District Council
15th April 2015 Eight-week consultation on draft Local Plan starting on 16 April
A fresh public consultation on the future blueprint for planning in East Devon will be launched on Thursday 16 April and will run until Friday 12 June.
Planning Inspector Anthony Thickett has advised East Devon District Council of the matters that he wishes to see consulted upon, following the completion of extra work that planning officers were required to do to supplement the previously s_ubmitted draft Local Plan.
The Inspector has given the council a list of questions and these will be available for interested members of the public to view online, at Knowle and at libraries and town council offices* across the district for a period of eight weeks.
Awareness
Awareness of the latest opportunity to comment on aspects of the draft Local Plan 2013-2031 will be raised via a number of channels, including public notices, a press release, social media, EDDC’s website, emails and letters to all individuals and agents on the Planning Policy service’s database, and documents placed in council offices and libraries*, plus Exeter Central Library.
As before, it will be possible for people to s_ubmit comments online or on forms that may be emailed or sent through the post. These will be available on the council’s website and at the various access points around East Devon. The online documents can be accessed at:
In this final round of consultation, the council will be asking residents to comment only on revisions** to the earlier version of the draft Local Plan.
The Inspector’s questions that are open for comment will be grouped together in four clusters, plus there will be a fifth section for comment on any proposed changes not covered by the Inspector’s questions.
The four specific clusters concern:
· Housing levels and development in the plan
· Gypsy and Traveller provision
· Site allocations
· Community Infrastructure Levy (CIL)
CIL supporting documents and forms for making comments can be viewed at: http://eastdevon.gov.uk/planning/planning-policy/community-infrastructure-levy-cil/cil-examination/
Each access point will have a package of information available, including guidance notes explaining what the Inspector wants to know and how to fill in the electronic forms or paper documents.
Comments must be received by 12 noon on Friday 12 June 2015 at the very latest. The responses received will be collated and sent on direct to the Inspector for his consideration. It is anticipated that the Inspector will be able to reconvene hearing sessions in July.
26th March 2015 DRAFT LOCAL PLAN COUNCIL..................SIDFORD VOTED OUT!
Brilliant news this afternoon The Full Council supported my amendment .. Seconded by Graham Troman for the land north of Sidford be deleted from the draft local plan.
Here is my full representation to Council on the amendment:-
Having attended the Special Development Management Committee on Monday I must say Chairman that I found the whole process very frustrating…… First of all following the public speaking non committee ward members were given their chance to speak and I was then almost closed down by the Chairman and the Chief Exec had to have a quiet word ….. I addressed the committee on the Sidford site in the local plan and in the afternoon Cllr Sullivan moved an amendment which was duly seconded by Cllr Allen that the Sidford site be removed from the draft plan and replaced by land north of the A3052 in the vicinity and to the east of the Sidmouth Garden Centre what Cllr Sullivan forget to include was the very important part of the amendment that being ‘To be developed as and when required following other sites reaching their full potential’. ……. The Sidford site has always been contentious with many valid reasons to delete it from the draft plan …. Flooding, traffic, impact on the AONB…No proven need.. and more recently the River Sid Project, Visibility Assessment and that the site would be significantly surcharged however members the most disturbing game changer the deletion of the text on ancillary to primary use of each unit which would appear to leave the door open to a mini Cribbs Causeway on our doorstep and which would put the final nail in the coffin of our town centre businesses….. Cllr Troman gave some important facts and figures which I hope he can give again this afternoon.
Come the debate by committee some 4 to 5 hours after Graham Christine and I had addressed the committee it appeared that members around the table had forgotten what we had actually said in the morning and I therefore seriously challenge the procedure and that of the Chief Executive who during other debates and amendments allowed deletion of some sites but resisted that of Sidford and instead suggesting a form of words to the Inspector regarding the unprecedented opposition to this site………whilst this form of words would and is a step in the right direction I still believe that we could go the extra mile and therefore Chairman when you take into consideration that this council now lends its support to a link road into the Alexandria Industrial Estate where there is room for further employment opportunities and as I mentioned at Mondays meeting that as the County member I shall do everything I can to see the implementation of the link road….. I therefore wish to move the following amendment Chairman that (d) the land north of Sidford be deleted from the draft local plan….. We don't need the site because evidence shows net inflow of workers to Sidmouth plus Sid water pollution study plus AONB plus Town and District member and local residents and organisations opposition.
