Alan Quick

A CREDITON man is proposing a novel way of stopping a planning application for industrial units being built near his home.

David Agasee is trying to find about a dozen local residents who can raise about £10,000 each to purchase the piece of land earmarked for development alongside the railway track in Fordton.

David told the “Courier”: “This land is on the market with potential planning for industrial development with six industrial units.

“We would use the piece of land for off-road parking, which is sorely needed along Fordton Terrrace, and to reinstate the allotments.

“We are strongly opposed to the land being used for industrial units for the following reasons:

1. Industrial units within a residential area

2. Other very local areas are available, more suitable and have been earmarked for industrial development i.e. land adjacent to Tesco at Wellparks

3. Additional large vehicle activity where there is already a high volume of traffic daily - Fordton Mill lorries, farm machinery, school buses, lorry traffic to industrial estate and on occasion, replacement rail buses

4. This is at an extremely difficult junction due to a narrow road, a narrow bridge and a level crossing.

5. Extremely ugly development next to a Listed railway signal box and newly refurbished bridge.

“We hope that common sense will prevail and that the land could be put to good residential use for the benefit of local residents, not for the financial gain of a developer that I assume has no interest in the area or the impact an unsuitable development would have on the area.”

Mr Agasee added that if more people volunteered to pay towards the purchase of the land, then it is likely they would not need to pay so much towards its purchase.

RE-APPLICATION

Mid Devon District Council (MDDC) is currently considering a re-application for the development of the site.

It was granted at appeal some years ago but the plan ran out of time and has been re-submitted.

The current plan includes six units, the formation of a new access and car parking area.

Under Reserved Matters, approval was granted for the erection of one B1 industrial unit with access and parking, together with construction of internal access and turning area.

OBJECTION

Nearly every one of the 65 Fordton residents has signed a petition opposing the current plan.

This petition has been sent to MDDC.

It states that the plan is for industrial development in a residential area and says the road is very narrow through the village, traffic already busy and held up when the crossing is closed daily.

It notes that the proposed entrance opens onto the narrow road, which residents say already has a high current traffic load.

The petition also notes busy traffic to and from Downes Crediton Golf Club, the existing Fordton Trading Estate, from local farms, Crediton Milling Company and commuters using the road to and from Tedburn St Mary.

Some local residents attended the meeting of Crediton Town Council on Tuesday to speak about their objection to the plan.

Crediton Town Council decided to object to the plan because of the proximity to the Listed Signal Box across the tracks from the proposed development site.

It also raised other concerns including access and proximity to the level crossing.

Local residents who would like to make a donation to Mr Agasee’s campaign can contact him on 01363 775698.