Apparently, DCC is looking into the possibility of having a second railway station in Cranbrook.
Just how big is this town going to be?
Category Archives: Cranbrook
What happens when “economic growth” spirals out of control
Lots of (poorly paid, temporary and zero- hours contracts) employment, massive “growth” and disastrous consequences. Coming soon to a town near you – perhaps Cranbrook when the supermarket depot opens on its doorstep and more companies relocate to its “enterprise zone”?
“Police say they have safety concerns about overcrowded houses in the town where one of Europe’s largest sports retailers is based.
Sports Direct employs at least 3,500 agency workers at its site in Shirebrook, Derbyshire.
While filming in the town, the BBC was shown houses “carved into flats”, including one with rooms partitioned down the middle of its windows.
Bolsover Council admitted it was caught off guard by the influx of workers.
Figures obtained by the BBC also show 46 housing complaints relating to overcrowding, repairs and conditions were made from April 2015 to 21 December last year – up from 16 in 2005 to 2006.
The Sports Direct agency workers, largely employed in the company’s warehouse, come mainly from Eastern European countries like Poland, Romania, Bulgaria, Latvia, Lithuania and Albania.
There are 500 permanent staff at the site.
The council estimates 1,500 people have moved to Shirebrook – which has a population of more than 13,000 – in the last four years, with many renting rooms in houses near the company’s headquarters.
Police community support officer (PCSO) Steve Cathcart said: “There’s been an influx of Eastern Europeans and the landlords that own the houses are carving these houses up into flats.
“Our concern is the fire risk, the safety to these people that are moving in.”
Police said more than 30 properties in the area were a particular worry.
The police said one of the occupants in the house where two rooms had been visibly partitioned up to the windows works at Sports Direct, but added the resident had “no fire doors”.
Bolsover councillor Karl Reid, who is responsible for community cohesion, admitted the authority had not adequately prepared itself for the sudden increase in Shirebrook’s population.
“[On the window dividers] that is not acceptable and that will be investigated,” he said.
“It was a gradual thing, then suddenly there was a massive spurt. I think that’s where we may have got it wrong or we weren’t on the ball for it, and I have to accept that.”
The authority said it had introduced public spaces protection orders to stop people drinking and urinating on the town’s streets.
It said it was also closing off a footpath near Sports Direct because of anti-social behaviour, including human defecation.
Since November, it said 20 fines have been handed out – 19 for drinking and one for urinating – to people in breach of these orders.
Mr Reid added Sports Direct’s senior staff was working with them for the first time in more than a decade.
The company – which has declined to comment – are part of a multi-agency group called Shirebrook Forward.
“They’ve changed their tack,” Mr Reid said.
“They’ve now – over the last six months – come to us and engaged with us on a senior management level.”
Sports Direct said in December they will be reviewing all agency workers’ terms and conditions after the firm was criticised for its employment practices.
That review will be overseen by majority shareholder Mike Ashley – who also owns Newcastle United Football Club.
Sports Direct has previously come under fire over staff searches and poor working conditions.
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-derbyshire-35604776
Anti-social behaviour and vandalism in Cranbrook when youth bus in town
“Concerns have been raised by Cranbrook Councillors following a spell of anti-social behaviour from youths in the town.
It was revealed at the town meeting on Monday 15, that anti-social behaviour and vandalism is becoming an issue for the residents of Cranbrook.
Councillor Kevin Blakey said that youth provision in the town currently isn’t working and action needs to be taken. He said: “We have had endless complaints from residents on for vandalism and anti-social behaviour.
“Bad behaviour seems to be escalating and we can’t sit on our hands a decision has to be made. It is becoming a focal point for some young people to misbehave and vandalising property as well.
It is not a massive rise but what has given us more concerns of anti-social behaviour was an incident where the railings by the primary school were damaged and a number of residents are rightly upset about it.
“What residents seem to be saying is that the behaviour seems to be worse on the youth bus days, which falls on Monday’s and Thursday’s.
“In the overall scheme of things it’s not a vast issue, it is not acceptable to anyone, especially the residents.”
The council made a proposal at the meeting to work with Devon Youth Services to further discuss how they can address the anti-social behaviour in Cranbrook.
