-10-

Minutes of a meeting of Town Council Planning Committee held in the Narthex Hall, St Michael’s Church, West Hill on Monday 29th June 2015 at 7pm

Present: Chairman: Councillor Holmes Councillors: Dobson, Carter, Talbot, Giles, Bartlett, L. Harding, Mitchell, Gori, Bailey, Together with the Deputy Clerk

At the start of the meeting 10 members of the public spoke about the Straitgate Farm application (DCC/3774/2015) points raised were:  Lorry movements typically up to 140 per day along with dust and fumes from the Quarry  The effect on residents in Willow View Park relating to valuation of properties in the vicinity, residents asked if there will be compensation  The West Hill Residents Association concerned about the transportation of materials creating noise and dust also damage to the B3180 road side and banks  The impact on Tourism in Ottery St Mary  Loss of agricultural land and contrary to AONB guidance

1. P/15/06/22 To receive Apologies Apologies were received from Councillor Pratt

2. P/15/06/23 To receive Declarations of Interest and requests for new Disclosable Pecuniary Interest (DPI) Dispensations for items on the Agenda Councillor Bartlett declared a Disclosable Pecuniary Interest in the DCC/3774/2015 Straitgate Farm application as he in receipt of an Aggregate Industries Pension and is currently doing work for Aggregate Industries via Advance Environmental. P/15/06/24 Councillors Dobson, Holmes, Giles, Carter, Talbot, Bailey, Mitchell, Bartlett, L Harding and Gori declared a Personal Interest in Application 15/1122/FUL as the Town Council is landlord of the Tourist Information Centre beneath the Flat.

Mayor’s initials ……………………..

-11-

3. P/15/06/25 Reports, Correspondence and Items referred to the Committee Notification of Adjoining Parish application 15/1066/FUL – Tagon Harbour Farm, Whimple, , EX5 2QS Duly noted. P/15/06/26 Email notification that had previously been sent out to Councillors from the Planning Policy Manager at EDDC ( Matt Dickins) regarding Cranbrook: The Future Development Plan Document (DPD) . Noted.

4. P/15/06/27 Planning Decisions Received 15/1121/FUL –50 Claremont Field, Ottery St Mary, EX11 1NP Granted 15/1247/FUL – 36 Ridgeway Gardens, Ottery St Mary, EX11 1DU Granted 15/0973/FUL – Moorlands Orchard, Lowena Lane, West Hill, EX11 1JU Granted 15/0677/FUL- O Jays Barn, Metcombe, Ottery St Mary, EX11 1RS Granted 15/0610/FUL – Broadoak Barn, West Hill Rd, West Hill, EX11 1UZ Refusal 15/0697/FUL – 5 Mill Street, Ottery St Mary, EX11 1AB Approved 15/1096/FUL - 28 Patteson Drive, Ottery St Mary, EX11 1TB Granted 14/2820/FUL - Ware View (formally land at Ware Farm) OSM, EX11 1PJ Granted ** 15/1057/TRE – 2 Heather Grange, West Hill, Ottery St Mary, EX11 1XZ Split Decision Applications marked with ** do not agree with EDDC decision

P/15/06/28 5 To consider and determine observations on the following Planning Applications Reference Applicant Details (Councillor Bartlett left the Meeting at 7.20pm having declared a Declaration of Interest (DPI) 1) DCC/3774/2015 Aggregate Quarry development for the Industries Ltd extraction of sand and gravel at Straitgate Farm extending to 40.23 ha including new site access onto Birdcage Lane at northern end of site, together with staff welfare facilities, car parking and wheelwash Straitgate Farm, Exeter Road, Ottery St Mary.

The Planning Committee urges County Council to refuse the planning application for a Sand and Gravel Quarry at Straitgate Farm this was unanimous: 1. DEVON MINERALS LOCAL PLAN The application is contrary to the Devon Minerals Local Plan (DMLP):

Mayor’s initials ……………………..

-12-

1a the application site is not included in the DMLP 1b to approve the application, and approve processing at Blackhill of material quarried at Straitgate, would delay restoration at Blackhill by at least five years with adverse biodiversity impacts; this would be contrary to the DMLP, and contrary to government guidance, which states that restoration should take place as soon as possible.

2. LACK OF NEED 2.1 There is no need for a new sand and gravel quarry at Straitgate. Devon is required to provide a seven year landbank for land won sand and gravel. Permitted reserves of sand and gravel at the end of 2013 were 8.5 million tones. Average sales for the period 2009 to 2013 were 471,000 tonnes per annum. The Devon sand and gravel reserves of 8.5 million tonnes means that the reserves would last for 18 years.

2.2 There has been declining use of sand and gravel for many years. It is very unlikely that demand would increase more than marginally because of increased use of secondary and recycled aggregates. In the unlikely event of increased demand necessitating additional supply it is much more sensible and less environmentally damaging to extend existing quarries near Uffculme, than to create a new quarry on good quality agricultural land with considerable other adverse impacts at Straitgate.

Particular concerns about a quarry at Straitgate include:

3. LISTED BUILDING 3.1 Straitgate farmhouse is Grade II Listed. A quarry would have adverse impacts on the setting of the Listed Building.

