The spotlight will again be on Claire Wright and her bid for Parliament in the May 7th election. See her on BBC TV this evening, on the local ‘Spotlight’ news.
Category Archives: Environment (local)
Urgent: Save Clyst St Mary public meeting 15th April re. Westpoint planning application
Westpoint has applied for an exemption to its planning permission to allow timed car trials on its site. Obviously this is a concern as it is likely to be very noisy and could potentially cause additional pollution to the area too..
This is the link to the planning application (15/0139/VAR):
https://planning.eastdevon.gov.uk/online-applications/applicationDetails.do?activeTab=summary&keyVal=NIGLWSGHHHM00
Save Clyst St Mary spokesperson, Gaeron Kayley, says:
“Having spoken to The Parish Council, I can confirm there will be a public meeting in the School Hall on Wednesday 15th April Starting at 19.30″
‘Peoples’ Voice on Planning’ event has support from all but one Party!
About a hundred people from various parts of East Devon gathered on the lawn terraces at Knowle on Sunday afternoon 12th April to listen to speeches from parliamentary candidates and others about the national planning set-up.
The event was part of a nationwide Day of Action called for by Community Voice on Planning (Covop) and was organised by Covop trustees and Vision Group for Sidmouth.
Parliamentary candidates representing all parties, except the Conservatives ( from both the Honiton and Tiverton and the Devon East constituencies) gave their views on the national planning system and in particular the National Planning Policy Framework (NPPF).
All of them promised reforms, mostly involving prioritising brownfield developments, protecting the countryside and building more affordable homes for local people. Conservative candidates were unable to attend and failed to respond to requests to send a written statement.
The first speaker was ex-judge Ian McKintosh, of East Devon Alliance and Covop. After reviewing the situation nationally and locally, he argued that local communities were being ignored in favour of developers.
Caroline Kolek, Labour candidate for Honiton and Tiverton, claimed that Labour would stop land-banking and prioritise brownfield sites. She shared her slot with Henry Brown, district councillor candidate for St Paul’s ward, Honiton,who made the case for more affordables for local young people.
Paul Edwards of the Green party and candidate for Tiverton and Honiton, said the countryside was our greatest resource and should be protected.
John Kelly, standing in for Andrew Chapman, UKIP parliamentary candidate for Devon East, who was indisposed, argued that the planning crisis was caused by EU regulations.
Stuart Mole, Liberal-Democrat candidate for Devon East, contended that the reforms recommended by the recent Communities and Local Government committtee should be immediately instated, for instance the proposal that all planning permissions be counted towards the 5-year land supply.
Claire Wright, Independent candidate for Devon East, put the blame for the massive increase in inappropriate development squarely on the government’s deregulation of the planning system and on the Local Council’s developer-bias and failure to produce a Local Plan.
Robert Crick, for Vision group of Sidmouth, read a litany of some of the inappropriate developments approved in the district in the past three years together with statistics provided by the Campaign for the Protection of Rural England. These included the prospect of about a thousand houses a year in East Devon until 2031.
A Covop petition, to be presented to the new government, was handed out along with a short guide to the planning system and suggested reforms. The petition is available online at https://you.38degrees.org.uk/p/covop2015
EDDC and the Case of the Mysterious Numbers
An article in ine of today’s newspapers is about health and the figures for Body Mass Index and cholesterol ( Sunday Times). It makes the point that figures for “healthy” BMI and cholesterol were picked arbitrarily and based on little firm evidence and may be quite wrong.
Rather like EDDC’s old AND new annual housing figures.
Several readers have made the point that they can find no evidence at all for the figure of 950 houses a year for the next 18 years in any of the latest Local Plan documents. All sorts of figures are mentioned for all sorts of scenarios but 950 does not seem to be one of them.
Perhaps this is why Mr Thickett, the Inspector who is usually so quick at responding to EDDC, has yet to reply to EDDC’s submission of the new draft which they sent to him on 18 March 2015 (with Community Infrastructure Levy rate information sent on 30 March). He usually replies witin a few days.
This new draft must be giving him much food for thought.
Surely not yet another enormous blunder that will allow a developer free-for-all to continue well beyond the life of this (currently) Conservative-controlled district council with its “economic growth” at all costs mantra?
Lies,, damned lies – and Party Manifestos!
Interesting discussion on the Today programme about Party Manifestos and promises.
Three well-known historians agreed that they count for nothing and should be seen at best as aspirational and at worst as fantasies.
Is this aspirational or fantasy?
Is the Party cat going up the the stairs or down or Photoshopped!