“We did discuss as a council whether to suspend the youth bus, however we agreed that we are going to work with Devon Youth Services to try and find a solution of how we can make this work.
“What is going on at the moment is just not working and it is causing a lot of disruption to the town, and a lot of kids aren’t going because of fear of being bullied.
“We can’t be seen to close services for children when there is not enough as there is.
“We want to try to work more positively and look for more activities for younger people in Cranbrook.
“We need to recognise that there is an issue and we need look at how youth changes can be made in the town.
“As a council we want to be engaging in a lot of the youth, not just a handful of them.”
A spokesman from the Town Council said: “The County Council provides a mobile youth service (youth bus) to younger people in the area.
“It engages with about 70 young people with an average 15 to 20 people attending each of the two sessions each week.
“It’s an opportunity for young people to talk to trained youth workers for advice or assistance about things concerning them. It also gives the young people opportunity to get together to take part in activities. Each session runs for about 2.5 hours.
“The County Council is currently reviewing provision of the service in Cranbrook, with the Town Council and East Devon District Council, to look at what the service currently offers young people, what the community’s need for the service are, and where the best location for it might be.
“There is no evidence to support the notion that the act of vandalism which occurred on Thursday was connected to the provision of the youth bus on the same day.”
Cranbrook can’t have a post office as Co-op and BT systems can’t talk to each other
In your dreams!
See the front page of the Cranbrook Herald for this gobsmacking story. There will be no post office for at least this year until each side works out how their systems can talk to each other (if at all).
http://www.cranbrookherald.com/home
The Co-op’s fibre system is called “See the Light” – except you can’t. So, no child benefit, no disability benefits, no old age pension if you rely on a Post Office for them. And as there is yet no bank, no banking services either, no travel money (well at least the airport is nearby!) and no sending parcels.
The nearest post office is in Broadclyst, for which you will need a car – otherwise take the bus to Ottery St Mary or Exeter.
A new town without a Post Office – what would Postman Pat and his black and white cat think!
AND the town council is VERY unhappy about the provision of 30 traveller sites in Cranbrook, now the Local Plan has been approved.
Prominence is also given to Councillor Cathy Gardner’s reservations about devolution plans.
Flooding: an observation from Cranbrook
From a correspondent:
I attempted to go to Countrywide today (which used to be described as ‘Countrywide at Broadclyst’, but I guess it is now very much at Cranbrook).
The lane that used to lead there was closed a few months ago when the Cranbrook Educational Campus opened. Today I took the rerouted road and came across a torrent of water flowing across the road, several centimetres in depth.
This never to my knowledge happened on the old lane, and I don’t doubt that the run off from a newly built school will have contributed to this.
I imagine Countrywide are not too happy about the loss of custom, I am sure I am not the only one to have to turn back.
Exemplar of bad planning really! I also noticed the so-called ‘Country Park’ was completely flooded. I do feel sorry for those who live there, they are not responsible for bad planning decisions, but have to live with the consequences now.
Cranbrook Town Council doubles precept – some residents very unhappy
Here are a few comments from the town council website:
Hi CTC, I for one would like to be able to vote for the people who …represent us and make decisions for us. I believe that ten people need to ask the council for an election to be held on the upcoming Councillors vacancy or the Councillors get to choose. I would like it to be noted that I am one of the 10 required people. Is this sufficient notice? Furthermore, if an election is to take place, none of the current Councillors have been put forward for a public vote – as there is controversy surrounding the original candidates (ie: a lot of the people in this community were never told candidates were being looked for so never got the chance to stand) (then the 9 people who were never voted for got to choose the 3 because noone knew they needed to ask to be able to vote in our democracy !)…. Can the people of Cranbrook finally be given the opportunity at this election to vote on not just the future ones but all of our the existing town Councillors?
