by Sue Read

WITH a unanimous vote, Crediton Town Council recommended that Mid Devon District Council refuses a planning application to build 54 homes on land off Cromwells Meadow, Crediton.

The application has come from Persimmon Homes South West. More than a dozen people were at the meeting this week to talk with the town council about their fears if this was approved.

Cllr Mike Szabo pointed out that the existing sewage system cannot cope, nor could the land cope with more run off in times of heavy rain.

He also felt that 54 homes would be too many for the site. Cllr John Ross asked about a safe access for pedestrians.

He asked if the development would mean an increase in the speed of traffic, drainage where there were already problems and increased risks of flooding.

The town council agreed to recommend refusal on the grounds of insufficient capacity for more sewerage, over development of the site, access was not suitable for extra traffic.

Town council also asked, should the application be approved, for a condition that there should be a separate access for construction vehicles.

ANOTHER SITE

Although not within the Crediton town boundary, the town council was consulted as a neighbouring authority on the outline planning application to build up to 60 homes on land adjacent Brookdale, Threshers.

It was said it would exacerbate traffic and congestion problems in that area with the doctor’s surgery, school and housing. Putting extra traffic through Westernlea would also add to problems.

Current flood issues could be made worse further downstream. Councillors also called into question the ecological study because the town council had been made aware that there was more diversity of species at the site than was suggested.

DIVERSITY FESTIVAL

The council was told it had been awarded £500 from the Crimebeat panel through Devon and Cornwall Police to support a Celebrating Diversity Festival in the town next summer which the town council would match fund.

While agreeing to do this, councillors hoped there would be enough people to facilitate the festival because the town council would not be able to. Crimebeat is a national initiative that aims to encourage young people to get involved in community projects, to find out how they can make a difference in a good way.

Members approved a request for a laurel hedge along People’s Park Wildlife Area to be removed at a cost of £530 plus VAT. This had come from the Crediton Open Space Committee for Urban and Rural Tree Services.

The council was told that the hedge needed constant maintenance to stop it from becoming too overgrown. It was understood it did not protect the cob wall behind it which would look much nicer without the hedge.

BIRDS NESTING

Cllr Bob Wright reported that house martins were nesting in the band stand on Newcombes Meadow.

He said it had been suggested a net be put up to discourage them but he was not in favour, preferring the house martins.

However the problem was not only the mess on the floor below the nest but there had been reports of children throwing stones at the nest. So it was felt it would be best to encourage the birds to go elsewhere as soon as they had finished this season despite councillors having every sympathy with the birds.

There was a bit of light-hearted banter when councillors were asked to approve a new Maternity, Adoption, Paternity and Parental Leave and Pay Policy and Procedure, being asked if it might not just be called a Parenting Policy.

Devon County Council staff will be in the town during August to check what is in black bags people put out for refuse collection as part of a move to reduce the amount of waste sent to landfill.

Cllr Mike Szabo reported that the police had carried out a speed check on Western Road that morning, parked with their camera at the Queen Elizabeth site.

Cllr John Ross added that in an hour a speed check at Copplestone had clocked 30 vehicles at more than 30mph.

The town council is to investigate the possibility of creating a bylaw prohibiting parking of vehicles on the pavement after having received several complaints about this.

PLANNING

Approval was recommended for the following planning applications:

Erection of a shed in the front garden of West Forches, Alexandra Road.

Listed Building Consent for fixing acoustic tiles to the first floor Victoria Hall walls and putting in a noise attenuating suspended ceiling in the ground floor museum room at Crediton Museum and Heritage Centre, Old Town Hall, High Street.

There were no objections to the following applications: A revised scheme for Advertisement consent to display two non-illuminated free-standing direction signs at QE Academy Trust, Western Road.

Erection of three dwellings on land at the rear 42 High Street. Asking that it be pedestrian only access, councillors noted that the district council had said there was no need for car parking space because there was an under-used car park nearby.

Alterations to the south elevation of Ladds Gun and Sport, Marsh Road, Lords Meadow Industrial Estate to accommodate a flexible use of B1, B2 or B8.

Conversion of the first floor and loft including putting in a dormer to form a flat, internal and external alterations to improve access and demolition of the rear lean-to extension at 106 High Street, although councillors thought it would be a small flat.

However, the town council put in objection for the Listed Building Consent application for the same , asking if a dormer window was in keeping with this listed building.

Planning applications are determined by Mid Devon District Council.