CREDITON Town Council Planning and Town Strategy Committee meeting, which was held on Tuesday, March 7 at Old Landscore School, included the application (23/00273/FULL) by Mr Jeff Jenner of Blockworks Group Ltd, Worcester for a children’s home on part of the existing car park.

Standing Orders were suspended at the meeting to allow a member of the public to speak about the application.

The member of the public summarised the concerns of the residents living in close proximity to the site, including the lack of information on the type of occupants intended and the lack of communication from Devon County Council as to how the home/s would operate.

Concern was expressed about the suitability of the location for children in care given the predominance of elderly residents nearby, who had already been disturbed by activities at the site during the evening.

Crediton Town Council resolved to recommend objection on the grounds of over-development of the site, loss of amenity space and car parking space and lack of biodiversity in the development.

It was agreed for the application to be called in through Cllr Frank Letch as district and county councillor and to be put in touch with Children’s Services (Proposed by Cllr Brookes-Hocking).

Steve Howells (a resident of Lawrence Ward) said: “I am pleased that Crediton Town Council has objected to this latest application on the grounds of over-development. 

“Local residents concerns are most certainly not from a sense of ‘not in my back yard’ as was suggested by Cllr Natalia Letch, but rather from a genuine belief that this application would do nothing for Crediton, nothing for the local community, and above all nothing for the children who would be located there. 

“How many times do we hear in the news of children being failed by companies providing care for cash?  Well, I’m afraid this is precisely where such stories begin.  

“The Newcombes site already has approval for a total of five separate children’s homes for up to 12 children aged eight to 18 years, potentially with complex needs and I would question if Crediton really has the infrastructure and services to cope as it is.  

“The latest application would add a further building in the current car park for additional children and would turn what was once an attractive, airy site serving the whole of Crediton into a high-fenced, enclosed institution bang in the middle of a largely elderly residential area.

“I know that common sense is in short supply these days, but surely enough is enough.”

The final decision will be made by Mid Devon District Council, the planning authority.

Nora Parminter