strategy and allocation group
New homes bonus panel
New office executive group

Joint bodies membership:
East Devon stakeholder panel
East Devon local strategic partnership
Exmouth regeneration programme board
New growth point delivery team steering board (substitute)
Sidmouth main and east beaches working party

Representative on outside bodies
Exeter science park board of directors (stakeholder representative)
LGA general assembly (substitute)
LGA annual rural assembly (voting right in absence of Leader)
LGA people and places board (substitute)

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19 Jan 2016

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AONB, Axminster, COVOP, Developers/ Development, EDDC, Environment (local), Exmouth, Local Plan, Sidmouth/ Sidford/ Sidbury

Masterplans: EDDC’s new Achilles heels

Exmouth, Axminster and Cranbrook – all needing new Masterplans in our new Local Plan, according to the Inspector. And Sidmouth needing one at its eastern end according to EDDC.

Given the omnishambles EDDC has made of the new local plan – at least 8 years in the making, one false start wasting more than two years, and two rejected drafts plus the interference of the East Devon Business Forum – what are the odds of our current councillors and officers getting these new Masterplans right?

Below are the challenges they face. It will take more than crossed fingers to see these through … especially as, with so many of them, the councillors and officers are at odds with the electorate about what is acceptable and appropriate.

A new commuter town, a rural town massively expanding , and two seaside towns fighting to retain their identities … and all with AONBs, important wildlife sites and the World Heritage Coast to accommodate, not to mention thousands of homes and industries and their infrastructure to create under an “asset sweating” ruling party.

CRANBROOK

On Cranbrook, Diviani says this in a press release today:

“The Cranbrook masterplan, which is currently in production, will put some meat on the bones of these policies and will provide a strong vision and guide to future development at Cranbrook to ensure that it becomes an attractive, vibrant and sustainable modern town.”

http://www.midweekherald.co.uk/news/inspector_recognises_importance_of_further_development_at_cranbrook_1_4385501

Remember that the first plan of Cranbrook neglected to plan for appropriate health facilities, it did not include enough shops, not enough green spaces and a football pitch that could not be used in the evenings because it was no-one’s responsibility to pay for or maintain floodlights and where roads are still unadopted.

The highly critical DCC report is here:

https://eastdevonwatch.org/2015/09/14/what-mainstream-media-isnt-telling-you-about-that-dcc-cranbrook-report/

AXMINSTER

On Axminster, he says:

“a North South relief road for the town will be delivered as part of this development linking Chard Road (A358) to Lyme Road (B261). A Masterplan will be required for this site and development will be subject to improved public transport provision.”

and

“Prior to the granting of planning permission for any major residential schemes at Axminster, the Council will agree, with the Environment Agency and Natural England, a timetable for the review or development of a Nutrient Management Plan for the River Axe.

This plan will set out detailed actions that allow for new growth at Axminster to progress with adequate mitigation in place to negate the additional phosphate load that would be caused. The Nutrient Management Plan will work in collaboration with the diffuse Water Pollution Plan, and will seek to restore water quality for the River Axe SAC to enable it to meet its conservation objectives within a specified timescale, and in accordance with commitments to European Directives.

Depending on the findings of the plan, growth will only proceed in accordance with the mitigation delivery set out within that plan. Growth at Axminster will also be informed by the current status of the relevant discharge consents for waste water treatment works, and any upgrade required to support new growth will be the subject of Habitats Regulations Assessment prior to planning permission being given. The determination of such development applications will be informed by Habitat Regulations Assessment that takes account of the consent requirements.”

EXMOUTH

Oh, where to start with Exmouth. Suffice to say the Inspector says:

“The Exmouth Seafront is recognised as a key asset for the town and the Council is a key driver in its further enhancement. To this end, along with Devon County Council, the District Council appointed LDA Design to undertake a town centre and waterfront design study to identify opportunities for renewal and improvement in the physical, economic and environmental quality of the town.

The Final LDA study5 and recommendations and conclusion have been endorsed by the Council. The implementation of some projects in the Masterplan is underway but the Council also recognises that it is time to re-evaluate the Masterplan. The future intention is that a new or refreshed Masterplan will be produced with this becoming a Supplementary planning Document (SPD).”

Hard to see how this can be worked into what seems now to be a fait accompli with the developer (though the Inspector fired several warning shots about protecting the environs of the Exe Estuary.

SIDMOUTH

Mr Thickett says:

“Land at Port Royal Site – Land for residential use is allocated for 30 homes (site ED03 (this site will incorporate mixed use redevelopment to include housing and community, commercial, recreation and other uses).”

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14 Jan 2016

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Axminster

The true price of ” austerity” – woman has to sleep in wheelchair

Rachael Watt could be your mother, daughter or sister:

“Rachel Watt is 42. She is severely disabled – she has multiple immune disorders – and uses a wheelchair, owing to a spinal condition. She relies on care workers coming to her home to help her move, eat and dress.

Over the course of five years of austerity, Watt has watched as two-thirds of her social care package has been cut. In 2010, just a few months into the coalition government, her local authority stopped her visit from a care worker who helped her get ready for bed.

Her domestic assistance was reduced a few months afterwards: to the cleaner, to hoover and dust her home, and eventually just the gardener, who kept the backyard from becoming overgrown. The following year, they cut her evening care call, meaning the end of her having a hot dinner.

