CREDITON could be running out of time in hoping to get more information, especially from English Heritage, about aspects around link roads proposed between the A377 and Lords Meadow.

At this week's Crediton Town Council general purposes committee meeting, the council was urged to "fight for the right of residents" for a public consultation to include all three routes - the western, hillside and the valley.

Mid Devon District and Devon County Council member, Nick Way, said people "needed to think about whether they were governed by their hearts or their heads."

Bill Dixon, chairman Crediton Traffic Action Group, requested the town council to debate the issue at the next meeting and ask for the three-route consultation. He said the situation had been "confused for many residents by the addition of the western route".

He said CTAG had been "shocked by the bias" shown in favour of the hillside route at the public exhibition of the proposed routes last September (of which the western route was not a part).

He also pointed out that the western route would bring heavy lorries close to the oldest part of Crediton, to the oldest brick-built house in the town and that pollution would be increased for people living at Tolleys, Downeshead Lane and Exeter Road.

"The health and welfare of Crediton residents demands more," he said.

He recalled that among the reasons which had been put forward for supporting the western route was that English Heritage and Downes preferred it.

If Tesco can build on a flood plain...

He went on: "Crediton has paid some £3 million in council tax and waited 36 years for a bypass and 30 years for a single-site school. It is time some money was spent in Crediton."

Mr Dixon said English Heritage was spending "millions of pounds on other work," yet at Crediton was "concerned about a field and a fence", which seemed out of proportion.

"If Tesco can build in a flood plain, then so can an amended valley route," maintained Mr Dixon, adding that it would "give a far better link into Lords Meadow."

Cllr Way said he had "made representation" to county officers to include the valley route but, so far, they were being "somewhat negative" Petitioning for its inclusion "could be an excellent idea."

He explained that the town council was waiting until all the studies into the routes was done before choosing a preferred route.

Letter on way from English

Heritage

He felt the town council would be "doing a great disservice to our community" if it agreed to a route before it knew all the facts. He hoped the information would be available in August, which would give the town council

Continued on page 23.

time to state its position before the consultation.

Cllr Liz Brookes-Hocking agreed that all three routes should be included in the consultation. She felt that some of the things that were put forward as "immovable" were not quite so immovable as originally thought.

She felt English Heritage could be one of these, adding that they "do have some consideration of the wider environment".

The town council was already inviting an English Heritage representative to an open meeting, Cllr Brookes-Hocking had been deputed (in view of staff shortage) to do this.

When she had asked English Heritage about the eastern end of the town, she had "a constructive conversation". The town council would be receiving a letter.

Cllr Brookes-Hocking knew its content and wanted everyone to have this information. "I think they would not want the people and the town to feel their heritage was at risk by the design of a road," she added.

"Everyone needs to have this information at the same time and we need to make sure members of the public have this, too," she added.

Cllr Way felt people were afraid the town council would not make a decision on its preferred route quickly enough. Once the information on the routes was made public, it was important the town council decided quickly for that decision to be made known either at or before the public consultation.

Public inquiry?

Cllr Way thought it possible that the link road could go to public inquiry. This could be called, he explained, by English Heritage or the Environment Agency, with Cllr Walter Brown adding agreeing that a statutory body or the land owners could do so, or the town council.

Vic Tuckett, a High Street, resident, said: "I think we are running out of time. Our town council is there to fight for us, it should be behind us and saying 'this is what we want' and not sitting on the edge dangling it's feet and saying 'first we need this or that'."

Another member of the public felt the town council's faith in English Heritage was "misplaced" and that the town council might have to use the Freedom of Information Act, which could take a long time. Mr Dixon added that CTAG had tried to contact English Heritage and found it to be "terribly convoluted".

Cllr David Nation felt it was important that the town council was seen, as a responsible body, to be making an informed decision on the link road.

The town council would discuss this at a future meeting, he said.

Scout garden

Looking at the damage done to the Scout Memorial Garden on Peoples Park, Cllr Frank Letch reported that police enquires were continuing.

Committee chairman Cllr Joyce Harris reported that repairs were estimated to cost £300. It was agreed this work be done as soon as possible.

Park licence and street signs

The committee made no comment to a notice that the district council was applying for a Premises Licence for Newcombes Meadow.

Assistant town clerk Mr Martin Ashley explained that this would mean the district council could hire out the park for events without needing to apply each time for a licence, as it had done with the town square.

Cllr Harris pointed out that although Newcombes Meadow was an alcohol-free zone, that did not preclude events with the responsible use of alcohol.

Members backed Cllr Brown when he asked for the north side of the pavement between Market Street and Union Road to be kept clear of obstructions, leaving two metres width of pavement uncluttered.

He explained that two metres clearance was specified by the county council. He felt that part of the High Street was currently "quite dangerous" with pedestrians often forced to walk on the edge of the pavement where the road camber meant some tall vehicles leaned over the pavement.

Staffing, skate and police

Councillors will meet next week to try to sort out some of the council's staffing problems. The town clerk is off sick for an indefinite time, the assistant clerk is still recovering from a broken leg and on crutches; there is a part-time clerical assistant.

Cllr Bob Wright reported that although the new skate park was not yet complete, it was in use. An opening ceremony was being planned, which could include a competition, largely with the help of the young people involved, in getting funding for the skate park.

He also said that he understood the police had issued about 40 warnings to people in Crediton and area for offences such as bad driving, noise and litter.

Cllr Letch reported that three people were being dealt with over graffiti at Newcombes and four were being dealt with by the police over stealing car badges.

Allotments and receptions

Mr Ashley reported that it was likely there would soon be three vacancies for plots on the town allotments.

