But will it be enough for Sidmouth residents now facing a 330% increase in their parking charges?
Category Archives: Sidmouth/ Sidford/ Sidbury
Officer “naked amidst the rubble” of EDDC’s Local Plan?
Some thoughts sent to EDA from a local correspondent:
‘Information gradually drips from EDDC regarding the Local Plan and the details of the Strategic Housing Market Assessment ( SHMA ). It seems that the SHMA is recommending a more modest housing allocation for East Devon. Many commentators at the time of the Local Plan Panel advocated lower housing numbers, as did EDDC’s consultants. Those commentators appear to have been vindicated by the draft recommendations of the SHMA.
Whilst, everyone told EDDC at the Local Plan Panel that their housing provision was excessive, particular opprobrium was directed at the employment land allocation, which all agreed was absurdly high. And, of course, based in part upon hopelessly miscalculated commuting numbers, and the inexplicable exclusion from the employment numbers of the Inter Modal Freight Facility, since purchased by Sainsburys.
We are now told, bizarrely, that EDDC is arguing for an increase in the SHMA housing allocation to reflect the huge employment land allocations that they have made. Workers will have to be housed. Previously they argued the reverse: that a huge employment allocation was necessary to employ the workforce generated by their housing numbers! An absurdly spiralling argument that will only serve to devastate the countryside of East Devon, and place enormous strain upon our infrastructure and services.
Clearly, the whole edifice of the Plan has collapsed, and Matt Dickins is standing naked amidst the rubble.
The solution is obvious: the employment allocation within the Plan has to be substantially reduced. This can be easily achieved by incorporating the Sainsburys site into the calculations, and by correcting the commuting errors. Such a move would transform the Plan, making sense of the housing numbers, and providing a way forward that would be acceptable to all sides.
In particular, this would ensure the removal of the highly controversial Sidford allocation, which has attracted more opposition than any other component of the Plan.
The need to remove Sidford from the Plan is greater than ever, given the warped logic with which EDDC has responded to the SHMA. If more housing is needed to ‘feed’ the District’s employment sites, then Sidmouth is threatened with a big increase in its housing allocation. After all, we have only 70 unemployed, and Sidford is intended to accommodate 1400 jobs. Where are the workers to be housed? ‘
Re. Knowle officially for sale
Some background from earlier this year:
Knowle relocation costs: We have not been properly informed, says EDDC Committee
Today’s Tribunal : EDDC vs Information Commissioner & Jeremy Woodward
The decision of the Hearing at Exeter Magistrates’ court, which took the whole day, is anticipated in two or three weeks’ time.
Here is where interviews, and some of today’s reports on the case, can be found:
BBC Radio Devon. Good Morning Devon interview with Jeremy Woodward 04:15-08:05 ; Jenny Kumah interviews Jeremy Woodward and Richard Thurlow 34:40-38:13; and later, discussion of how Local Authorities usually deal with Freedom of Information requests 01:35-01:40.24
http://www.saveoursidmouth.com
EDA Chairman 1 – Leader of East Devon District Council own goal – and a STUNNING revelation!!!!
This morning the Chairman of East Devon Alliance, Paul Arnott, once again went head-to-head with a top EDDC councillor – this time EDDC Council Leader Paul Diviani on the lack of a Local Plan. The EDA Chairman said that he was not surprised but still disappointed that, having been dealing with this project since 2007, EDDC still is not in a position to put a (third) draft Local Plan forward to the Planning Inspectorate and leaving the district vulnerable to speculative development. And he comes up with a STUNNING REVELATION why he thinks current research for the Local Plan is wrong and the reason why it is being held up. Read on …
Councillor Diviani trod the well-worn track of saying that there really is nothing to worry about – EDDC has so far won more than 70% of its appeals and (occasionally) says no to developers. The EDA Chairman noted that it is NOT EDDC alone that champions these appeals – particularly in the case of Feniton and Seaton, where it was local people who raised funds and made their case to inspectors, so implying that EDDC alone does this is somewhat disingenuous.
However, then came the total shock. You may recall that two sets of consultants employed by EDDC before the last iteration of the Local Plan said that they thought that around 12,000 homes should be built in the district. EDDC (and, it has to be said members of the East Devon Business Forum and developers, sometimes the same thing) said, no, no – this could not be right and at least 15,000 homes were needed – which is what got put in the draft put before the Inspector.
The Inspector threw out the plan, specifically saying that he could see no back-up research that confirmed the 15,000 number that EDDC came up with.
