Category Archives: West End: WestClyst BroadClyst/ Pinhoe

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26 Jan 2015

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Clyst St Mary, Democracy, East Devon Alliance, EDDC, Environment (local), Latest news, NPPF, Planning System, West End: WestClyst BroadClyst/ Pinhoe

*** Save Clyst St Mary Village from Inappropriate Development ***

East Devon Watch has been sent this update on what’s happening at Clyst St Mary:

‘A massive thank you to everyone who has supported our campaign to unite Clyst St Mary in opposing inappropriate development within our village. Our aim is to ensure any future building is sustainable and in accordance with the emerging Neighbourhood Plan so that the village’s unique identity can be maintained and its green sites preserved. We are incredibly grateful to the hundreds of residents who turned up at the Village Hall last Tuesday to voice their concerns regarding proposals for developments at Cat’s Copse, Winslade Park and Oil Mill Lane. Thanks in part to the generosity of residents, the Parish Council has now been able to hire a specialist planning consultant to help us fight these proposals. The next crucial meeting is on 5th February at 7.30pm in the Village Hall.

As you may already be aware, yet another planning application has now been received which, once again, threatens to destroy the character of our village with the development of not only 40 houses (which is in addition to the 93 village homes for which planning permission has already been granted) but also the demolition of an existing family home in the heart of Clyst Valley Road to provide road access into the existing well established, incredibly quiet residential estate. The proposed site, currently owned by the Plymouth Brethren, is the large field adjacent to our football ground.Although it has been labeled ‘Land off Clyst Valley Road, this is in fact misleading since there is no existing access from this road. Nor, at the time of writing, is there any sign of the plans on display in close proximity to the home the developers want to demolish; the only references are situated on the boundary fence between Winslade Park Avenue/A376 and our village football ground.

With the deadline for letters of objection only weeks away (4th February 2015) please can we strongly urge you to continue supporting the village by emailing/writing to East Devon District Council to voice your objections to this most recent proposal. Issues you may wish to consider with regard to this specific development include: an increase in population for which the village does not have the infra-structure; the loss of the existing residential estate’s unique, tranquil character; substantial loss of light and privacy to residents whose bungalows back onto the site (the proposed homes are 2 or 3 storeys in height); an enormous (and potentially dangerous) increase in traffic travelling through the estate – very few public facilities are available within walking distance; a potential increase in congestion both through the main village and onto the Exmouth and Sidmouth roads (the Church Lane entrance to the estate, the site of 21 road traffic incidents in recent years – one of which was fatal – will be particularly affected); an increase in already high levels of pollution, especially at the Clyst St Mary roundabout ; concerns regarding potential flooding which would be exacerbated by the loss of further green spaces; existing wildlife habitats would be destroyed; it would be setting a precedent – which village field, park or site, on either side of the A3052, would become the next target for destruction?

When drafting your objections, the planning reference you should quote is ‘Land Off Clyst Valley Road: 15/0072/MOUT’. A selection of sample letters are given below * and will be available to download from our website http://www.saveclsytstmary.org.uk within the next few days – please feel free to adapt these as required. They can be sent by post or email (planningwest@eastdevon.gov.uk)

Please do note the aforementioned meeting regarding this planning application on 5th February 2015 at 7.30pm in the Village Hall where, once again, your support is essential.

Finally, please can we remind local residents that they are still able to contribute towards the on-going costs of employing Charlie Hopkins, our planning consultant. Payment can be made via the website or at Clyst St Mary Post Office. Please be assured that money will be used for no other purpose than to help pay Mr Hopkins; anyone assisting this campaign is doing so voluntarily and all costs such as printing and banners have been paid for by those volunteers. Do visit our website regularly as we are endeavouring to keep it as up to date as possible. A series of rare historical maps of our area are one of the most recent features which may be of interest.Feel free to suggest any further features you would like to see added.

– As we have stated previously, the challenge ahead of us is not easy – but together, we really can do it!’

