Please say no to Outline planning permission for Creedy Bridge development

THE application for Planning Permission for development of the Creedy Bridge site has been received by Mid Devon District Council (MDDC) and the deadline for our responses is April 14.

You can see what is being proposed on the MDDC website: www.middevon.gov.uk and respond online or to the Head of Planning, MDDC, Phoenix House, Phoenix Lane, Tiverton EX16 6PP.

In short, the Rugby Club will be relocating to this site, releasing their own land, home of the clubhouse and the first team pitch, and the pitches at Lords Meadow, for future housing development.

In addition, the sports fields at Stonewall Lane are earmarked for housing, and planning permission has already been given for housing at Wellparks (opposite Tesco’s) and at Red Hill Cross on Exhibition corner.

The level of impact of this development on the whole of Crediton is of concern not simply for us as current residents but for the new folks who may be coming to live here.

The question the council has to answer is whether the developments are “sustainable” which means, that there has to be a positive impact on the economic, environmental and social well-being of the area.

The application for the Creedy Bridge development does not meet any of these criteria.

As I have argued before, the problem is the location and nature of the site.

There is a clue here in the number of houses proposed - 326 where the MDDC figure is 200. Gleesons offer only 16 per cent affordable (MDDC target is 28 per cent).

This I suggest, is because only a proportion of the whole site is suitable for housing - the rest is floodplain.

Another proportion is designated Green infrastructure as it is too steep for development or riverside.

The land does not drain by infiltration so expensive drainage systems (SUDS) must be installed to deal with surface water drainage. (This does not cope with the river breaking its banks).

Mitigation measures are required to reduce adverse effects on landscape, wildlife, trees, the river, air quality, the night sky. All of this adds to the cost of development.

It is therefore necessary for the developers to fill the site with high density, market value housing, which Crediton does not need.

The problem of lack of infrastructure roads, is not addressed satisfactorily in the plans.

Crediton will become a dormitory town for Exeter as there are no satisfactory proposals for bringing employment to the town for new residents.

The Local Plan states that MDDC wish to reduce the numbers travelling out of the town for work.

The only way that air quality will not be affected adversely by traffic is if residents of the new development walk and cycle to shop, to work, and to school.

This seems unlikely given the gradients, and narrowness of the access roads.

There are no concrete proposals or money for the services, such as healthcare and schools to grow in step with residential development.

In last week’s “Courier” (March 24), Copplestone is still fighting for basic road safety infrastructure years after their developments were completed. I cannot see that it will be any different here.

To me, the development of the Creedy Bridge site is like selling off the family silver.

We will never get back a precious environmental asset, our beautiful countryside, and the gain is questionable to say the least.

Sue Keogh

Upton Hellions