Thanks must go to all the other speakers who supported and voted for the amendment...(Speakers) Peter Sullivan, Christine Drew, Frances Newth, Mike Allen, and Ray Bloxham ...............The residents and businesses of Sidford, Sidmouth will hopefully be delighted and we shall now work together into getting a link road into the Alexandria Industrial Estate so that it can reach its full potential.
25th March 2015
Graham Troman moved an amendment which I duly seconded on the Knowle relocation that the Knowle Exmouth model be worked up and reported back to the first committee cycle after the 7th May 2015
The vote took place with 13 supporting the amendment 1 abstention and 37 against
In seconding the
amendment I must say that I was totally taken back at the joint OS Audit and
Governance meeting when Cllr Troman raised the issue of the Knowle/Exmouth model
and was told that this hadn't been worked up....Why not? That is the question as
it would appear to me to be an excellent option and would retain some jobs in
the town.
To invest in your most valuable asset makes common sense and therefore Chairman
the amendment would give time for this option to be thoroughly worked up.
More Haste less speed comes to mind here Chairman something that clearly hasn't
been applied to the Sidmouth Beach Management Plan with a call for more
information and a scheme now at least 5 years away.
At the special O/S Audit and Governance meeting I mentioned the notice of motion
that I seconded by Graham Troman put to council well over 18 months ago
regarding relocation and Michael Heseltines report to government No Stone
Unturned in which he raised the issue of creation of further unitaries.....Not a
dead duck as some would like us to believe but very likely to happen within the
next 7 to 8 years no matter who forms the next government....that notice of
motion still hasn't been debated? What I can say is a unitary Devon would see
Sidmouth Town Council taking on more services and will require more accomodation
and a scaled down Knowle would certainly fit the bill.
Finally Chairman I found
the additional recommendation put to and accepted by the special meeting of O/S
by Cllr Claire Wright to put a covenant on the remaining land which the Town
Council would take responsibility for totally unnecessary. And furthermore
Chairman I believe it smacks of the pot calling the kettle black when you
consider that this Council is proposing to build on the grassed terraces which
are one of the finest features of the Knowle Grounds.
Its therefore a shame that Cllr Wright hasn't attended a meeting of the town
council since becoming the County member for Sidbury because if she had she
would have seen for herself how the town council as custodians looks after the
land its responsible for so that local residents and visitors to our town can
enjoy what they have to offer both now and for the future........and so.
Chairman I would urge members to support Cllr Tromans amendment this evening.
23rd March 2015
Draft Plan representation to Development Management Committee
Thank you Chairman for allowing me to address the Committee re employment land provision for Sidmouth and the Sid Valley……Cllr Peter Sullivan will be moving an amendment later today which calls for the contentious Sidford site to be removed from the draft plan and replaced by land north of the A3052 in the vicinity and to the east of the Sidmouth Garden Centre….This land has been confirmed available by the land owners and whilst also located in the AONB is by far more environmentally acceptable and is supported by the majority of local residents. It is indeed very close to the second choice site for Devon County Council’s replacement for the Woods Farm Recycling Centre and therefore.. if it had received the most popular vote would have been developed by now…. It would be up to you and the DMC members to decide how much should be allocated but certainly not 12 acres…..
There are many valid reasons why the Sidford site should be removed from the draft plan…flooding…traffic…and the impact on the AONB looking across the valley descending down the A3052 from Trow Hill……..There are also several other reasons that have just come to light and which support the removal of the Sidford site from the draft plan …The River Sid Project…..Visibility Assessment and the site would be significantly surcharged…..and also what I believe to be the most disturbing element…. in that the goalposts have been moved so far following the deletion from the text of (with any retail “ancillary to primary use of each unit”.) which madam chairman would certainly indicate to me that we could end up with a mini Cribbs Causeway on our doorstep spelling disaster for our Town Centre businesses and traffic chaos for Sidford and Sidbury…. I don’t believe County have carried out any vehicle movement predictions based on this significant change?