*15 0072 MOUT ( Land off Clyst Valley Road, Clyst St Mary
*Land off CVR letter

*** STOP PRESS: new planning application for another solar farm in the area – *** please see website for further details

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21 Jan 2015

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Clyst St Mary, Democracy, East Devon Alliance, EDDC, Environment (local), NPPF, Planning System, West End: WestClyst BroadClyst/ Pinhoe

‘Saving the identity’ of a unique East Devon village… Clyst St Mary residents out in force at last night’s meeting.

It appeared that the entire population of the village of Clyst St Mary had turned out to listen and voice their objections at another Extraordinary Meeting that had been called by the Bishops Clyst Parish Council on Tuesday night, 20th January 2015, to discuss the inappropriate number of planning applications that have recently been submitted to East Devon District Council for development in their village (including 304 residential units plus employment use at Winslade Park by Friends Provident, 93 dwellings on land near the Cat and Fiddle by Turnstone Group, a solar farm in Oil Mill Lane by Solstice Renewables and 40 houses on land off Clyst Valley Road (with the demolition of a residential estate house in Clyst Valley Road to gain access) by developers acting for Plymouth Brethren).

Clyst St Mary has also already agreed two planning applications totalling 93 dwellings for social, affordable and private needs, which is felt to be sustainable for a small village of this size and the current additional proposals would increase the size of the village by around 120%, which, the villagers felt, was certainly not sustainable.

The normal venue for Council meetings is the local School Hall but the previous Extraordinary Meeting had attracted such huge numbers of residents wishing to object, that it was assessed that a larger venue was necessary and the Village Hall was chosen, which was equally packed to capacity.

At the previous meeting the Parish Council had unanimously agreed to employ Charlie Hopkins, an experienced planning consultant, who had successfully assisted other local campaigns with their objections. With the support of the newly formed Save Clyst St Mary Campaign Group, financial pledges from the villagers were offered together with existing funds from the Parish Council to enable the employment of a consultant.

Charlie Hopkins was attending this latest meeting to explain to the villagers the very complex planning issues involved and he recommended to them their best course of action in objecting to such inappropriate proposals.

Many locals spoke with great passion about their views on saving the identity of their unique East Devon village by ensuring that only sustainable development is acceptable and the solidarity of the residents was expressed by them voting against every one of the ten current proposed planning applications.

To date The Save Clyst St Mary Group have received many financial pledges from the villagers and a Post Office account is now available for anyone to submit donations in support (Nat West Bank PLC 56-00-49 A/C 32633181 ). They would urge anyone who has not yet become involved in their campaign to contact Gaeron Kayley by e-mail at saveclyststmary@gmail.com or visit http://www.saveclyststmary.org.uk

Please support us in protecting our unique very special village because

‘Alone we can do so little but together we can do so much.’

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19 Jan 2015

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Clyst St Mary, Democracy, East Devon Alliance, EDDC, Environment (local), Latest news, West End: WestClyst BroadClyst/ Pinhoe

REMINDER: Meeting 20/01/2015 at Clyst St Mary

BISHOPS CLYST PARISH COUNCIL WOULD LIKE TO INVITE YOU TO:

AN EXTRAORDINARY MEETING OF THE PARISH COUNCIL

Tuesday 20 January 2015
Clyst St Mary Village Hall starting at 7.30 pm

Items on the Agenda:-
To consider and agree representations in connection with the following planning applications submitted by Friends Provident at Winslade Park, Clyst St Mary:-
14/2637/OUT Demolition of Brook House and Clyst House and outline application (seeking to discharge means of access only) for up to 237 new dwellings, 1805 sq metres of B1(A) and D1 commercial floorspace, together with replacement sports facilities comprising two football pitches, a cricket pitch and sports pavilion, and associated development including parking and access
14/2638/LBC Renovation works to secure the continued use of the building for B1(a) purposes. Removal of the modern bridge link between the Manor House and Winslade House.
14/2640/MFUL Conversion of the building from current B1(a) office use to 61 (C3) residential units including the removal and making good of the bridge link between Winslade Manor and Winslade House and provision of basement car park.
14/2641/LBC Conversion of Winslade House from B1(a) office to 61 (C3) residential units including the removal and making good of the bridge link between Winslade Manor and Winslade House and provision of basement car park.
14/2642/FUL Demolition of modern extensions and conversion of the former Stable Block form D2 Leisure Use to 6 residential units
14/2643/LBC Demolition of modern extensions and conversion of the former Stable Block form D2 Leisure Use to 6 residential units
14/2644/MFUL Change of use from Agricultural Land to Community Park including the provision of footpaths, new landscaping and changes to levels

