The event is part of the first stage of a consultation, which will ultimately determine where built-up area boundaries will be amended to accommodate the development allocated to villages, until 2026. East Devon District Council is proposing that villages grow by five percent of the number of houses within built-up area boundaries. For: Alfington this means five dwellings Tipton St John this means 10 dwellings West Hill this means 35 dwellings Large-scale maps of proposed development sites, as well as aerial photographs indicating where potential development could take place, will be on [...]
East Devon District Council has asked town and parish councils to consider whether any other sites in their communities should also be considered for development. It is the first stage in a two-step process of consulting residents over where future development could be located. The next stage will be a public consultation to select a site/s, sometime in the autumn. Large-scale maps to view the sites will be available at Aylesbeare village hall from 7.15pm on Wednesday. Aylesbeare has been allocated five houses until 2026. House-building in gardens is not allowed to be included in [...]
The application, for parkland next to Eastfield, is outside West Hill’s built-up area boundary and was refused in December. The appeal is the first in my ward to be published since the introduction of the National Planning Policy Framework, in March. Planning inspector, Mike Robins heard the appeal on 21 March and his decision, published today, puts visual intrusion issues at the top of the agenda. He said: “I consider that the main issue in this case is the effect of the proposal on the character and appearance of the area and the setting of the village of West Hill.” [...]
Complaints were brought by Cllr Roger Giles and two members of the public, Sandra Semple and Emily McIvor. The breaches are mainly concerned with the way Cllr Allen behaved towards myself and Cllr Giles at local plan panel meetings between August and November 2011. One charge relates to a potentially damaging quote from Cllr Allen about Cllr Giles, published in the Pulman’s View From Ottery newspaper. The hearing, on Friday (25 May), was held with the press and public allowed to be present, following an unsuccessful attempt by Cllr Allen to convince EDDC’s standards committee that morning,[...]
The poster advises what residents can do if they wish to oppose the plans. Please download a copy and display it in your car window or laminate it and put it on your gate or fence. Now is not the time to relax! We need to continue to oppose this unacceptable plan. Download a copy from the link below: https://docs.google.com/file/d/0B3PSgcuwxJvgSS11UU4xX01CdUk/edit# Photograph: Campaigners gather on the steps of County Hall prior to councillors on the Development Management Committee meeting to hear residents views on the quarry sites, last month.
The environmental impact of quarrying on top of a major acquifer appears to be the main source of the EA’s concerns. Devon County Council is proposing to include land at Straitgate Farm in its minerals plan as a site for quarrying. Aggregate Industries owns the land and the minerals rights. In a letter to Devon County Council officer, Andy Hill, Marcus Salmon, planning liaison technical specialist, states: “The number of private water supplies suggests to me that this would be a difficult site to take forward. Similarly, if this area is shown to be a significant part [...]
It is the third time that the application, submitted by landowners, the Taylor family, has come before Ottery St Mary Town Council. It is on a hill behind Barton Orchard, on land designated an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty, outside Tipton’s built-up area boundary. 10 of the dwellings are classed as affordable and five are market value. The application was submitted under the council’s ‘exceptions’ policy, which allows development outside built-up area boundaries, providing that no more than 15 houses are proposed and two thirds are affordable. Around 40-50 [...]
Nine sites for potential housing developments at Aylesbeare, have been submitted by landowners. The pieces of land are: - one site to the east of Harp Lane - four large sites, running in a continuous line, are submitted behind the houses running along the eastern side of Village Way (W156, W035, W115, W034) - one site to the north of Oak Road (opposite the Village Hall) - (W161) - two sites to the south and east of Bramblemead (W838, W176) - one site to the west of the Aylesbeare Inn (W087) - one site to the west of Barton Farm, and adjacent to Oak Road (W078) Aylesbeare has been allocated [...]
11 sites for potential housing developments at Alfington, have been submitted by landowners. The pieces of land are: - three sites north west of the Ottery Road (C114, C100, C117) - two sites west of Pattison Close (C127 and C116) - one site south of Summer Lane (C115) - one site to the north and east of Summer Lane (C099) - one site to the east of Alfington Farm and Anthony Cottages (C128) - one site to the south of Rock House (C014) - one large site to the east of Church Lane and to the south of Mill Lane (C028) There is also a very large piece of land that has been submitted for development[...]
