PLANNING matters took a large part of this month’s three-hour meeting via Zoom of Crediton Hamlets Parish Council with eight applications to consider.

At its annual meeting, held before the parish council meeting, Cllr George Mortimer of Uton was elected chairman for another year and Cllr John Stevens was re-elected vice chairman. For both, this will be their second year in office.

Senior member Cllr Andy Cole took over the chair for the election of chairman. He thanked Cllr Mortimer for having done “a really good job” last year.

High on the agenda was discussion on whether the parish council website should be blacked out in the event of the death of the Queen, Prince Philip or Prince Charles.

It would be as if a veil had been put over the website. The clerk was to check whether blacking out the website was a requirement. If not, Councillors agreed that respect could be shown in other ways for example by observing a minute’s silence at the subsequent meeting and a message of condolence on the website.

GARDEN CENTRE

Mr R Broad was seeking planning permission with a revised scheme for the remodelling and modernisation of the existing garden centre following demolition of existing structures and other work at Crediton Garden Centre at Barnstaple Cross.

Changes included that access would not be off the A377 but instead more or less opposite the veterinary surgery, the car parking area would be reduced and no bus stop.

It was hoped that as a part of the work, the “pinch point” at the A377 junction would be removed.

It was said that the garden centre had been established for 30 or 40 years or more, the work would bring more employment to Crediton and redeveloping the business would improve the gateway to Crediton.

The council agreed to support the application.

DOES NOT MEET CRITERIA

By a unanimous vote the council agreed to object to an application for the change of use of agricultural land to allow one pitch for the siting of one static caravan, two touring caravans and associated works for the use of gypsy and traveller family on land north of Shortacombe Farm, Shortacombe Lane.

It was said this was a new application by Ms A Tyrer for the same site as before which was refused, went to appeal and was turned down.

A neighbour told the parish council that there was nowhere for grey water from the site to go other than onto their property.

The clerk said the council had received a number of emails which she had forwarded to councillors.

Councillors commented that this did not meet a number of requirements including access to public transport and distance to the nearest village. It was thought the only difference to the previous application was the addition of a composting toilet.

TWO DWELLINGS

Looking at an application from Mr R Thomas with revised drawings and more information to build two dwellings following removal of two agricultural buildings at Binneford, Yeoford, councillors agreed that if the Mid Devon District Council planning officer was minded to approve, then the parish council would want it “called in” with the decision made by the district council planning committee.

There were objections from neighbours. Members queried whether the plan was “betterment” and whether there should be two semi-detached houses instead of two detached ones, as on the plan.

FOR GOLF CLUB

The council supported an application from Mr and Mrs K Metcalfe to build a single storey front extension to 5 Court Barton Cottages, Venny Tedburn.

It also supported an application from Mr D Greenslade for the erection of a building for a golf simulator at Downes Golf Club, Hookway.

Support was also given to an application from C Janion to build a summerhouse/home office and replacement garage and car port following demolition of the existing garage at Cooks Cottage, Gunstone.

Also to support an application from Mr K Pearce to build a single storey dwelling following removal of an agricultural building at Oxclose, Yeoford.

Also to an application from Mr R Dunn for a stable/store unit with concrete pad at Orchard View, Gunstone.

It was noted that the district council had approved an application from Mr T Chenore to take down the conservatory and put up a single storey rear extension at 1 The Oaks, Yeoford.

TELEPHONE BOX

The council had wanted the district council’s enforcement officer to check whether what looked like a bungalow built in a field known as View Farm or more locally as Scuffles at Yeoford had been built without planning permission.

The clerk reported that she was still waiting to hear back from the district council. It was understood an application was being made retrospectively.

The parish council had asked BT about maintaining the Yeoford telephone box but so far the clerk had not been able to talk to anyone at BT nor who to email.

When she said it would seem BT wanted to hand over responsibility it was said that this was a “live” box which should be looked after by BT. One of the councillors had cleaned the inside, but it badly needed a coat of paint.