To consider and agree representations in connection with the following planning application submitted by The Turnstone Group at Land to North of A3052 between Cat & Fiddle and Devon County Showground, Sidmouth Road, Clyst St Mary:-
14/2237/MOUT
(amendment) Outline application with some matters reserved for the construction of up to 93 dwellings and new access and associated open space (access to be considered)

To consider and agree representations in connection with the following planning application submitted by Solstice Renewables Ltd at land surrounding Walnut Cottages, Oil Mill Lane, Clyst St Mary
14/2952/MFUL Installation of ground mounted photovoltaic solar arrays together with power inverter systems; transformer stations; internal access tracks; landscaping; CCTV; security fencing and associated access gate.

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17 Jan 2015

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Clinton Devon Estates, EDDC, Environment (local), Exmouth, National Planning Policy Framework, NPPF, West End: WestClyst BroadClyst/ Pinhoe

Solar farms.. viewed from the AONB.

The Clinton Devon Estates’ Liverton Solar Park, was mentioned in a comment (copied below)  recently left on the East Devon Watch blog. An observer has subsequently sent in these photos of the solar farm in question (which lies just outside the Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty) taken from the  AONB, south of the B3178. The pictures may shed more light on the issue.

OLYMPUS DIGITAL CAMERAOLYMPUS DIGITAL CAMERAOLYMPUS DIGITAL CAMERA

‘By coincidence, having driven past the solar farm at Liverton Farm and seen just what an impact on the ‘Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty’ the solar park has, I have been looking again at the application (13/2202/MFUL) https://planning.eastdevon.gov.uk/online-applications/applicationDetails.do?activeTab=externalDocuments&keyVal=MU6J9QGH3A000 made by the agents of Clinton Devon Estates.
It takes an enormous amount of plodding through, something still in progress, but it seems clear that , let’s say ‘ much of what was claimed is open to serious challenge’. Start with looking at what the CPRE had to say about some of Clinton Devon’s agent’s claims.
Not far away is Liverton Park 2, and industrial and business park complex adjacent to Liverton Park (1). It struck me that the massive sheds on Liverton Park 2 might well have had solar panels built into their roofs if CDE were really green for greens sake- but it seems not. But you do get a view of the solar panels from LP2!
The message seems clear, you cannot take a developer’s word. Check, check and check again. Oh, and see what subsidies the development attracts and wonder if that might be what makes solar panels the preferred choice when other more appropriate schemes may be better suited.’
Source: https://eastdevonwatch.org/2015/01/15/save-clyst-st-mary-campaign-new-proposals-and-important-meeting/comment-page-1/#comment-9681

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15 Jan 2015

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East Devon Alliance, EDDC, National Planning Policy Framework, Planning System, West End: WestClyst BroadClyst/ Pinhoe

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Save Clyst St Mary campaign…NEW PROPOSALS AND IMPORTANT MEETING

This message has just been sent to supporters, including EDW:

‘Firstly, thank you to each and everyone of you for writing in letters objecting to the current planning proposals that we previously advertised. We are succeeding in making our voice known at Council level (and beyond!) and I have been told today that the number of objections is rapidly increasing. We managed to gain with the support of other like minded residents over the weekend another fifty five.