And what does Leader Diviani say to this – if we take his interview at face value believing that he is being topical we could read it as THREE sets of consultants coming to around the same figure but we must assume he is talking about the two reports? He says, no no – they CANNOT be right. The government wants us to build more houses, we NEED more houses so we are going to “look at the figures again” because they must be “realistic”.
HOW MORE REALISTIC CAN YOU GET THAT TWO DIFFERENT SETS OF CONSULTANTS COMING TO THE SAME CONCLUSION THAT WE NEED 11,000 – 12,000 NEW HOMES AND NOT 15,000?
So, here we have it – Councillor Diviani thinks he is more expert than consultants and will not give up until – presumably – another set of consultants comes up with the figure that he and the government want. A figure not based on evidence. As usual – fire the arrow, then draw the bulls-eye around it.
So, we ask ourselves: where did the figure of 15,000 that Councillor Diviani so desperately wants come from? Developers? Out of thin air? from the Government which has told us (via the NPPF) to come up with LOCAL figures backed up with LOCAL evidence?
Some very, very, trenchant questions need to be asked. Not least by our councillors and, particularly, by Councillor Diviani
Source:
http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/p024pn5v
(THE INTERVIEW IS 2 HOURS 6 MIN AT 8.38 AM)
EDDC: working for us …. er, perhaps not ….
Residents parking fees to rise 330% at Sidmouth’s York Street Residents Car Park (an area of small, terraced houses and many double yellow lines). Parking permit costs will rise to £1,800 per year or buy a three year permit for £5,400 and protect yourself against increased prices in years 2 and 3. The 58 bays will net EDDC a cool £100,000 a year. 58 lost votes there then!
And EDDC’s response? “[Our] assets need to be managed to the best possible effect. These spaces are in high demand and it therefore follows that the council should be acheiving a market rate”.
No such achievement of the market rate at the Knowle car park, where officers and councillors continue to enjoy free parking. And let us not forget they are similarly absolved of parking fees when out and about on “council business”.
Well, someone has to pay for the Skypark shag pile ….
Sidmouth beach management plan delay to amass more historical information
You’ve never had it so good Sidmouth, says MP Hugo Swire
A widely-reported press release from Hugo Swire has met with some scepticism from at least one local newspaper:
Hard-working people in Sidmouth and across East Devon have helped to get the national economy growing again, local MP Hugo Swire has said.
Mr Swire claimed the latest figures show the British economy is now above its pre-crisis peak and is moving in the right direction again.
And welcoming the statistics, the East Devon MP paid tribute to those in Sidmouth and around his constituency in helping to boost growth.
Mr Swire heralded a “major milestone” in the long-term economic plan and pledged to deliver a prosperous future for local people.
He said: “Thanks to the hard work of people in East Devon and across Britain, the economy is now above its pre-crisis peak – a major milestone in the Conservatives’ long-term economic plan.
“It means more businesses creating more jobs so families can look forward to a brighter, more secure future.”
The MP said people in East Devon had suffered particularly during the financial crisis.
But claimed the latest figures showed that Sidmouth families could now look forward to the security of a regular pay packet and peace of mind for the future.
He added: “There is still a long way to go. The recession was one of the deepest of any major economy and cost Britain six years, hitting people in East Devon hard.
“Now we owe it to hardworking taxpayers not to repeat the mistakes of the past and instead to stick with the plan that is delivering economic security and a brighter future for all.”
Source: http://www.viewfrompublishing.co.uk/news_view/33167/12/1/sidmouth-local-people-are-boosting-national
Naughty senior councillor …
Which senior councillor was the in Sidbury/Sidford area at 8.40 am this morning proceeding from Honiton towards Sidmouth and taking the notorious rat run short cut via Brooke Lane and Fry’s Lane to avoid waiting at traffic lights on the main road?
The large 4 x 4 vehicle is exactly the sort that should not be attempting to get through these narrow, quiet residential roads but this did not seem to deter the driver.
Has this senior councillor thought through what will happen when even more vehicles decide to take this rat run to avoid an industrial development at Sidford Fields?
Is this perhaps one if the reasons why he and other senior councillors who regularly use the route between Sidmouth and Honiton are so keen to move to Skypark!
Motion to curb public speaking at planning meetings, at next Full Council (23 July).
Today’s Opinion page in the Sidmouth Herald has this letter from an EDA member:
Sir,
The “democratic deficit”
The present Leader of East Devon District Council, when he was returned (unopposed) at the last district election, coined the above phrase, vowing to introduce greater democracy and transparency into local government.
So what has happened since?