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2015/04/10/cat-upstairs-downstairs-photo_n_7040446.html
Fracking and its effects on the countryside
Housing ‘crisis’ based on shaky foundations?
Simon Jenkins believes so. For those who missed it first time round, here’s his evidence…http://www.spectator.co.uk/features/9452952/the-myth-of-the-housing-crisis/
Westpoint- Planning application to remove exemption for Speedway/Timed Car Trials. Public Meeting planned 15th April (tbc).
New concerns for Save Clyst St Mary campaigners, outlined in this message today from organiser Gaeron Kayley:
‘ In case you weren’t aware, Westpoint has applied for an exemption to its planning permission to allow timed car trials on its site. Obviously this is a concern as it is likely to be very noisy and could potentially cause additional pollution to the area too..
This is the link to the planning application (15/0139/VAR):
https://planning.eastdevon.gov.uk/online-applications/applicationDetails.do?activeTab=summary&keyVal=NIGLWSGHHHM00
As you can see, there is barely any info about what it actually entails at present
Here are the links to the company’s website:
http://www.bhpperformanceshow.com/
and
http://www.bhpperformanceshow.com/gallery
It might also be useful to have a look at their own clip on YouTube:
Although the application is for one day, we fear this will be a sliding slope and that there might be additional requests for more days – hence the reason we have brought it to your attention.
Having spoken to The Parish Council, I can confirm there will be a public meeting in the School Hall on Wednesday 15th April Starting at 19.30 (This date and time is subject to confirmation once the school has re-opened).
On a different note, we understand there have been some recent changes in personnel at East Devon District Council, including a new Head of Planning. However, at present, there is no clarification of this on their website. To save time and ensure that we can have direct contact with the right people, if and when this is required,we would be grateful if any member of our group working for EDDC could contact us to confirm appointments and contact details. This will ensure we can get in contact with the right people and not disturb those unconnected with our interests!’
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“English Heritage” splits in two today
One section to conserve buildings, one to give “planning advice”.
“The government has confirmed that its heritage advisor, English Heritage, will be split into two separate organisations, with a new body, Historic England, taking on planning and heritage protection responsibilities.”
Oh dear – anyone else fear for our historic buildings?
Neighbourhood plans to the rescue?
Lympstone residents, Hugo Swire, and Ben Bradshaw, discuss this in the Sunday Politics show:
No more large-scale green energy (including solar farms) for at least six years in South West
Western Power has run out of infrastructure to support large-scale renewable energy schemes in the South West:
http://www.westernmorningnews.co.uk/Grid-power-renewable-schemes/story-26265486-detail/story.html
Job opportunity with the Jurassic Coast Trust.
Coincidentally, after EDWatch’s recent post ‘Marketing the Jurassic Coast’, this relevant job advertisement has today been circulated.
31 March 2015
Are you an experienced administrator who can make a big difference to the Jurassic Coast?
The Jurassic Coast Trust funds and inspires education and conservation projects along the 95 miles of World Heritage Coastline. We’re looking for someone to help us make sure we run our projects and activities more efficiently, to keep an eye on the details and to provide support to our growing numbers of volunteers.
From organising events to keeping tabs on the finances, we need a friendly and professional all-rounder with great communication skills who can work as part of our small team and help us do the very best job we can.
The position is part-time (15 hours per week), based in Dorchester, and paying circa £7.50/hour. A full job description can be downloaded from our website.
To apply, please submit a CV and a covering letter, explaining how your skills and experience match the role profile for this job, to Alexandra O’Dwyer at the Trust – a.odwyer@jurassiccoast.org.
The closing date for applications is Friday 10th April 2015.
Yours sincerely
Guy
Guy Kerr
Community Coordinator
Jurassic Coast Trust
g.kerr@jurassiccoast.org
077 6611 2724
Marketing the Jurassic Coast…
….is a complicated business.
Latest aerial views keep us up to date with what’s happening, with EDDC planners’ approval:
http://futuresforumvgs.blogspot.co.uk/2015/03/comparing-visions-for-development-of.html
And bodies such as the Environment Agency alert us to some of the problems..Has this one been solved?? : https://sidmouthindependentnews.wordpress.com/2013/07/16/east-devon-beaches-at-seaton-ladram-bay-and-budleigh-salterton-too-polluted-to-swim-at/
More on balanced growth
Balanced Growth
Definition of Balanced Growth:
“Balanced Growth refers to a specific type of economic growth that is sustainable in the long term. Balanced growth is opposed to the boom and bust nature of economic cycles.”