17 sites for potential housing developments at West Hill, have been submitted by landowners. The pieces of land are: - five sites at Toadpit Lane (CO89, CO35, CO72, C205, CO38) - two sites next to Eastfield (C125, CO50) - one site next to Windmill Lane (CO86) - one site off West Hill Road, opposite McColls (C073) - one site next to Elsdon Lane (C146) - three sites at Lower Broad Oak Road (CO27, CO25, CO15) - four sites at Higher Metcombe (CO13, CO16, C001, W317) - one site west of Brackendown (CO88) West Hill has been allocated around 35 houses [...]
Eight sites for potential housing developments at Tipton have been submitted by landowners. The pieces of land are: - between Otter Close and Mallocks Close (C201) - south of Barton Orchard (C037) - Crosshills near Lancercombe (two sites: C051, C052) - next to the school (2 sites: east and west of the road to Salston Corner C077, C078) - at Green Lane (2 sites: C017 east of Green Lane/north of Venn Ottery Road, and north of Green Lane: C003) Tipton St John has been allocated around 10 houses until 2026, under East Devon District Council’s Local Plan. Following this process, EDDC will do some[...]
When was Aggregate Industries given planning permission for mineral extraction from Marshbroadmoor? Marshbroadmoor gained planning permission in 1999 – it expires in 2015 What is the amount of reserve left at Marshbroadmoor? It was reported at the liaison committee that there was in the region of 60 to 70,000 tonnes remaining Has Aggregate Industries been in negotiation with DCC about its intention to recommence quarrying? When did discussions between AI and DCC on this point begin/conclude? Quarrying here has never ceased – it’s been carried out on a campaign basis over the last few [...]
I have deliberately not blogged my views about WHRA’s actions relating to their workshop, which involved identifying and publishing sites for future development in West Hill. This is partly because I do not wish to cause ill-feeling between myself and the association, and partly because I did not want to draw additional attention to this issue, subsequent to the Ottery Town Council meeting on Tuesday 1 May. However, after reading today’s letter I decided I had no option but to make clear my position, following an untrue accusation that I misled Ottery St Mary Town Council, at its [...]
East Devon District Council engineer, Keith Steel and Environment Agency officer, George Arnison attended Feniton Parish Council’s meeting, to give an update on plans for a flood defence scheme. I attended as the EDDC ward member for the part of Feniton nearest Ottery St Mary, which includes a piece of land subjected to a planning application for 120 houses, refused by EDDC last December. There is a huge and understandable concern among Feniton residents about flooding, following the devastating flooding of October 2008. There are many developers interested in building houses at [...]
The Government claims that Neighbourhood Plans (NPs) are proof of its desire to put communities at the centre of the planning process. Ministers claim that people will now be able to be in control of development in their ‘neighbourhoods.’ Not quite. What they often neglect to mention in their sound-bitey broadcast interviews is that Neighbourhood Plans are pro-growth plans. They are designed to encourage growth in communities. Anyone who thinks they can reduce or limit development by preparing a Neighbourhood Plan is in for a disappointment. The role of [...]
Quarry representatives informed the Blackhill and Venn Ottery Liaison Group at their meeting yesterday. This will mean many more lorries travelling on the B3180 past West Hill, as material is taken to Blackhill Quarry on Woodbury Common from Marshbroadmoor, for processing. Aggregate Industries is saying the move will be for a two and a half month period. Devon County Council confirm that there is about one year’s supply of sand and gravel left at Marshbroadmoor. Aggregate Industries is under pressure to cease processing on Woodbury Common at Blackhill, as it is a Site of Special [...]
The application, which has been live for several months, was previously debated by town councillors in January. There are now new designs submitted by the developer. It is on a steep field outside Tipton St John’s built up area boundary next to Barton Orchard, on land designated an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty. 10 of the houses are classified as affordable and so it is submitted under the ‘exceptions’ policy, which can allow for development outside built up area boundaries, providing two thirds of the dwellings are affordable. The town council backed the application at [...]
A BBC report states that last week a government-named panel of experts says fracking can continue under as long as strict conditions are in place. The process - fracking - involves pumping water and chemicals into shale rock at high pressure to extract gas. Last week, (Wednesday) the chairman of the Environment Agency, Lord Chris Smith said that fracking “potentially ticks the boxes on energy security, on availability and on cost”. Shale gas is seen as a way of ensuring relatively cheap energy supplies. But critics have warned of possible side effects - including the contamination of [...]
The first houses at Cranbrook go on sale on Saturday morning (12 May). Developers Taylor Wimpey, Persimmon, Bovis and Hallam Land Management are optimistic about the hordes of people that will come flocking to buy the properties. They are opening their doors at 6am to cope with the expected rush. The local press has been full of stories about Cranbrook in recent weeks, with groups of grinning councillors full of upbeat quotes about how the proliferation of developments in the west part of East Devon will bring prosperity to the region. A mind-boggling £40 million of public money [...]