My social worker just said, ‘We can’t do it any more. We have to make cutbacks.’ What could I do?” Watt tells me, sitting in her adapted bungalow near Southampton. “They practically cut it overnight. A week and it was done.”

Now Watt, whose story is told in a report by the disability charity Scope, exists on one 45-minute care slot a day: a morning visit to help her quickly get washed and dressed. She has to give up £30 out of her disability benefit each week to help pay for this – the same amount as before her care was cut. She describes even holding on to a daily wash as a “fight”. (Her local authority suggested three showers a week would be enough.)

When her body is particularly weak, she can’t undress properly at night or move from her wheelchair into bed. On her worst days – without her evening care visit – she tells me she has to sleep in her wheelchair, in her clothes. She pauses, “It’s horrible. I don’t sleep easily, anyway. [When I sleep in my chair] I wake up in pain.”

This is the hidden face of Britain’s social care crisis: disabled people left without help in their own homes.

Read most coverage of the cuts to social care and it is easy to believe the crisis solely affects older people. According to research by Scope, 83% of disabled people in this country are now living without sufficient hours in their care package. That means being unable to get out of the house or waiting 14 hours to go to the toilet.

This is what happens when austerity strips £4.6bn from social care spending in five years. As the government squeezes local authorities, social care has been left with a “funding gap” – a gaping wound, shall we say – that is growing by £700m a year. The King’s Fund thinktank has told the Guardian that the financial prospects for Britain’s social care system in 2016 “could not be worse”.

For the third of social care users who are disabled and of working age – with potentially decades ahead of them – their life is now a calculation on a spreadsheet.

Meanwhile, Watt is left to struggle to feed herself. “Before, I would have had someone to make a meal for me. When my arms aren’t working properly I can’t cook, so I just eat fruit or bread,” she says. “The last time I was in hospital, the doctors told me I was malnourished.”

Forget a social care system that helps disabled people to build a life – meeting a partner, going to work, having a drink with friends in the pub. A regular meal is now a costly luxury.

The biggest trick the government can play is the myth that any of this is inevitable.”

http://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2016/jan/14/rachel-watt-sleep-wheelchair-austerity-social-care

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24 Nov 2015

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Axminster, Cranbrook, Gypsy and Travellers, Hugo Swire, Neil Parish, Seaton/ Colyford / Colyton

Gypsies- not in my back yard says Swire – stick ’em in Neil Parish’s bit of East Devon!

“East Devon MP Hugo Swire has urged a rethink on council plans to locate a large gypsy and traveller site in Cranbrook.

East Devon District Council, which is obliged to provide 37 new gypsy and traveller pitches in East Devon between now and 2034, is proposing in the latest draft of the local plan to create 30 new pitches in Cranbrook – 81per cent of the council’s overall allocation.

Cranbrook Town Council have opposed the plans.

Mr Swire said: “Obviously the easy thing to do is to put the majority of pitches in the same place but that does not mean it is the right thing to do.

There is more to East Devon than Cranbrook and I believe that other areas such as Axminster and Seaton should all take their fair share.

‘This looks to me like a rushed solution as the lack of identified sites is holding up the Local Plan. The majority of my constituents in Cranbrook have no objection in principle to taking on their share of pitches but it is clearly unfair for the town to have to accommodate over 80% of EDDC’s entire allocation.”

http://www.exeterexpressandecho.co.uk/East-Devon-MP-urges-rethink-Cranbrook-gypsy/story-28231277-detail/story.html

No matter that EDDC itself has said that gypsy and traveller sites should be on arterial road routes.

One can only imagine what our two MPs have to say to each other – if, indeed, they speak at all.

Wonder what EDDC councillors in Axminster and Seaton think?

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4 Aug 2015

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Axminster, Dorset, EDDC, National Planning Policy Framework, Neil Parish, Uplyme, West Dorset

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Strange things happening on the Devon-Dorset border

http://www.trinitymatters.co.uk/index.php/planning-applications-east-devon/planning-applications-uplyme/item/1123-updated-4th-aug-application-15-0851-mout-land-west-of-shire-lane-uplyme

It appears that, whatever the decision, the Minister at the Department of Communities and Local Government had already decided to call it in.

Whilst this might be an unpopular development, it is no more or no less unpopular than many other current applications, so what has made it so special? It might, however, be the first of several applications that eventually could link Axminster to Lyme Regis.

The Devon MP is Neil Parish, the Dorset MP is Oliver Letwin, good friend of David Cameron. The site is closer to Dorset’s Lyme Regis than Devon’s Seaton and Axminster.

Following the 2015 election, Letwin remained Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster as Cameron reappointed him as an official ministerial member of the new Conservative government’s Cabinet. He has been given responsibility for overall charge and oversight of the Cabinet Office.

Wonder what they think of this really strange situation?

It also appears to have been decided by “Chairman’s Delegation Committee” – anyone heard of this before?

See Councillor Ian Thomas’s comments on this in Comments section.

Which begs the question: if a developer or one single interested party can persuade the DCLG to consider call-in of a planning application BEFORE a decision is made – what is the point of having the meeting!

Should the DCLG be asked to clarify their behaviour?