By Sue Read

FOR a number of reasons, including impact on the valley and traffic implications, members of Crediton Town Council’s policy and forward planning committee recommended that the town council objects to the planning application for an anaerobic digestion plant at Lords Meadow, Crediton.

Mr Graham Kerslake is applying to build the plant with other works to include flood storage, regrading the land and landscaping on Goosealler Marshes off Commonmarsh Lane.

The council was due for a site visit on Thursday, but the application had to be discussed by its committee on Tuesday.

Members confirmed that the plant would be 48 feet tall. Although the applicant had said the materials for the digester would come from the east of Crediton via the link road, councillors wanted to know what would happen if materials had to come from the other side of the town.

Cllr Frank Letch said government policy now was that agricultural land should be used for production of food. Surely the material for the digester could not be classed as “food”.

There was concern about the flood plan and Cllr Liz Brookes-Hocking did not like arable land “going under concrete”.

Also, if built, it would put any hopes of a northern bypass out of the question as well as being intrusive.

There was the impact of increased traffic which, depending on where the crops were grown, could come from anywhere.

Councillors were concerned about potential odour saying that “you have never met a sewage works that does not smell” so there must be a smell associated with the digester.

There was also the question of it being close to the River Creedy and it was said that the valley would have to be “re-engineered” to accommodate the works.

NO ‘POO’ FAIRY

Fed up with careless dog walkers or owners and a scruffy looking town, the committee agreed to order 50,000 printed dog poop bags plus “Keep Crediton Clean” posters, leaflets and stickers.

Encouraging people not to drop litter, the posters also say there is no such thing as a “poo fairy”.

Councillors were shown several poop bags used by other towns including Fremington, Bournemouth and Launceston.

Town clerk, Mrs Clare Dalley, had found a supplier of biodegradable bags in Exeter. Although bags with tie handles could be supplied more cheaply from China, they were thinner and smaller.

Members hoped people would not hang the poop bag on a fence, in a tree or bush, or anywhere other than putting in a proper dog poop bin.

Cllr Letch had been to a conference recently where a run-down business area was being developed through a BID, Business Improvement District.

He wanted to begin a SIT - Street Improvement Town - in Crediton to encourage people to keep their area clear.

He added that Mid Devon District Council had strimmed the grass at Barnfield where he lives, but not cleared the grass with the result that hay was now blowing everywhere.

“I would like groups to look after their own street, begin by cleaning the area outside your house - I do outside my house and I have no arms!” he said.