The town council is to hold a reception on Saturday morning (June 13) for representatives from its twin town of Avranches in France plus visitors from Dokkum in the Netherlands and Fulda, Germany.

An invitation had been received for the Mayor to go to Avranches in July for the 60th anniversary of the Liberation.

It was noted that a planning application to convert Rose Cottage, Threshers into two dwellings plus building two more after demolition of outbuildings, had been withdrawn.

There was no objection to an application to build an extension to White Cottage, Belle Parade, nor for the Listed Building Consent application.

Councillors had no objection to an application for a single storey extension to 10 Murley Close plus putting in two dormer windows and building a car port.

Approval was recommended to the district council for: a single storey extension to Southfield, Southfield Drive; a 2.4 metre palisade fence and gates, Mole Avon Trading Limited, Mill Street.

An extension and conversion of rear buildings to form four flats for G and R Sims at 111 and 112 High Street plus Listed Building Consent application.

Advertisement consent to display one non-illuminated advertising board by Wellparks, Exeter Road. It was said the committee recommended approval to the district council for this on the basis that it would be better for that industrial site to be occupied before any more were built.

The committee had no objection to an application to carry out work to a hornbeam tree protected by a Tree Preservation Order at White Cottage, Belle Parade, pending an arborculturalist's report.

Wind turbine appeal date is July 23

By Alan Quick

THE second appeal by Renewable Energy Systems Ltd (RES) to site nine enormous turbines in the Den Brook Valley, between Bow, Spreyton and North Tawton is due to start on Thursday, July 23.

The Inspector, Mr A N Pykett, stated at a Pre-Inquiry meeting held at Spreyton on Monday, June 1, that the main issues were:

1 The effects of the proposed development on:

(i)  the character and appearance of the surrounding area, including the effect on the historic landscape; and

(ii) the living conditions of local residents, with particular reference to visual amenity and noise;

2 Whether any harm resulting from the first main issue would be outweighed by the benefits of the amount of renewable energy generation'.

The potentially adverse impact on local residents from wind turbine noise has become a major and key issue with the wind farm proposal.

Since the last inquiry, Den Brook Judicial Review Group Ltd (DBJRG Ltd), which is led by local resident, Mike Hulme, has voluntarily undertaken essential research and intensive analysis of the only recently released wind data.

Mike explained: "Our view remains that the developer, RES, has not assessed the situation in sufficient depth and that significant and potentially health damaging noise impacts will likely result from the proposed development.

"In addition to the need for strongly challenging RES' predicted noise assessment, the group is addressing landscape issues."

Mr Hulme said that this has been made possible by a limited contribution from the group's funds together with extremely generous donations from three individual members of the group and a leading member of the original DBVAG action group.

He added: "DBJRG Ltd has engaged one of Britain's foremost legal and expert teams so enabling a stronger challenge with far greater possibilities for a favourable decision.

"As ever, funding is a major issue and we urgently need additional financial support. We ask for your continued backing for this essential and crucial action that has far reaching implications for those living in and visiting the Den Brook neighbourhood."

He asked that cheques, made payable to DBJRG Ltd, be sent to Nick Jewell, Treasurer, DBJRG Ltd., Lynderies, Spreyton, Crediton, Devon. EX17 5AN or donations be made via the website: http://www.denbrookvalley.co.uk">www.denbrookvalley.co.uk .

'A SENSITIVELY

DESIGNED PROJECT'

RES say the Den Brook wind farm will generate the annual needs of more than 10,000 homes, half of West Devon and will bring it a £27,000 a year community fund to be spent on local projects.

Anna Stanford, RES spokesperson, told the Courier, in April last year: "We really consider the Den Brook wind farm is a sensitively designed project in the right place that can make an important contribution to renewable energy targets.

"We have stuck with this proposal because it has strong local support and will bring economic as well as environmental benefits to the area.

"Now more than ever, people are expecting the need to move to cleaner ways of generating our energy.

"Doing nothing is no longer an option. Naturally further delays are frustrating but we look forward to the time the wind farm is up and running and generating pollution free power for homes and businesses."

In July 2008 RES admitted it had made errors in the processing of noise data used for the noise assessment submitted with the Den Brook Wind Farm planning application.

Rachel Ruffle of RES said at the time: "We are ready to build this project and are confident that it will sit well in the area.

"We took great care to design the wind farm so that it would not be a noise nuisance.

"The error is miniscule in noise terms; nevertheless we are taking steps to correct it to ensure people are confident that they have their rightful protection.

"We are very sorry for the error but shocked at the way it is being exaggerated."

RES has applied for nine 120m (394ft) high turbines and associated works in the Den Brook Valley.

On appeal, RES were given the green light to go ahead with the plan by planning inspector, David Lavender, in February 2007.

The decision followed a seven-day Public Inquiry in Okehampton in November 2006 to hear the appeal after the plan was refused by West Devon Borough Council.

The original options announced by RES were for 10 100m turbines or 19 80m turbines but plans for the nine "super-sized" turbines were submitted on November 10, 2005.

The reason given for the increase to 80m towers with 40m blades, said RES spokesperson Caroline Evans in October 2005, was "because trees in the area would cause turbulence if the towers were 60m high."

In January 2006, the plans were turned down by West Devon Borough Council after more than 3,000 letters of objection were received from local residents, businesses, Mid Devon District Council, local parish councils and many other organisations.

A group of local residents formed the Den Brook Valley Action Group (DBVAG), which campaigned against the plan.

Since then, the Den Brook Judicial Review Group was formed to also fight the wind farm plan and has highlighted the errors admitted by RES, as well as oppose the plan on other issues.