DETAILS have been revealed this week of a plan for a new retail store for Crediton on part of The Rec, the sports field bordering Exhibition Road and Commercial Road.

In a statement issued to the "Courier", The Queen Elizabeth Education Foundation, owners for many years of the Sports field in Exhibition Road, said that the Foundation supports present QE students and past students up to the age of 25 in pursuit of their education and development.

The statement added: "This is done from the investment income that the trust receives and including the letting income from the Sports Field that has been in the Trust’s ownership for many years. Recently it has been let to the Rugby Club.

"The land has been earmarked by Mid Devon District Council for housing development along with the present Rugby Club and the Rugby Club is planning a move to a new site.

"The trustees were approached by a retail chain regarding their wish to develop in Crediton and they have worked with us and the Rugby Club to provide an opportunity for us all to benefit.

"Should the application receive approval, it has our full support.

"The Foundation will have more resources to benefit the Trust’s objectives in support of students and we believe the Rugby Club have also been advantaged in their wish to relocate.

"As a Charity we have an obligation to seek best return for any sale of an asset and this will help to maximise the support that we can give to students."

RUGBY CLUB LETTER

The Board of Directors of Crediton Rugby Club wrote to all of its members this week issuing them with details of the plan.

The letter reads: "Dear Member, We hope you and your family are staying safe and healthy in these challenging times. Let’s hope we can safely return to rugby on and off the pitch in the near future.

"Your committee and board of directors together with many helpers are working hard behind the scenes to ensure the Club remains in the strongest position for when we return.

"As some of you may know, Mid Devon District Council have a local long-term planning strategy, part of this plan is to relocate Crediton RFC to a new site at Creedy Bridge, the details of this application have been debated for nearly 10 years, but will probably conclude at some point this year.

"The planning strategy also allocates the current Rugby Club site and the pitches opposite the Club for residential development, subject to the Club relocating.

"Any of you who have attended the Club, either on a Saturday afternoon or a Sunday will probably agree that we are at full capacity.

"With this in mind the Club have been working hard to try and develop a strategy that would allow us to relocate.

"The pitches opposite the Club, known by many as the Rec, are leased by the Club from ’The Official Custodian for Charities by the direction of The Trustees of Queen Elizabeth Academy Trust Educational Foundation’.

"The Club has played on these pitches for as long as many of us can remember, but the fact is that they are leased and allocated for housing.

"The Trustees have been continuously communicating with the Club over the years as they have often had interest from various parties to purchase the site.

"This has now come to a point where a planning application is about to be submitted for a retail store on ONE of the pitches known to most of us as ’Tuckers pitch’.

"As part of these negotiations the Club has secured a substantial financial contribution which will go towards the relocation or improvement of our current site should planning be granted.

"After careful consideration and taking into account the long-term plan of relocation and the fact that a substantial financial contribution which will go towards the relocation or improvement of our current site, should planning be granted.

"After careful consideration and taking into account the long-term plan of relocation, and the fact that a substantial financial contribution will be paid to the Club, if permission is granted, your board of directors have voted to support the application.

"The planning application will be dealt with in the normal way with plans and documents available for the public to view at any time on the Mid Devon District Council website.

"Sport England and the RFU will also be consulted.

"As directors of the Club, we agreed members should be informed of our decision before the application is made public.

"As members of the public, you have the right to personally comment on any planning application."

George Mortimer, chairman, The Queen Elizabeth Education Foundation, confirmed that the area of the proposed retail site would be a rectangle shape facing Tucker’s Country Stores and running the length of Commercial Road.

He said that the site area was the one rugby pitch size in depth, adding that the other pitches would remain available for the rugby club use for the time being.

He reiterated that the Foundation helped students at Queen Elizabeth’s School with bursaries, prize giving, books, scholarships and in other ways, adding that with more finances, it would be able to assist the school in other ways.

Colin MacKenzie, chairman, Crediton RFC, said that the Rugby Club has a good working relationship with the Foundation Trustees.

"They have been supportive of our work and accommodating and supportive, particularly of our younger members,” he said.

• What do you think of the plan for a retail store on part of the Rec off Commercial Road?

Share your views with fellow "Courier" readers. Write a letter to: The Editorial Manager, Crediton Courier, 102 High Street, Crediton EX17 3LF Alternatively, email your letter to: [email protected] . Please include your name and address and indicate if you do not want your address included if your letter is considered for publication.