Any comments should be emailed to .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address)/*= 0)out += unescape(l[i].replace(/^\s\s*/, '&#'));while (--j >= 0)if (el[j].getAttribute('data-eeEncEmail_EcgszQzUvZ'))el[j].innerHTML = out;/*]]>*/ The link to view the plans for towns is here: http://www.eastdevon.gov.uk/nextstages.htm Comments must be received by noon on Monday 11 June. It will be the final opportunity for residents to ask for changes to the plans. Ottery St Mary has a proposed allocation of 300 houses. 100 on the Ottermill Switchgear factory site and 200 on a field [...]
Monica and Mark Mortimer, who live near Straitgate Farm, the focus of proposals for a quarry the size of 56 football pitches, have gathered a myriad of information together, including evidence, photographs, historical data and quotes. The pair have also included a page on how people can help or get involved in the campaign against the quarry, even though the consultation phase is now over. There is no evidence that a quarry at Straitgate is needed as there is enough sand and gravel elsewhere in the area to provide the aggregates need for the next 50 years. And huge environmental damage could [...]
Before the meeting, Knowle drive was filled with dozens of ‘Save Our Sidmouth’ protesters wearing yellow t-shirts and brandishing placards. Many Sidmouth residents are angry about a proposed allocation of 12 acres of ‘employment’ or industrial land at Sidford. Around 100 (mainly Sidmouth) people came into the meeting to hear the debate. To kick off the meeting, Cllr Mike Allen, chair of the former Local Plan Panel said that he spoke for ‘the entire Local Plan Panel’ when he endorsed the proposals and took councillors through key elements. Incomprehensibly, he said Ottery St [...]
I had been watching out for it since the end of April, following Communications Portfolioholder, Cllr Ian Thomas’s message to tell me that its publication had been slightly delayed because of technical issues. But imagine my disappointment when I opened the page hopefully ... only to find the following text: “No register entries have been received since 2 April 2012. “Entries prior to 2 April 2012 are recorded in paper form and can be viewed by appointment at the Council Offices, Sidmouth - please telephone Democratic Services on 01395 517546.” My enquiries to [...]
Which side are you on now, which side are you on? Are you on the side of civic pride? Which side are you on? Persimmon had a project The people had no say Money changed hands And agricultural lands Had permission to build, so that’s OK Which side are you on now? Which side are you on? Are you on the side of the countryside? Which side are you on? A councillor raised a question Which landed her in the soup May we be told If Developers Gold Is helping to fund the ruling group? Which side are you on now? Which side are you on? Are you on the side that bribed and lied? Which side are [...]
The NPPF was launched in late March and although the appeal hearing for Westhayes took place before the NPPF was published, the decision is now delayed because of new pro-development and vague policies. Planning consultants confirm that appeals all over the country are being slowed up as the Planning Inspectorate attempts to get to grips with a new localist agenda and apply it at a national level. Localist planning may make sense at a ‘local’ level, however, as soon as an appeal is lodged any decision must be consistent, not only with related decisions at that local authority, but [...]
The plans were debated at the Overview and Scrutiny meeting last Thursday, which recommended that the Cabinet set up a task and finish forum to look at the job description. This was agreed last night, with a final decision on the post to be made at a later date. Due to meeting clashes I was unable to attend both the OSC meeting and last night’s cabinet. Although I am not a member of the cabinet as the ruling Conservative group only, is entitled to a place on this powerful committee. It is incredible that such a post can be justified when there have been redundancies of key posts [...]
The outlook for the vast pig unit at Venn Ottery, equivalent to the size of three football pitches, has changed yet again, with revised comments from Natural England. Previously, NE had taken a neutral stance, on the basis that they were constrained by interim Government guidance which prevented them from taking ambient nitrogen levels into account. However, they have now made a formal statement that the application could, after all, breach EU legislation under Regulation 61 of the Habitats Directive. The key issue appears to be the levels of nitrogen and ammonia caused by the pig [...]
Following his county council report to the Town Council, Cllr Paul Lewis labelled Cllr Giles’s statements relating to 50 years worth of sand and gravel being available at Hillhead quarry, as a ‘gross misrepresentation.’ Cllrs Paul Bartlett and George Hansford agreed with Cllr Lewis, claiming that the sand and gravel at Uffculme would be used in other counties, not just in Devon. Cllr Giles defended his calculations robustly, saying that he had studied the issue carefully and was absolutely confident that his statements relating to 50 years supply of sand and gravel, was [...]