It was felt the UK had balanced growth between 1993 and 2007 – a long period of economic expansion and low inflation.
However, the credit crunch of 2007, showed the growth wasn’t as balanced as previously thought. Despite low inflation, there was a boom in bank lending and growth of credit. There was also a boom in house prices which got reversed from 2007.
http://www.economicshelp.org/blog/glossary/balanced-growth
So, why has EDDC chosen “economic growth” which is highly susceptible to boom and bust, particularly in the housing market, where a change in mortgage interest rates could lead many people into negative equity?
From the archives 1 “Clean, green and seen” promise East Devon Tories in 2011
Below are parts of the speech made by Paul Diviani made when he was elected Leader of East Devon District Council in May 2011 :
“My experience has always been to ensure the business is based on economic fundamentals; for example, borrow only to create future wealth without overstretching your resource.
“Recessions do pass and our responsibility will be to help our many small businesses survive and prosper; our High Streets to retain or revert to smaller and unique outlets in the interests of local diversity; our youth to have the opportunity to live and work here; our many senior citizens to enjoy a quality of life they have earned; for the vulnerable to be protected; and for you as councillors to have the satisfaction of knowing you are part of that; and, more widely, for the people of East Devon to have the confidence that our aspirations are in harmony. Truly sustainable places are about happy communities, living and working together in wonderful locations. The future may not be orange, but it is bright.”
Some call it safe, clean and green – to which I would add seen.
“Safe comes through good design at the planning stage, through working with the police, fire and rescue and all the other services that deal with our society’s well-being, with particular emphasis on the vulnerable of whatever age.
“Clean is the public realm – paths and pavements on which we travel, the quality of our parks and pleasure grounds, efficient and convenient services, such as waste recycling and collection.
“Green will come as no surprise! Two-thirds of our district is nationally designated as Areas of Outstanding Natural Beauty, which makes East Devon such a fabulous place to live, work and play.
“Seen is about perception and reality and is all about effective communication. All too often we read that EDDC doesn’t listen, doesn’t care, sits in an ivory tower – the list goes on. The cynical view of the last government – decide, consult, do it all anyway – is not my approach.”
“Obviously, we [EDDC councillors] won’t all agree on everything but my path is one of consensus and inclusivity. I hope you will agree that we have a quite different looking Cabinet to align with the Officer responsibilities. We want to align talent and experience with positions rather than through patronage.”
https://sidmouthindependentnews.wordpress.com/s=clean+green+seen&submit=Search
“Economic growth” (EDDC choice) or “Balanced growth” (Mid Devon choice) for Local Plans
Based on the same reports from the same consultants, East Devon District Council has chosen “Economic Growth” but Mid Devon has chosen “Balancec Growth” . Here, in their Core Strategy, is why Mid Devon made its choice:
Economic growth strategy alternative:
5.7 Economic development would be the main priority for this strategy option, with social and environmental objectives set at a lower level of importance.
· High housing and employment growth, with sites chosen largely for economic viability.
· Limited affordable housing provision.
· Housing concentrated at Tiverton and Cullompton
· Employment to be promoted at locations such as motorway junctions.
· Employment provision in the rural areas strongly encouraged.
· Efforts to attract major tourist attractions.
· Retail development promoted in the three Area Centres.
· No limitations on car use.
5.8 This strategy is in many ways the converse of the environmental protection strategy and the Sustainability Appraisal found that its costs and benefits to sustainability are therefore largely a mirror image. It would involve the greatest use of Greenfield land for development for both housing and employment, with inevitable landscape impacts arising. Notably, the location of development, with its emphasis on car – based access, will lead to greater travel overall than the other strategies, with much worse impact on climate change.
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Balanced growth strategy alternative
5.9 The Balanced Growth strategy option would seek to minimise the conflict between social, environmental and economic objectives, and promote the balanced achievement of sustainable development. It was an evolution of the current strategy and policies set out in the Mid Devon Local Plan First Alteration.
· Development of new housing concentrated on the Area Centres, particularly Tiverton.
· Housing density generally higher than in the past but based on design – led solutions.
· Smaller dwellings provided, with maximum affordable housing provision.
· Rural housing generally limited to local need.
· Employment close to housing, encouraging town centre provision
and homeworking.
· Small scale employment and tourist provision encouraged throughout the rural areas.
· Promotion of a significant retail provision in Crediton.
· Some increased control over design, particularly in historic areas,
with targeted environmental enhancements continuing.
· Renewable energy schemes encouraged, together with low energy development.