The amendment that Cllr Sullivan will be moving also makes it clear that the land north of the A3052 should only be developed as and when reqd following other sites reaching their full potential …. THE Alexandria Industrial Estate still has room for further expansion and it is heartening to see that the District Council is supporting the provision of a link road into the site from the B3176 and as County member I shall see how this can now be progressed.
I BELIEVE MY FELLOW WARD MEMBER GRAHAM TROMAN WILL BE ADDRESSING ISSUES RELATING TO Housing numbers, predicted jobs formula and the loss of previous employment sites over the past 20 years and therefore I now move to the second issue of the provision of a Green Wedge between Sidford and Sidbury which Cllr Sullivan shall also be moving an amendment later.
21.6 of the draft plan MAKES THE CASE FOR GREEN WEDGES and I believe that there can be no better candidate than that of the land between the settlements of Sidbury and Sidford firstly to protect the historic village of Sidbury from being absorbed into Sidford and Sidmouth and secondly to maintain the landscape setting in the AONB between the two settlements so that they can be enjoyed by both present and future generations.
I do hope that members will be able to support the amendments today
16th March 2015
It has been proposed by myself and seconded by Graham Troman that the Draft Local Plan recommendation for a business park to be created between Sidford and Sidbury on the A375 be amended by the following resolution.......
That (d) Land north of Sidford be removed from the draft plan and replaced by land north of the A3052 in the vicinity and to the east of the Sidmouth Garden Centre. To be developed as and when required following other sites reaching their full potential. (This site is similar to the former second choice site for Devon CountyCouncil's Civic Amenity and Recycling Centre ). If the site has not been developed by the first plan review, then the employment allocation for Sidmouth should be re-examined. Furthermore the employment site must be subject to the highest design and landscaping standards.
Furthermore
That the land north of Sidford between the Built Up Area Boundaries of Sidford and Sidbury and in the AONB be designated a Green Wedge.
2nd March 2013
A heartfelt congratulations to EDDC's scaled down Development
Management Committee who yesterday refused the Knowle Outline Planning
Application and in doing so hopefully kicked into touch any aspirations of
certain East Devon members of relocating to Honiton..... I congratulate ALL the
eloquent speakers (members of the public/East Devon Sidmouth members/Town
Council) who all raised valid points and the Committee took many of these on
board in reaching their decision.
So now we need to move on and concentrate on the important issues here in
Sidmouth ....the rock revetment of Pennington Point is surely the No.1 priority?
My submission to the Development Management Committee:-
This afternoon you will hear from many concerned residents of Sidmouth who have many valid points to raise in relation to this outline planning application as indeed have the 1,800 or more letters of objection that have been received and therefore I do hope that the Committee will not merely pay lip service to those who have objected to either ALL or parts of the application ...Or....the Sidmouth Town Council who have looked at this application on three occasions and have I believe not only been realistic in their comments but have also had a balanced view.....As it stands the officers recommendation appears no more than realising as much money as they can from the site and in parts creating what can only be described as a BLOT ON THE LANDSCAPE.
As an ajoining ward member I support the Town Council's response in their split decision and as worded in their submission.....in supporting Zone C to development being restricted to the footprint of the existing office buildings and subject to sympathetic and appropriate design in keeping with the character of the area and adjacent properties.....and also their advisory notes regarding the access to Knowle Drive being closed off to avoid a rat run through the site and ALL current and proposed Rights of Way being maintained through the site.
I am also unable to support development in Zones A,B,D and E for reasons given.....especially A and B and E.
Both Zones A and B will result in the loss of existing Car Parking which is in short supply here in Sidmouth and has been highlighted in our local plans since the 1990's....The Knowle Park and Walk scheme has proved very popular over the years and has prevented further congestion in the town at weekends.
also
Development of the lower grassed car park is detrimental to an important gateway to Sidmouth and would be a BLOT ON THE LANDSCAPE if it were allowed to go ahead....Just look at what has been allowed at the top of Yarde Hill on Sidford Road!!!
