AN IDEA to help ease car parking difficulties for businesses on Lords Meadow Industrial Estate is being put forward by Crediton Town Council.

At a recent meeting of its Town Strategy Committee Cllr Joyce Harris suggested a parking permit scheme at the Lords Meadow Leisure Centre overflow car park for estate businesses and their staff.

Councillors agreed it was ridiculous to have a rural industrial estate with no parking, especially since the double yellow lines were laid.

Saying she had been asked about this by people on the estate, Cllr Harris said: “One thought was for people to be able to buy permits for the overflow car park when it was not being used so much.”

Councillors agreed this could be a good solution to go to Mid Devon District Council.

FREE PARKING

With four free parking days given by the district council at St Saviour’s Way car park this year, councillors wondered whether June 5 or 6 ought to be included for St Boniface celebrations.

But it was felt that the town would benefit more from free parking at Christmas and so it was suggested free parking for the day the Christmas lights would be switched on, two days before Christmas and one other day.

PLANNING

Objection was put forward for the planning application with revised drawings and more information to convert the Kings Arms on Park Street into six dwellings, although councillors noted this had been reduced to five.

It was felt to be a poor design and over development, adding to the problems already in the area with no facility for car parking.

There was no objection to an application to build a single storey extension to the side of 4 Blagdon Rise following demolition of the existing utility room.

Nor was there objection to a notification of intention to fell one fir tree within the Conservation Area at The Beeches, Old Tiverton Road.

Councillors wondered whether it might be a good time to see if the district council would consider a policy that trees felled should be replaced.

Approval was recommended for a Listed Building Consent application to replace eight rear windows and a polycarbonate roof, remove a rear arch and put in a rear door at 9 North Street.

Approval was also recommended for an application for an agricultural building to house cattle on land at Backs Barn, Park Lane, Crediton.

There was objection to a notification to pollard one horse chestnut tree within the Conservation Area at QE Academy Trust on Western Road. Councillors would rather it was reduced and hoped that roosting bats would be considered.

It was noted that Mid Devon District Council had approved a revised scheme for a two storey extension after demolition of an existing garage, erection of a rear covered way and extension to the porch at 7 Barn Park.

Approval had been given to convert barns into an entertainment venue and accommodation at Higher Park Farm plus Listed Building Consent.