SIMON Trafford (Mid Devon District Council Planning Officer) has agreed to attend the April meeting of Sandford Parish Council to discuss the recent planning application for up to 326 homes at Creedy Bridge, Sandford.?The applicants have submitted an Outline Planning application for “Residential Development of up to 326 dwellings; 8.6 hectares of land made available to facilitate the relocation of Crediton Rugby Club; up to 1.1 hectares of land safeguarded for the delivery of a primary school; access arrangements from A3072 (Exhibition Way); pedestrian and cycle access on to Pounds Hill/Stonewall Cross junction, Old Tiverton Road and Pedlarspool Lane; landscaping and area of public open space; and other associated infrastructure and engineering operations”.

Ian Sorenson, Devon County Council planning, transport and environment service highways development management officer (Mid Devon area) has also agreed to attend and help clarify questions.

GLEESON HOMES NOT ABLE TO ATTEND

Unfortunately, Gleeson Homes have said it is not able to attend the meeting.

The council received the following statement: “My colleague at Gleesons, Oliver Taylor and our team of consultants were keen to meet you and the other Parish Councillors, as we wanted to ensure that Parish Councillors get the maximum opportunity to question the proposals before submitting our planning application. Obviously now the application has been submitted, it is no longer possible to make further changes to the plans following further feedback from residents. We feel that the timescale for attending a meeting next week is too short.”

Obviously Sandford Parish Council is very disappointed at this reply, especially as members were not invited to any of the previous Consultations or Presentations, and the Chairman of the Parish Council (Mrs Elizabeth Dalton) is to respond to Gleesons expressing the Parish Council’s disappointment.?The meeting will take place at Sandford Congregational Church Hall on Thursday, April 6, at the earlier start time of 6pm.

Malcolm Vallance

Sandford Parish Council