Exclusive by Sue Read
By a vote of four in favour, one against and two abstentions, the town council recommended approval by Mid Devon District Council of the planning application to bring Costa Coffee to Crediton.
Jurassic Coast Coffee Limited had applied for change of use of the ground floor from shop (Class A1) to mixed use shop (Class A1) and cafe (Class A3) plus alterations inside and out at 28 High Street, the former High Street Saver shop.
Cllr Dan Webb, who runs Crediton Coffee Company, declared an interest and had to leave the council chamber.
There was curiosity as to what the shop might be. Chairman Cllr Frank Letch, also a district councillor, reminded members that the district council was recommending that 85 per cent of High Street premises should be A1 or A3 use.
Both he and Cllr John Downes, also a district councillor, abstained from voting. It was the same for the Advertisement Consent application for one externally illuminated fascia sign and one externally illuminated hanging sign for 28 High Street when the town council recommended no objection.
Councillors also recommended approval for a revised application for the change of use of the former Crediton Tool Hire building on Union Road to retail bike outlet, showroom and workshop plus converting the first floor from a flat to six-bedroom communal accommodation for customers of the biking business and the second floor to a two bedroom apartment. This was in place of the previous application which had not generated much support from the council.
The town council recommended approval and asked that this application be called in which means it would go to the district council’s full planning committee for a decision instead of the delegated powers of its planning officers.
Cllr Downes understood the officer recommendation had been to refuse the application, he was not happy about the reasons for that.
If the property had been converted into flats he was concerned about the “serious parking” problems in the area while this current application allowed two parking spaces with room for motor bikes.
He felt turning the building into a commercial business would be good whereas previously the plan had been to create nine flats with no parking provision.
Cllr Heather Sansom said it had been suggested to her that the space across the road, the former Berry and Vincent builders’ yard, could be used for parking.
Cllr Dan Webb understood the accommodation would be for motor cyclists on long-distance runs. “I have quite often had people ask where they can stay and really know of only two options, one in Sandford, one in Crediton. It would be a good idea to be able to offer temporary accommodation,” he said.
Approval was recommended for an application from Mr G Gregory for alterations to the upper hall of the Congregational Church on the High Street to form a new ramp and stairs, plus Listed Building Consent.
Approval was recommended for an application from Newcombes (Crediton) Housing Association to replace the entrance door with a window and new entrance door with an extended porch at 6A Courtis Gardens.
There was no objection to an application for a two storey extension and decking area at 5 Murley Close, nor was there objection to an application for a single storey extension following demolition of a storage building at 20 Winswood.
HOW MUCH?
Shop owner and former town councillor Richard Adams asked how much it was costing to close the main road for the Christmas in Crediton evening on Saturday, November 26.
He was told the road was being closed by South West Highways. The cost was £505.33 funded by the town council and sponsors of the evening, all listed on the publicity.
On another aspect of money, town resident Richard Wright asked about the discretionary grant given by the town council to CredFest.
He asked if it was appropriate for the town council to give a grant to an organisation that was expressing “strong political bias” as shown in the minutes of the CredFest 2017 October meeting.
Then an organiser, Rachel Vowles, had said “the Referendum had left a lot of people feeling shut out and threatened and horrible; the UKIP shop had left people feeling isolated or disenfranchised.”
Mr Wright commented that more votes than the national average had been recorded in Brexit for this area.
He asked if the town council wanted to revoke the grant to CredFest so as to be representative of the whole area.
The town council would be holding its grants meeting next week when the CredFest application would be looked at with the others. It was suggested Mr Wright should tell CredFest how he felt.
SCHOOL SAFETY
Ways that might improve safety for children going to and from the two primary schools were being looked at.
Cllr Letch reported having been to a meeting of the Creedy Local Action Group, a partnership of local organisations, when crossing the road on East Street for Hayward’s School and for Landscore School on Threshers was raised.
“We were looking at long-term and short-term possible solutions which would involve the district council in giving a short period of free parking at St Saviour's Way car park to allow parents to drop off children and take them to the school,” said Cllr Letch.
He said the school crossing patrol man, the lollipop man, on East Street was “very concerned” about the number of parents with children, sometimes with a pram, crossing the A377 via the islands outside Hayward's School instead of at the zebra crossing where he was on duty.
RAIL NEWS
Saying he had been to the rail exhibition in Okehampton the previous weekend, Cllr Nick Way said it was hoped to bring this to Crediton because expanding the rail service between Okehampton and Exeter would include Crediton.
It would be likely to be the end of January or early February next year to explain the plan and how it might work.
WASH IT OFF
Having received reports of graffiti around the town, councillors were told that, if on private land, it was the landowner’s responsibility to remove.
The district council had a “graffiti busting kit” that could be used if a small group of people wished to do a removal job. Please contact Julia Ryder at the district council.
Councillors spent some time looking at finances and its budget, deciding to adjourn a decision on its precept until its December meeting.