· Car restraint, and provision of alternatives to the car, to concentrate on the Area Centres.
5.10 This strategy is the most sustainable of the strategies proposed, being positive in the majority of the factors, and negative in none. It would provide for both housing and economic development in locations which minimise traffic generation, allowing for small rural economic diversification. For these reasons, it formed the initial basis for the Core Strategy policies.
Relocation approval rushed through “in indecent haste, at the fag end of an administration” that may soon disappear”
Richard Thurlow’s speech, at the Extra Ordinary Meeting of Full Council last week, explains : https://saveoursidmouth.wordpress.com/2015/03/30/a-huge-number-of-uncertainties-and-unresolved-problems-being-glossed-over-yet-council-has-approved-eddc-office-relocation/
Local Plans: with the same figures, Mid-Devon opts for low growth in housing numbers East Devon opts for high growth
AFTER FOUR YEARS OF BATTLING THE SIDFORD INDUSTRIAL ESTATE IS STRUCK FROM LOCAL PLAN
The hugely controversial industrial estate, proposed at Sidford was today struck from EDDC’s Local Plan, following a proposal by Cllrs Stuart Hughes and Graham Troman.
The five hectare site was inserted into the Local Plan at the last minute when I was a member of the panel back in 2011.
It has taken local people four years of campaigning for the council to finally agree to delete it. Many votes of a similar nature have been taken in the past and have failed. Today’s got through.
The move took place at today’s extraordinary full council meeting to discuss revisions to the local plan.
I blasted the council for opting YET AGAIN for unevidenced and huge levels of growth that are contrary to consultants recommendations.
How many consultants have to tell EDDC that the right way forward is low growth before they actually listen? The answer is they never will listen. They (who I am not entirely sure) wants big big levels of development in East Devon – and so shall it be.
That is, until the planning inspector takes a look at it and wonders what on earth is going on.
A press release was issued by EDDC earlier this month which contained a grossly untrue statement about the planning inspector recommending the levels of growth that EDDC have opted for.
The planning inspector made no such recommendation. This was a disgraceful attempt to try and fool the public into believing that EDDC is doing the will of the planning inspector, who threw out the draft local plan last year.
See here for my blog earlier this week on what EDDC has done …. http://www.claire-wright.org/…/eddc_proposes_highest_housin…
Frankly, the council has sold the western end of the district off to the highest bidder. Villages like Clyst Honiton, Rockbeare and Blackhorse are set to be absolutely swamped in urban sprawl.
The council promised Rockbeare that it would be protected by a green wedge. If you saw the area that Cranbrook is set to expand now, massively south of the old A30, you would be shocked. Rockbeare is set to be lost amid bricks and concrete.
Whimple was supposed to have a green wedge to protect it from Cranbrook.
Not any more.
Whimple’s green wedge is proposed to have a great chunk eaten out of it as Cranbrook also sprawls to the east.
Given that councillors have never had the chance to question the consultants I moved an amendment that both sets of consultants are invited to the next overview and scrutiny committee meeting.
This amendment was argued against by the chief executive, who for some reason decided to mention my “parliamentary ambitions.”
It was voted down mainly by the conservative group.
My second amendment proposed an extension of the consultation period by two weeks, making a total of an eight week consultation period. This proposal was carried, despite some senior conservatives arguing against it.
Interestingly, I informed the council that Mid Devon District Council (which has been working with EDDC on this) has opted for a low growth scenario for its district. This is because Mid Devon councillors did not wish to concrete over any more of the countryside than they had to.
So why has EDDC opted for such a high growth level?(it is impossible to even match the levels to any figures in the reports!)
The chief executive said it was because East Devon is a “growth area.”
But I replied, the consultants knew this before they drafted their report didn’t they.
Yet they still recommended a preferred approach of significantly lower development, that is also in line with government growth projections.
Why oh why is EDDC doing this?
The Local Plan, with some minor amendments, was voted through by the majority of councillors.
No massive business park for Sid Valley after all!
Number of houses planned on greenfield sites
Number of houses planned on Green Belt – March 2015
Research by the Campaign to Protect Rural England has found that 219,000 houses are planned for Green Belt sites:
Metropolitan (around London): 86,935
Yorkshire: 40,800
West Midlands: 35,550
South West (inc West of England county region): 16,245
Nottinghamshire: 13,800
North West: 11,810
North East: 8,000
Oxfordshire: 4,510
Cambridgeshire: 1,885
Source: http://www.mirror.co.uk/news/uk-news/destruction-green-belt-land-rockets-5408790
East Devon Watch 