Well, among countless other examples of secrecy and undemocratic procedures, the Council helped set up a business forum to promote the interests of their “customers” – no, not tax-payers but building developers. Then, after the Daily Telegraph’s exposure of “Councillor-for-hire”, Graham Brown, head of this Business Forum, the Council’s Chief Officer gagged the scrutiny committtee whose task it should have been to investigate the forum’s influence on planning.
Soon, too, on 23 July, Full Council is to vote on a motion to curb public speaking at planning meetings.
It is to be hoped that there will be a recorded vote at this meeting so that electors may know exactly which councillors voted to restrict the public’s fundamental right to freedom of speech.
Michael Temple,
Sidmouth
Further relevant information is on the Save Our Sidmouth website: http://saveoursidmouth.com/2014/07/07/eddc-decision-to-curb-public-speaking-is-imminent/
Knowle legally recognised as public open space. What consequences for EDDC?
In order to qualify as a Town or Village Green, land has to have been used by the public “as of right” ie. without any form of permission. Much of the land that the Knowle Residents’ Association applied to register had been appropriated by Sidmouth Urban District Council (UDC) as public open space and EDDC have made byelaws to control its use. The Inspector therefore concluded that the public have used this land “by right” ie with the implied permission of EDDC rather than “as of right” and he rejected the application on this technicality.
The interesting thing to have come out of this is that the Inspector concluded that the rest of the land included in the Town and Green application (which Sidmouth UDC had not appropriated) is also public open space by implication because the byelaws make no distinction between appropriated and unappropriated land.
BEFORE PUBLIC OPEN SPACE CAN BE DISPOSED OF, THE COUNCIL HAVE TO ADVERTISE TWICE AND CONSIDER OBJECTIONS.
(For Inspector’s full report, see http://saveoursidmouth.com/2014/07/08/more-on-the-town-and-village-application-for-knowle/)
EDA founder-member nominated as a Trustee of national campaign group
Congratulations to Mike Temple of the Sidmouth branch of East Devon Alliance, who has recently become one of the first Trustees of the Community Voice on Planning (CoVoP), who are vigorously working for changes to the National Planning Policy Framework (NPPF).
The following update on progress at the national level has just been received by CoVoP secretary, Julie Mabberley:
We are trying to keep up the pressure on the policital parties prior to the election next year. To that end
we are attending a meeting with Greg Mulholland and his colleagues this week to work on a manifesto
put together by a range of campaigners who share a similar vision for the future of the planning system.
The attendees include: Greg Mulholland MP (LD, Leeds North West); Philip Davies MP (C, Shipley); Fiona
Bruce MP (L, Congleton), Sir Nick Harvey MP (LD, North Devon); Alok Sharma MP (C, Reading West);
David Ingham (Wharfdale & Airedale Review Development); Ian Harvey & Freddie Gick (Civic Voice); Paul
Minor (CPRE); Duncan McCallum (English Heritage); Adam Royle (NT); Paul Adams and Julie Mabberley
(CoVoP).
In common with many of the affiliated groups we have been invited to to attend a discussion forum with
Committee MPs at 3.30pm on Monday 1 September at Portcullis House, Westminster for the NPPF inquiry.
This may be an opportunity to get a number of our members together face to face anyway. There may
even be sufficient a number of groups on the same day to hold a rally but I guess that only one person
from each group will be invited.
We are also in communication with the MPs Interest Group on the Green Belt led by Chris
Skidmore MP.
Our next get-together and Trustees meeting will take place at the Navigation Inn, Barrow Upon Soar,
Loughborough, LE12 8LQ on Sunday 10 August. Please let me know if you want to send a
representative. We will be discussing the outcomes from the meeting this week and the preparation for
the NPPF Inquiry discussion forum as well as other actions to put pressure on the main political parties.
On the subject of Trustees – we have now set up The Community Voice on Planning on the Small Charity
Constitution basis managed by Trustees. The first Trustees are
– Paul Adams (DefeND [Defend North Devon])
– Geoff Rice (Wantage and Grove Campaign Group)
– Jenny Unsworth (Protect Congleton)
– Ron Morton (Save our Green Spaces)
– Julie Mabberley (Wantage and Grove Campaign Group).
– Mike Temple (Save our Sidmouth).
Our Constitution is available at http://covop.org/constitution/ and we would like to formally invite all groups
to nominate individuals for membership now and to nominate Trustees at the AGM which will be held
early next year.
Thanks for reading.
Julie
Community Voice on Planning
A National Alliance to provide communities with an effective voice on planning.