We have been approached by some residents concerned from the that one of the fields surrounding Walnut Cottages, off Oil Mill lane, Clyst St Mary is subject to a planning application for a solar farm. Objections close on Friday 16th January; however, we have been told that they will still count shortly after that date should you wish to object to this The Planning reference is 14/2952/MFUL. There are links from our website, together with a sample template letter that I have attached to this email. Should you wish to email your objection the correct email address is: planningwest@eastdevon.gov.uk

(Template letter shown here: Save Clst St Mary Campaign ObjectSolar )

Another important point to note is that we have been advised that there has now been a formal application submitted for forty houses directly behind the Clyst Valley Football Club, land which is presently owned by the Plymouth Brethren. This follows on from the consultation at Westpoint in December 2014 . Please be aware, on the plans available at the consultation, access to this development was to be gained from the demolition of a house in Clyst Valley Road, in order to create an access route through the estate. Unfortunately there is currently no reference to any point of access, nor the precise location of the proposed houses; should further details be obtained, obviously we will keep you informed. The reference for this proposed development is: 15/0072/MOUT. Again, there are currently no documents available on line to view, but.we will endeavour to keep you up to date as we find out more information.

As you are already aware, the outcome from The Parish Extraordinary last Wednesday resulted in Charlie Hopkins (expert planning consultant) being appointed to work for us. He is coming to talk with the Parish Council and the residents to agree representation for all of the major applications that are directly affecting us. The Parish Council has arranged a larger venue at the Village Hall, so hopefully no one will be left out in the cold this time! Please let’s try and once again fill the new venue – your support is all that’s required Tuesday 20th January at 7.30pm

Remember: Together, we can do this!’

Gaeron Kayley
http://saveclyststmary.org.uk/

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8 Jan 2015

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EDDC, Latest news, West End: WestClyst BroadClyst/ Pinhoe

Legal help appointed for Save Clyst St Mary campaign

See http://saveclyststmary.org.uk/2015/01/08/update-and-help-needed-on-saturday-10th-jan/

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6 Jan 2015

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Democracy, East Devon Growth Point, EDDC, West End: WestClyst BroadClyst/ Pinhoe

Extraordinary Parish Council Meeting called tonight at Clyst St Mary (7.30pm in the School Hall)

Yet another East Devon Village could be swallowed up by massive development, which would more than double Clyst St Mary’s size in just a few years. The Express and Echo have taken up the story.
Understandably, local residents want to have their say in the matter. Hence the extraordinary meeting organised for this evening. All welcome. Details on the campaign group’s excellent website http://saveclyststmary.org.uk/2015/01/05/save-clyst-st-mary-story-now-on-express-echo-webiste/

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3 Jan 2015

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East Devon Growth Point, Environment (local), General Election, Hugo Swire, Independent Councillors, Latest news, NPPF, Paul Diviani, Skypark, West End: WestClyst BroadClyst/ Pinhoe

Tory Party reveals its vision …the tarmac road ahead

EDA has been sent this spoof version of the new Conservative Party poster (rumoured to be a photo taken in Germany), with added accompanying features of the Government’s vision for growth. !cid_Image2638
Let your friends know the important choice facing Britain this year…More green fields cut through by tarmac and disappearing under sprawling cloned housing estates? Or new voices at Parliament and around the country, who will bring changes to the NPPF (National Planning Policy Framework…the so-called ‘developers’ charter’)? More info at Community Voice on Planning at http://covop.org/

Could there be another, very different, route to long-term prosperity more suited to Britain’s natural assets, particularly in East Devon…..?

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19 Nov 2014

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Cranbrook, East Devon Growth Point, EDDC, Environment (local), Local Plan, West End: WestClyst BroadClyst/ Pinhoe

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More development between Exeter and Cranbrook – when will it stop?

More development planned in the EDDC district:

The plans for 900 homes on fields north of Tithebarn Lane and west of Mosshayne Lane, have been submitted by land owners Mr and Mrs Gent and developers, Eagle One Homes Ltd.

The plans also include a primary school.

Building is already under way on a 450-home development, including shops, a primary school and a 250-space park-and-ride on fields at Old Park Farm, Pinn Hill, submitted by AE Stuart & Sons.

And in April, permission was granted for a 350-house development for phase two of Old Park Farm at Pinn Hill, submitted by AE Stuart & Sons.

Another 430-house development, including retail space of up to 240sqm and a 60-bed care home at Pinn Court Farm, Pinncourt Lane, submitted by Millwood Homes Devon Ltd, was also approved at the same meeting.

At the time, residents and councillors voiced concerns that the two developments were considered a few days before a Government inspector made his ruling on the Local Plan public.