As for the Care Home facility ....We are already over subscribed in Sidmouth and I doubt very much if anyone has spoken to the County Council who are trying to establish what future use would the town wish to see for Green Close....A flagship facility which has always received my backing and now needs a change of direction perhaps by providing respite care for dementia sufferers...(this is being debated at Town Council on Monday).
Briefly turning to Zone E......this should be resisted at all costs as it would have a devastating effect on the Civic Arboretum with loss of valued trees....It will also create additional problems in both access and egress onto Station Road from Knowle Drive.
And so members I do hope that you will take these issues into account during your deliberations this afternoon.
Stuart Hughes CC
14th January 2013
A very good response from Natural England to the East Devon Local Plan Consultation
Strategy 26 Sidmouth – additional comments
We advise that we consider this strategy unsound
due to its allocation of 5 ha of employment land ( see below ). In
addition the proposed loss of employment land within the town at Manstone Depot
(which is now proposed for non- strategic residential land)although
significantly smaller than that proposed within the AONB also appears to be
contrary to the NPPF.
If residential land is to be allocated at the Knowle, there
should be no loss of Green
Infrastructure and surrounding parkland as this is an important green space
within Sidmouth. Not only is it an important feature for balanced communities
– Strategy 4, but because Sidmouth is only approximately 5 km from the East
Devon Pebblebeds. It is vitally important that all existing Green Infrastructure
within the town is maintained and enhanced to protect the internationally
designated site from increased recreational pressure.
Given the importance of the environment’s important role to
both residents and to the town as an all year round tourist destination, it is
strongly recommended that a similarly worded statement as Strategy 25 (Seaton)
bullet point 5 is incorporated. This will also need to make reference to the
nationally and internationally designations that surround the town.
Proposed employment allocation north of Sidford
We advise that we consider this non strategic allocation
(phased or not phased ) unsound as
it is not justified due to not meeting the tests in paragraph 116 of the NPPF.
In the report by Tyms in 2011 East Devon Housing and
Employment Study 2011, we note that it is considered that the employment
priorities at Sidmouth include: replacing existing poor stock;
occupier expansion land; the potential for small
industrial/hybrid schemes; and work-hub to encourage entrepreneurs
It is also noted that the report concluded that there was
some capacity at
We therefore agree that some development may be required at
Sidmouth which due to the constraints on the town, may include some development
in the AONB. However, such development should be considered exceptional and in
the public interest.
It is noted that employment allocations at Sidmouth are
regarded as non-Strategic only (table
following Paragraph 6.10 entitled
As proposed allocation 1967 is major development within the
AONB, in order to show its deliverability, it needs to be in conformity with
paragraph 116 of the NPPF; that is:
1. the need for the
development, including in terms of any national considerations, and the impact
of permitting it, or refusing it, upon the local economy;
2. the cost of, and scope for,
developing elsewhere outside the designated area, or meeting the need for it in
some other way;
3. and any detrimental
effect on the environment, the landscape and recreational opportunities, and the
extent to which that could be moderated.
Whilst some assessment has been made in respect of the second bullet point,
this is not considered sufficient and we advise we do not agree with its
conclusions regarding the environmental impact of developing in this area.
We agree do with the appraisal within the report
It is advised that:
Even if evidence regarding
need is clearer and justified
and further consideration of the impact on alternatives
shows there is no scope for meeting the development elsewhere or some other way,
given the landscape character of the site, we do not
consider that any proposal in the proposed allocation would maintain
the distinctive landscape to comply with the Landscape Character Assessment and
Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty management plan and Strategy 46 of the Plan and
therefore would not be justified.
It is not
considered that this allocation is exceptional and in the public interest
due to both its non- strategic allocation designation and its non-compliance
with both the NPPF and Plan’s own policies. Therefore,
we advise that the allocation is not justified and the Plan unsound.
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To members of our electorate (Sidmouth
Town, Sidmouth Sidford, and Sidmouth Rural Wards)
As your East Devon District Council
representatives for Sidmouth we write in response to many discussions, comments
and statements which have circulated regarding the Drill Hall, Knowle,
employment land and housing provision.