Hi CTC: The Localism Act 2011 provided local residents the power to… veto excessive Council Tax rises. I believe the proposal to increase the town council tax precept by 100% in a time of austerity is excessive and is not supported by or affordable to the residents of this town whom you represent. I cannot find anything to suggest that the Localisum Act 2011 has been repealed, rescinded, is not in effect or CTC are except from it. Therefore I ask for a referendum so the people of this town can vote for or against the proposal to increase council tax so drastically. I cannot find anything to suggest this request can not be made in this manor however if you require this to be made in a particular format please advise as I will facilitate. References: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/2010-to-2015-government-policy-council-tax-reform/2010-to-2015-government-policy-council-tax-reform http://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/2011/20/contents/enacted
Yesterday at 06:39
Hi CTC: From 2014 it appears we have the right to know how our Coun…cillors voted on the recent decision they made to double the town council tax precept. Article: https://www.gov.uk/government/news/town-halls-asked-to-help-freeze-council-tax-this-year Excerpt: “To further local accountability, from this year, every vote cast by councillors on Council Tax and budgets should be made a matter of public record and allow residents to see where elected officials have voted with their best interests at heart” Therefore I ask that you please publicize the names of our councilors who voted for this tax increase forthwith.
Oh dear …
Cranbrook Railway station – plenty of parking
Cranbrook railway station boasts a 150-space parking area. At lunchtime today there was a grand total of 13 cars and three people waiting on a windswept platform.
An off-peak return journey to Exeter is only £3.50 so it might well be worth using the station for park and ride.
The station is surrounded by sad, boggy ground, part of which appears to be some kind of park but is mostly very big puddles as several very large storm drains under the approach road to the station discharge their muddy water on it.
Still, it might be better in summer, if summer isn’t too wet or windy.
Cranbrook “Enterprise Zone”: Local Enterprise Partnership to get business rates for next 25 years?
Another highlight from the Cabinet Agenda for 6 January 2016:
“Further details will need to be presented and debated by Council and although the benefits of an Enterprise Zone meet our Economic growth agenda, the implications of committing business rate income from the Zone for the next 25 years to LEP needs to be understood. Particularly as business rates is now seen by Government as the core funding mechanism for councils.”
EDDC quietly drops the “eco town” from Cranbrook in Draft Local Plan
According to the front page of this month’s Cranbrook Herald, the lead story is that EDDC has dropped the words that it is built ton”eco-town standards” when describing Cranbrook in the draft Local Plan.
http://www.cranbrookherald.com
(e-edition)
The town council agrees, saying that the phrase cannot apply when EDDC is “downgrading future environmental requirements for the town”.
It is apparently now being described as a “modern market town”.
Hhhmmm …
Cranbrook ” eco- town” rail station opens 2 years late
Cranbrook – eco-town? Since when? District heating does not an eco-town make, especially as there is no date for changing it from gas to wood … and people in the town are always locked into one supplier for life.
And at more than £6 per day to return to Exeter Central with only one train per hour, some people are definitely going to want to continue to use their cars.
Quiz question on Cranbrook
Which EDDC web page, updated only this month, lauds the employment opportunities available to Cranbrook residents at the inter-modal freight terminal – a project never started and totally abandoned in August 2014?
Aah, so this is what a ” small enterprise town” is – fewer planning rules!
We have to go back all the way to July 2015 for this explanation of ” small enterprise towns”, which Owl thinks shows that the “growth point” and Cranbrook have been in deep trouble for a while. And/or another back-door route for “Local Enterprise Partnerships” to assume control by the back door yet again?
Shall we soon see councils disappear entirely so that LEPs take their place, perhaps? Developers to control planning and housing, unelected and unaccountable LEPs to control everything else?
“In his Summer Budget yesterday, Osborne said the government will be “launching a new round of enterprise zones for smaller towns” across England.
Historically, enterprise zones have introduced relaxed planning rules and economic incentives for businesses to operate in them. A Budget document published alongside the chancellor’s statement says the government will now be inviting bids for a new round of zones.
The document says: “This new round will focus on ensuring that all places in England can benefit, including rural areas where appropriate, and the government encourages towns and districts to work with local enterprise partnerships (LEPs) to develop bids.”
In May, Osborne said he was inviting bids to create new enterprise zones as part of his proposals to boost the northern economy.
Melanie Leech, chief executive of the British Property Federation, said: “Enterprise zones can galvanise government incentives, increase local government commitment to an area, and help businesses set up or expand.