But a spokesperson for the council previously explained that it “made sense” for the applications to be heard together.

He said that whereas before, the “limiting factor” on the sites has been the surrounding highway infrastructure, the applications have “overcome” that restraint and proposed alterations to the Pinhoe roundabouts “have freed up greater capacity on the highway network to accommodate additional dwellings”.

At the meeting Liberal Democrat East Devon district ward member for Broadclyst Councillor Derek Button said: “This land is the lungs of Exeter and should never be built on.”

Source: http://www.exeterexpressandecho.co.uk/Plans-submitted-900-homes-outskirts-Exeter-add-1/story-24561037-detail/story.html

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11 Nov 2014

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Affordable and Social Housing, Cranbrook, EDDC, Environment (local), Exmouth, Feniton/ Talaton, Honiton/ Gittisham, Knowle/Honiton/Exmouth relocation, Newton Poppleford, Ottery St Mary, Seaton/ Colyford / Colyton, Sidmouth/ Sidford/ Sidbury, Uplyme, Wainhomes, West End: WestClyst BroadClyst/ Pinhoe, Woodbury

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Could you, too, be a SWIMBY?

Check this link and consider.. http://www.transitionnetwork.org/blogs/rob-hopkins/2014-10/our-month-rethinking-real-estate-why-i-m-proud-be-swimby

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25 Jun 2014

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Democracy, EDDC, Skypark, West End: WestClyst BroadClyst/ Pinhoe

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Why the ink must dry quickly on Skypark

In the roughly six weeks before a general election local authorities should not take any actions that might affect the outcome of such elections, such as signing contracts for controversial projects.

The next general election and local elections will be on 7 May 2015. This means that controversial activity should cease by 26 March 2015.

One can see why the Skypark issue is being railroaded and kept so secret. The ink must be dry on the purchase of the site by the end of March next year. Especially if the European Election results in 2014 are replicated in East Devon as, if they are, the Conservatives will lose their overall majority and will be at the mercy of Independents, Greens and UKIP.

Here is the political guidance which was issued for 2014 elections.

http://www.parliament.uk/Templates/BriefingPapers/Pages/BPPdfDownload.aspx?bp-id=SN05262

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27 May 2014

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Cranbrook, Local Plan, Misc, NPPF, West End: WestClyst BroadClyst/ Pinhoe

Coalescence between Exeter and East Devon continues apace

http://www.exeterexpressandecho.co.uk/Shock-detailed-plans-revealed-new-Pinhoe-homes/story-21147357-detail/story.html

Too close to the M5? Not a problem! (Just don’t open your windows or sit in the garden perhaps? Bet the “affordables” – if they ever happen – are closest!).

Coalescence between West Dorset and East Devon continues (see Uplyme link) but, oddly, no coalescence between the Blackdown Hills and South Somerset.

 

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25 May 2014

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Exmouth, Feniton/ Talaton, Honiton/ Gittisham, Newton Poppleford, Ottery St Mary, Seaton/ Colyford / Colyton, Sidmouth/ Sidford/ Sidbury, Uplyme, West End: WestClyst BroadClyst/ Pinhoe

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Launch of photo competition for new book on East Devon

The sheer variety and volume of writing inspired by our local area  is behind the idea for a new book, Literature and Landscape in East Devon, to be published later this year.

As announced at last Friday’s hugely entertaining East Devon Writing event, original, relevant, high quality photographs are now being sought for inclusion in the book. Please see PHOTO COMPETITION on the EDA Home page, for precise information.

For a flavour of the forthcoming book, see the following list compiled by Mike Temple of Sidmouth (N.B. only some examples from the list will be included!) the-literature-of-east-devon-by-location . Another ‘taster’ is Robert Crick’s sharply humorous view on the Napoli shipwreck, Cargoes

 

 

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25 May 2014

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Axminster, Budleigh Salterton, Exmouth, Feniton/ Talaton, Honiton/ Gittisham, Ottery St Mary, Seaton/ Colyford / Colyton, Sidmouth/ Sidford/ Sidbury, West End: WestClyst BroadClyst/ Pinhoe

East Devon Literature: from Exmouth to Axmouth

Although not an East Devon Alliance event, many members attended Michael Temple’s fascinating evening on the literature of our district last Friday in Ottery St Mary.