Knowle is a public open space ‘by right’ , rules Inspector
See today’s post on the Save our Sidmouth website http://saveoursidmouth.com/2014/07/07/knowle-town-and-village-green-application-inspectors-report/
Sidmouth’s Green Close care home will be one of the first to go in DCC closures
Knowle village green application rejected – removal vans booked?
Asset renovation better than newbuild.. implications for Knowle
EDDC may perhaps have read the recent LGA report, detailed here, with useful commentary: http://futuresforumvgs.blogspot.co.uk/2014/06/knowle-relocation-project-and-asset.html
Sidmouth notice board – to which EDDC objected – “enhances the area” and will be allowed to stay!
Many organisations, including EDA, Save our Sidmouth and Sidmouth Independent News, have availed themselves of the free notice board positioned outside Pure Indulgence in Sidmouth’s pedestrianised shopping area.
East Devon District Council objected to this notice board. Many people wrote in supporting its position and use and, at the time of the closing date for objections there had been only one objection, but, for some reason, the consultation period was extended. It seems that other notice boards (including one belonging to EDDC), A-boards and other materials were acceptable to EDDC but not this particular notice board.
In a very short judgment (2 pages) the Planning Inspector decided to allow the appeal details of which can be found HERE.
The last two paragraphs of his judgment are below:
7. Concern has been expressed about the untidiness and proliferation of different notices on the board itself. It has been remarked that the appearance of it has improved recently. Notices can come in a range of sizes and be placed upon one another in a haphazard fashion but there is no evidence that this has occurred here to make it unsightly. The submitted details show the board with notices placed in a neat and tidy manner. Indeed, the board has been designed with wooden rims which would encourage the placing of notices within the confines of the board itself. Moreover, the notice board would enhance the character and appearance of the Conservation Area because it would improve the look of this wall for the reasons referred to.
8. In conclusion, the proposal would enhance the character and appearance of the Sidmouth Conservation Area for the reasons referred to. The proposal would comply with Policy EN11 of the East Devon Local Plan, which amongst other matters, permits development affecting setting or views where it would preserve or enhance the character or appearance of the Conservation Area. The Council have suggested a condition confirming the retrospective nature of the development. In accordance with the tests specified within the PPG, this would be unnecessary and therefore has not been imposed. For the reasons given above, and having regard to all other matters raised, I conclude that the appeal should be allowed.
Although many would consider this a minor matter it throws into question one thing: if EDDC can get it SO wrong about whether something will enhance or degrade the appearance of a Conservation Area can we trust THEIR judgment?
Nuggets from Audit and Governance Committee agenda
A couple of snippets to make you grimace, laugh or cry – or possible all three:
The mechanisms for maintaining and reviewing the effectiveness of the system of internal control throughout the year include.
Cabinet is responsible for considering overall financial and performance management and receives comprehensive budget monitoring reports on a monthly basis and council service performance reports.
Overview & Scrutiny Committee holds the Cabinet Committee to account.
Overview and Scrutiny hold the Cabinet to account – pull the other one. Anyone remember the East Devon Business Forum Business Task and Finish Group … Overview and Scrutiny? Happily toothless tiger.
Page 68
Risk: [That] Council services are not delivered where and how customers need them . Services do not consult effectively to ensure service delivery meets customer demand and the expectations of all our communities that we will deliver services in line with the Equality Act 2010.
This risk has been removed as it falls under other risks within the register and forms part of our Open for Business and flexible working projects.
Anyone been consulted about the move to Skypark and its effect on those people who will not be able to get there. Hubs? What happens if you can’t get to a “hub” on the day or time that it comes to your nearest town or village (and nearest towns and villages are NOT the same as accessible personally or by public transport).
“Feudal” landlord loses battle to build in picturesque village
A warning to all Estates who think they can build wherever they want:
“Mr Rees, who has lived in Penshurst for 22 years, said: “There is a subtext to this which is not only about the way that things were done in private as much as possible by the council: they have spent huge amounts of public money on fighting this, and they spent a huge amount of money, and our time, protecting the first planning application, which they didn’t even bother to defend.”
He said that the community who hoped to save their rural landscape were not the only people affected by the wrangling: “Had they sat down with the community in Penshurst and discussed where to put these houses it would have helped. By now because Forge Field has been held up as the only possible place, people have been waiting for housing for four years.
“Record new planning consents for Mc Carthy and Stone”
Currently planning to build in Seaton and rumoured to be interested in Knowle site:
http://www.theconstructionindex.co.uk/news/view/record-new-planning-consents–for-mccarthy-and-stone
East Devon Watch 