“We therefore support the government announcing a new round of enterprise zones, and agree with its emphasis on LEPs having a role, and that they are seeking to support a broad spectrum of different business areas, whether that be industrial or retail, urban or rural.”
We hear in the press that Diviani and Williams were in the House of Commons yesterday:
Did they have the begging bowls out or were they plotting something more Machiavellian one wonders.
Cranbrook to become a ” small enterprise town” – whatever that means!
Perhaps it just means lots of self-employed people with zero-hours staff. Anyone else find this jargon for “big subsidies to business to try to kick-start failed projects” annoying? It hasn’t worked, so pump more taxpayer money into it. AND the number of jobs to be created (Owl seems to remember it was 6,000 at Skypark alone a while back):
Councillor Paul Diviani, leader of East Devon District Council, said:
“We are over the moon to be awarded Enterprise Zone status as important recognition of East Devon’s strategy for growth with the potential to provide 10,000 jobs and 18,000 homes in East Devon.”
Again, anyone remember the “one new job to be created to one new home” mantra – now, with more money it’s nearer half a job per house! Try paying the mortgage on that small enterprisers!
And the new zone:
“Hopes of an influx of new businesses to East Devon have been raised after a joint bid with Sedgemoor for Enterprise Zone status was approved.
The bid, which was given the green light by Chancellor George Osborne as part of the Autumn Statement, comprises five sites across two locations in the Heart of the South West (HotSW), four in East Devon and one near Bridgwater in Sedgemoor.
The Enterprise Zone combines the South West’s largest brownfield site at Huntspill Energy Park near Bridgwater with the innovation led offer of Exeter Science Park, the low carbon credentials of SkyPark, expansion space for Exeter Airport business park and the development of the new community of Cranbrook as a small enterprise town, all linked by the M5 corridor.
Benefits of enterprise zones include the local area being able to keep 100 per cent of the growth in business rates over 25 years, to re-invest in infrastructure and growth generating projects.” …
http://www.exeterexpressandecho.co.uk/Green-light-East-Devon-Sedgemoor-Enterprise-Zone/story-28248291-detail/story.html
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?
Cranbrook: Part of Exeter and East Devon Growth Point not East Devon
WOW – we have a new website “exeterandeastdevon.gov.uk” so “Greater Exeter” really does exist!
The website is being used to ask Cranbrook residents what they think about their community (and offering the carrot of the chance to win one shopping voucher as a prize for filling in the questionnaire).
Funny, we thought Cranbrook was in East Devon and East Devonians were in charge! But “Growth Point” is obviously something very different! Amalgamation without consultation continues apace. We wonder how many people who anticipated being in a semi-rural town in East Devon but with good links to Exeter actually feel about becoming just another suburb of Exeter?
“Cranbrook invited to have a say about their community for a chance to win a £50 shopping voucher!
“The annual Cranbrook Community Questionnaire is now landing on doorsteps asking residents for their views, ideas and priorities for the future of their town.
This year there is an added incentive, a £50 shopping voucher! To be in with a chance of winning Cranbrook residents just need to respond to the survey by the deadline of 21 December 2015.
The Cranbrook Community Questionnaire is organised and sent out jointly from East Devon District Council and East Devon Volunteer Services Association (EDVSA) and is a valuable tool in helping the community grow and identify needs of residents.”
http://www.exeterandeastdevon.gov.uk/cranbrook-community-opinions-sought/News-Article/
Cranbrook says no to gypsies and travellers
” … As part of that consultation, Cranbrook Town Council made it clear that it did not want the provision of a new site for gypsies and travellers in the new town.
In a formal response Cranbrook Town Council clerk Nick Randle said Cranbrook is “not suitable” as it is subject to “strategic allocations for residential development.”
Welcome to our world Cranbrook, now “flavour of the month” has worn off, where it doesn’t matter diddly-squat what you think or what you want – where “consultation” is pointless and where your district councillors and officers ride rough-shod over you.
And show us anywhere in East Devon that DOESN’T have “strategic allocations for residential development”!
But we can be fairly certain that travellers won’t be sited in Whimple!