Many great writers have been inspired by our area: Coleridge, Conan Doyle, Defoe, Tennyson, C Day Lewis, Wells, Raleigh and Patricia Beer. In an hour and a half of readings, we heard from all of them, and from living local authors too.

Beautifully narrated by Michael, this ninety minute feast reminded us that our part of the world – from Exmouth to Axmouth – has as distinct an identity and a place in literature as any other part of the country.

Thanks were given to all who helped, including local libraries, bookshops and newspapers. Prizes were generously funded by the Sidmouth/ Ottery Herald. The prizewinners were warmly applauded. They were Philip Smith, for  Beer Beach in January: ; and budding author Libby Dean (aged 12), for A Scene from Sidmouth Folk Festival .

(Please note that contrary to an earlier report,Harry Guest did not win a prize in the writing competition – his excellent poem, the Boyhood of Raleigh,pointing to things today which would be unfamiliar to a child of that time, was published back in 1997).

Organiser Michael Temple has added: “I should like to warmly thanks all the readers and living authors who read the extracts and poems so well. (I was the link-man.)”

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9 May 2014

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EDDC, West End: WestClyst BroadClyst/ Pinhoe

Devon Waste Plan affects East Devon: have your say

Following the public consultation undertaken in December 2013-February 2014, the Devon Waste Plan has been submitted to the Secretary of State for examination. An Inspector has been appointed to consider the soundness of the Plan, together with the objections made in response to the consultation, and he has issued a draft programme for the public hearings. This programme, available through the link below, outlines the main issues that the Inspector wishes to discuss, and indicates that the hearings will run from Tuesday 15th July to Wednesday 23rd July.

Click to access id01_inspector_s_hearings_programme_v1.pdf

The most contentious session is expected to be on Tuesday 22nd July, when the Inspector will discuss the strategic energy recovery locations identified in the Plan for Barnstaple, Tiverton, EAST OF EXETER (HILL BARTON AND GREENDALE BARTON and Kingsteignton.

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3 Apr 2014

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EDDC, West End: WestClyst BroadClyst/ Pinhoe

“East Devon is not an island” and so must look after Exeter’s needs

So says EDDC Leader Paul Diviani.

Well, we are already looking after Exeter’s employment needs with the move to Skypark so we might as well look after their housing needs too.  At least Karim Hassan (former regeneration chief at EDDC and now CEO of Exeter Ciry Council) will be happy!

But perhaps it is now time for South Somerset to take care of some of East Devon’s needs … or perhaps a new town in the Blackdown Hills?  Or maybe an overspill estate in Lyme Regis.

How come we get to take care of everyone else yet no-one takes care of us?

http://www.sidmouthherald.co.uk/news/news/local_plan_verdict_more_work_needed_1_3521166

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1 Apr 2014

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EDDC, West End: WestClyst BroadClyst/ Pinhoe

R.I.P Pinhoe Village – mostly thanks to EDDC – and even EDDC’s own councillors question the need to make the decision so quickly

http://www.exeterexpressandecho.co.uk/Approval-800-homes-outskirts-Exeter-8220-8217/story-20892905-detail/story.html

and in more detail, including quotes from EDDC councillors here:

http://www.exeterexpressandecho.co.uk/Critics-hit-8216-premature-8217-decision-build-1/story-20892918-detail/story.html

“At the meeting Liberal Democrat East Devon district ward member for Broadclyst, Councillor Derek Button said: “This land is the lungs of Exeter and should never be built on.”

Prior to the meeting, the Devon branch of the Campaign to Protect Rural England raised concerns about the scale of the applications in the green wedge.

Member for Broadclyst, Conservative Councillor Peter Bowden, questioned why the plans could not have been heard after the Local Plan inspector’s ruling. “It would have been perfectly in order to extend the time for the applications to be heard in order for the Local Plan Inspector’s report to have been published first,” he said.”

