Flooding was naturally one of the issues covered at Friday’s Examination In Public of the new Local Plan. But Chair of East Devon CPRE, Tim Hale, had to be reminded by the Inspector, that “what a farmer does on his own land is not a matter for the Council” .

A report of the meeting is at this link:
http://www.claire-wright.org/index.php/post/bid_to_retain_environmental_policies_in_the_local_plan_against_developers_b

This was one key comment, by Dr Margaret Hall of CPRE, put to the Inspector for consideration, as the Examination in Public (EiP) of the Local Plan continued today.

Today’s focus was on the amount and the distribution of employment provision in East Devon District Council’s new Plan.

For reference, a glimpse of existing employment sites is here:

Employment land in East Devon

There’s a full report of today’s meeting at http://www.claire_wright.org

Planning Policy Manager, Matt Dickens, and IT support officer, Martin Lee, were alone to answer questions at today’s examination of the crucial topic of Housing in the new Local Plan. “We could have been crudely arithmetic”, stuttered Mr Dickens, as he struggled to explain why an extra 4,000 houses had been added to the 11,000 provision recommended in the Roger Tym report. Seeking clarity, the Planning Inspector suggested, “You have no evidential basis for 4,000, you just made it up.”

A pity that not a single Councillor from the ruling party, was interested enough in this fundamental topic, to attend the hearing. Matt Dickens’ senior colleagues were similarly conspicuous by their absence….presumably earning their keep elsewhere? Click here for a reminder of their responsibilities: http://www.eastdevon.gov.uk/smt_structure_chart_2012_internet-_amended_nov_2012.pdf

The Inspector emphasised this, at yesterday’s first day of the Examination in Public at Knowle, Sidmouth.
Today’s hearing is on HOUSING. Starts 9.30 a.m.
The EDDC website link is: http://www.eastdevon.gov.uk/localplan

A flavour of the first day is reported here:

Anthony Thickett, the Government Inspector is now in Sidmouth, for the Examination in Public (EiP) of East Devon District Council’s new Local Plan. The first hearings took place on Tuesday (11th Feb), with the opening session on Procedure and Duty to Co-operate. Although the Deputy Chief Executive had prepared a presentation on Procedure, the Inspector swiftly said, “I don’t see the need”, and moved on to what he described as the “thorny issue” of “Duty to Co-operate”. “You have not been co-operating with Exeter, is one issue that has been raised”, he told Matt Dickens and Richard Cohen. And when EDDC’s spokesperson told him, “We have had meetings with West Dorset”, the Inspector reminded her that there had been “Only one”. To her following comment, “We don’t think this is a Duty to Co-operate matter”, he said, “You don’t. I might!”

More to follow on this website tomorrow….

The hearings, to be held in public, begin at 10 a.m. this Tuesday, at the Knowle, Sidmouth. Venue is the Council Chamber, just past the newer Council offices (pictured).
There will be 19 sessions, over a period of several weeks. Only those people who have already registered can speak, but a public presence will nonetheless indicate to the Inspector, the strength of local concern.

A link to the additional responses required by the Inspector is given here: http://saveoursidmouth.com/2014/02/10/inspectors-examination-of-east-devons-new-local-plan-begins-tomorrow-11th-feb-10-a-m-at-knowle-sidmouth/

For complete Examination schedule, go to: http://www.eastdevon.gov.uk/progofficer.htm

While you’re in Sidmouth for the hearings, you might like a short pleasant stroll through Knowle parkland, to the town centre, or to the seafront ..or perhaps both, if you have time.

Some revised Local Plan documents, as required by the Inspector, can now be viewed on the EDDC website. The SIN blog also has details: http://sidmouthindependentnews.wordpress.com/2014/01/17/new-local-plan-documents-posted-on-eddc-website/