Firstly, we would like to reassure everyone
we have listened, consulted and taken on board the numerous comments since
calling the EDDC meeting at (Stowford Community Centre), (Annual Town Council
Assembly) and the special extra ordinary Town Council meeting held at EDDC
recently.
Our view is a united one and we have
separated each of the following responses for clarity.
The
Drill Hall
We will call for a full development brief
for the whole of the Port Royal site, in consultation with Sidmouth Town and
East Devon District Council. We will
thoroughly examine this to ensure a suitable and beneficial development takes
place and incorporates a full redevelopment scheme suited to the surrounding
area.
The
Knowle
If EDDC decides to relocate, we would seek
to secure a continued EDDC presence within our Town such as a one-stop shop and
additional services, which could be utilized for the benefit of residents this
would be sought as part of the bargaining process.
Concerning the public open space and the
many beautiful trees we will fight to retain these for the general enjoyment of
the public and will ensure that custodianship is passed to the Sidmouth Town
Council with secured 106 monies from the site sale for their future up keep.
Employment
land provision
We
will seek the retention of Alexandria Industrial Estate as employment land with
necessary conditions to prevent any future proposals for use as a supermarket
site as we believe this would have a detrimental impact on the vitality and
viability of our Town. If such an application were made for
a supermarket, it would have to meet very stringent requirements.
The current Sidford/Sidbury site is not the
most suitable site for employment provision and we cannot support this as a
current proposal.
However looking at the bigger picture, we
are not adverse to new employment land provision and additional submissions are
expected to be received by EDDC for Sidmouth over the next few weeks.
We would welcome retention of all existing
sites and the use of smaller sites to accommodate expansion for employment land
opportunities elsewhere within the Sid valley providing they were practical and
suitable.
Housing
provision
(At the special Town Council meeting held
at EDDC recently) We believe that provision of up to 150 houses being built over
a fifteen-year period (within a built up area) is sufficient given previous
reductions to meeting the necessary requirement for the Sid valley.
Councillors
Frances Newth, Peter Sullivan,
Sheila Kerridge (Sidmouth Town Ward)
Stuart
Hughes, Graham Troman, Christine Drew (Sidmouth
Sidford Ward) Chris
Wale (Sidmouth Rural Ward)
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Holidaymakers and local people are being urged to exercise extreme caution on and close to East Devon’s cliffs.
Following the tragic death of a woman in West Dorset yesterday and a number of cliff falls in East Devon, people are being reminded that they need to be very careful when walking or sunbathing on the stunning heritage coastline.
In recent weeks there have been a number of cliff falls in East Devon and the following action is being taken:
At Budleigh Salterton, East Walk: Material has fallen and covered one bench seat but has not blocked the footpath. Contractors will be on site tomorrow (Thursday 26 July) to remove the majority of the material and geo-consultants will be on site shortly to carry out a full inspection and remove any dangerous material.
At Sidmouth, East Beach: Three falls have happened 150m to the East of the River Sid. Two crowd barriers have been put in place to deter people from using the beach but not close it off for people walking from Salcombe.
At Seaton, Old Beer Road: Devon County Council have closed the road and footpath. DCC have contractors carrying out an inspection of the landslip beneath the road and EDDC have asked them to extend their inspection eastwards to the Chine Café and report back on the cliff condition.
At Seaton, West Walk: Four or five slips have occurred behind the beach huts causing them to be pushed out into the footpath. The beach huts have been moved and the majority of the soil removed. Geo-consultants have been asked to carry out an inspection of these cliffs and remove any dangerous material. When the beach huts are taken away in October, a machine will be brought in to clear behind the wall so any further minor falls will not affect the huts or the foot
Axmouth Harbour, National Trust Cliffs: Approximately 15,000 tonnes of material has fallen onto EDDC’s footpath (DCC’s Public Right of Way) and damaged 30 metres of concrete stand up on top of the harbour way. EDDC are in discussion with Natural England about removing the material and repairing the concrete wall.