On the one hand … Cranbrook gets housing awards …
But did they take this into account:
or this:
https://public-api.wordpress.com/wp-admin/rest-proxy/#http://widgets.wp.com
Cranbrook: anti-social behaviour issues continue
Cllrs Karen Jennings and Kevin Blakey met with Cranbrook Police on Thursday 8th October, to discuss residents’ concerns about perceived increasing levels of antisocial behaviour. The methods and processes for dealing with this were discussed in detail, and it was agreed that the Police would post a description of the potential consequences of such behaviour on their Facebook page, which is shared below:
“This week the parents of several young people in the local area have been issued with letters informing them of their child’s anti-social behaviour and warning …the children that the behaviour must cease before Police are forced to take more serious action against them.
These letters are the first step in the Anti-Social Behaviour Escalation Process, which can eventually culminate in a Criminal Behaviour Order (or CBO, which has recently replaced the ASBO) for those that continue to act anti-socially, although the aim is to try and put an end to the behaviour long before the need to issue a CBO.
For those that live in Social Housing, anti-social behaviour of any type is a breach of the tenancy agreement made with the housing provider and can therefore lead to eviction if it continues.
If you witness anti-social behaviour please report it to the police straight away via 101 (or 999 if it is an emergency) and provide as much information as possible to help us deal with the incident and identify the offenders.
https://www.facebook.com/cranbrooktowncouncil
Is it just Owl, or do remarks about those in social housing sound somewhat (pre)judgmental. And is it possible that the town’s lack of facilities for young people (e.g. no evening sports because there are no floodlights on the school playing fields) contributing to the town’s problems?
More Cranbrook teething troubles
Again, from the council Facebook page:
“Hi. Please could you advise me of whom I would need to speak with, to discuss the possibility of getting a suitable disabled parking space allocated in the car park beside St Martin’s School? As a disabled person with very poor mobility and a high risk of falls, I am at my wits end trying to do the school run with my toddler in tow and failing to find a safe, suitable place to park where I can easily access the school. Also, please can you advise who I need to speak with about the fact that I regularly fail to be able to park in the allocated disabled spaces in the main Younghayes Centre car park when shopping due to contractors vans (without a displayed Blue Badge) being parked in them?! Thank you.”
“Can Cranbrook please have some rubbish bins? Since the shop opened… there has been an increase in litter, especially around the parks. Some of us hope that if there were more places to responsibly dispose of litter there would be less of it left lying around. The entrances to the parks and dotted along the main local route would seem like good places.”
“Apologies if this has been suggested before but are there any plans …for any bus shelters in Cranbrook? It’s not much fun sitting on the bus and getting to work soaked through, especially as winter is fast approaching some shelter would certainly be welcomed.”
Cranbrook Town Council has its hands full
From its Facebook page – good luck dealing with the developers on these issues:
Town Council representatives from the Amenities Committee held the latest of their now regular meetings with representatives of the Growth Point Team, The Consortium / Developers and other key partners on 27th September.
The purpose of the meeting was to work through all the outstanding issues on phase one and to apply the lessons from Phase 1 to Phase 2 and ongoing development of the town.
Getting all of the partners together in one regular meeting has become very effective in moving issues forward and these meetings will continue as a regular feature as part of the process of ensuring that everything possible is being done to make Cranbrook a success.
The meeting is chaired by Cllr Kim Bloxham, who, with Darren Summerfield of the Growth Point Team, has put together a detailed list of all known outstanding issues. Those attending work through the list, item by item, identifying solutions and those responsible for delivery.
Some of the subjects discussed include:
• Realignment of some roads, parking, garage sizes, street lamp locations, street signage and street furniture;
• Utility issues including broadband, mobile phone signal and automatic meter reading;
• Streetscene issues including adoption, litter, and weeding;
• Landscaping issues including trees, hedgerow management, verges and fly tipping.
• Play areas;
• The Country Park;
• Allotments;
• Younghayes Centre;
• Train Station;
• MLR Upgrade;
• Working with Housing Associations;
• Public Transport
The work of this meeting is reported back to the full Town Council at its regular monthly meeting.
The members of the Amenities Committee make regular inspections of the Town’s facilities but also welcome members of the community being their eyes and ears. Please report any concerns on the Town Council Facebook page.
East Devon Watch 