It will be recalled that one of the applications is from one of the former East Devon Business Forum’s founder members.

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28 Mar 2014

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EDDC, Local Plan, West End: WestClyst BroadClyst/ Pinhoe

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EDA anger at how EDDC decision was taken for more mass housing on Grade 1 farmland.

This EDA press release was issued yesterday, 27th March 2014 :

‘East Devon Alliance (EDA) is appalled by the circumstances of this week’s decision by EDDC to approve more mass housing in the western end of East Devon.

In a specially called meeting of the Development Management Committee (DMC), on Tuesday 25th March, two major planning applications for a total of 1200 houses, were lumped together, in one executive summary. Yet councillors were obliged to vote on the first application before hearing details of the second, related one. Thus, the proposals’ combined impact on the communities of Broadclyst, Westclyst, Poltimore and Pinhoe , was taken out of the debate.

East Devon Alliance questions why these two planning applications, at Old Park Farm and Pinn Court Farm respectively, involving a member of the now defunct East Devon Business Forum, were rushed through in inexplicable haste. DMC Chair, Helen Parr, refused requests from some members to defer a decision until the soundness of EDDC’s Planning Policy has been assessed in the Inspector’s report (expected sometime this summer).

Most shockingly, councillors who voted in favour, acknowledged that much of both sites to be built on is Grade 1 agricultural land.

Ian McKintosh, EDA Chair, says, “This is madness, when the National Farmers’ Union is already warning that demand for farmland will soon outstrip supply. EDDC’s current planning policy is causing the loss of much high quality fertile land. All that will feed is a future food security crisis. It’s time for our planners to pause, and listen to local people with insights, especially at meetings of the DMC “. ‘

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26 Mar 2014

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West End: WestClyst BroadClyst/ Pinhoe

“You have given permission for 1,200 homes” DMC Chair told

Those were Councillor Bowden’s words at the end of yesterday’s ‘special meeting’  of the Development Management Committee (DMC), which approved two major planning applications for housing on Old Park and Pinn Court Farms, in East Devon’s already blighted west end. He echoed the dismay and incredulity of residents from Broadclyst, Westclyst, Poltimore and Pinhoe who had spoken out at the meeting, about such things as the “suburban form and layout ” of the proposed developments; flooding and increased traffic dangers; and overlooking of existing houses.

Probably the most serious issue of all was raised by  members of the DMC. They asked whether the two related planning applications  were intended to be decided separately, or lumped together as they had been in the  executive summary which had been provided  for this meeting.  As Cllr Bowden pointed out, the decision on the first would “impact on” the second, and the totality of them both was a very different matter from considering them as individual items. But Cllr Mike Allen’s reasonable proposal that “we should hear the second application and then make our decision”, was firmly blocked by Chair  Helen Parr’s “No!”

Puzzling, as both applications involved, in Cllr Williamson’s words,   “loss of agricultural land, much of it Grade 1”. “We keep hearing about this agricultural land”, said the Chair, somewhat irritably, reminding her Committee that  “It is unfortunately wonderful agricultural land” that the Growth Point is built on.

Her theme was picked up by  Councillor Key, EDDC’s representative on the East Devon branch of the Campaign to Protect Rural England. He chipped in with, “They keep on about this Green Wedge….and farmland. Irrespective of what grade it is, houses are needed.”  Or as Cllr Chamberlain simply put it,  to gasps from the public,  wasn’t the Green Wedge   “the n****r in the woodpile”?

This was of course the considered view of the Local Development Framework Panel , as illustrated in these minutes, including declarations of personal interest (p. 4), from 2010:   http://www.eastdevon.gov.uk/ldf_panel_minutes_110310.pdf  .

 

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25 Mar 2014

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West End: WestClyst BroadClyst/ Pinhoe

Shafted

Today’s Development Management Committee passed the planning applications for the Pinhoe area, including “Old Park Farm 2” with minimal debate.

Two questions spring to mind:

Why bother with a DMC at all?

Which councillors on the DMC seem to have severed their friendships with one of the developers – having declared a personal interest as “acquaintances” in 2010 but no interest at all in 2014?