3.2 Cadhay House is Grade I Listed. The medieval fishponds at Cadhay are supplied with water emanating from Straitgate. Any disturbance to the water flow would have a detrimental effect on this very important feature at Cadhay.

4. LOSS OF AGRICULTURAL LAND Loss of grade 3a 'best and most versatile' agricultural land.

5. ADVERSE VISUAL IMPACT There would be a serious adverse visual impact from Ottery St Mary one and a half miles to the east, and from the East Devon Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty three miles to the east, 800 feet above the Otter Valley.

6. NOISE AND DUST There would be a noise and dust nuisance for nearby residents.

7. LORRY NUISANCE AND DANGERS

Mayor’s initials ……………………..

-13-

7.1 There would be a serious lorry nuisance for local people. There would be a particular problem along the seriously inadequate B3180 road, with especial concerns about a large number of bulky and slow moving lorries crossing the A3052 road at Halfway House. 7.2 Transporting minerals from Straitgate to Blackhill for processing would be contrary to government guidance and DMLP policies to minimise the distances that minerals are transported by road.

8. BIRD STRIKE 8.1 Exeter Airport has long been concerned about a proposed quarry at Straitgate, which would be 6k from Exeter Airport, 90 seconds flying time from the airport, and directly under the flight path at a point where aeroplanes are flying at a height 200 metres.

8.2 A quarry inevitably creates a void which fills with water and attracts birds. Landing and take-off are the most dangerous aspects of flying. It would be totally unacceptable to create such a hazard in such a location.

8.3 The number of passengers and flights using Exeter Airport is projected to increase substantially in the next few years. More flights would result in greater danger for even more people.

9. FLOOD RISK 9.1 A major concern is that quarrying at Straitgate would increase flood risk. There is a history of serious flooding to the west of the River Otter. In October 2008 there was a major flood event in the Otter Valley. There are 4 streams which originate from Straitgate Farm, and all of them caused very serious and very substantial flood damage in October 2008:

9.2 A watercourse which flows south under the Exeter Road in the vicinity of Pitfield Farm, then swings east crossing Toadpit Lane, then continues in an easterly direction to the north of West Hill Road, crosses West Hill Road to the east of Foxenholes, and then runs to the north of Salston Ride on its way to the River Otter. In October 2008 this watercourse caused severe damage at Toadpit Lane, Foxenholes, and Salston Ride.

9.3 The Thorne Farm Stream which flooded something like 50 properties on the Thorne Farm estate, with many cars destroyed and many people having such extensive property damage that they were forced to leave their homes and not return for six months.

9.4 A watercourse which flows downhill in an easterly direction and crosses Cadhay Lane passing to the north of Cadhay House. After the October 2008 event, the owner of Cadhay House had to entirely rebuild his entrance road which had been completely destroyed.

9.5 A watercourse flowing downhill and eastwards to Coombelake where it joins the River Tale. This watercourse caused substantial property damage in October 2008.

Mayor’s initials ……………………..

-14-

10. WATER TABLE DISTURBANCE 10.1 The proposal is for no mining below the water table. However the water table is variable, with considerable difference of water levels at different times of the year. There is real concern about the possible disturbance of the water table, and the possible contamination resulting from incidents such as diesel spills. 10.2 A large number of properties in the vicinity of, and to the east of, Straitgate obtain their drinking water from sources originating from Straitgate. It is imperative that in the event of mineral extraction at Straitgate taking place, there should be an absolute certainty that an ample supply of good quality drinking water would be maintained. I am far from convinced that this can be guaranteed.

11. CADHAY BOG Cadhay Bog is ancient woodland. There is a rapidly diminishing and very limited amount of ancient woodland in the UK. Cadhay Bog is dependent on a regular steady flow of water throughout the year. There is concern that extraction of minerals from Straitgate would result in periods when the flow of water is excessive, and also periods when the flow of water would dry up. If water flow to Cadhay Bog were to cease (even temporarily) the vitally important and nationally scarce ancient woodland would be seriously damaged.

12. PROCESSING 12.1 Processing at Straitgate, of aggregate won at Straitgate, would be totally unacceptable on visual impact, and noise and dust and other environmental grounds, and on water- related issues; it would also be impractical. The company acknowledges this. The proposal is therefore for any aggregates won at Straitgate to be processed at Blackhill Quarry where there is processing plant.

12.2 However Blackhill Quarry is situated in area that is subject to many important landscape and habitat designations: it is within the East Devon Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty (AONB), and it is bordered by a Special Area of Conservation (SAC), a Special Protection Area (SPA), and a Site of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI). It is home to rare and threatened species nationally such as the Dartford Warbler and Nightjar, and it is home to a European scarce species - the Southern Damselfly.

12.3 The site is underlain by the Budleigh Salterton Pebble Bed Formation which the Environment Agency classifies as a major aquifer. There are local concerns about disturbance of the Budleigh Brook having flooding consequences.

12.4 The are serious concerns about the transportation of material from Straitgate, which has been a dairy farm for hundreds of years, and where it is assumed that the soil would be very nitrate rich, and thus pose a very serious threat of contamination at Blackhill.

12.5 As stated previously, to allow processing of material from Straitgate at Blackhill would delay restoration at Blackhill by five years or more – and would be contrary to policy.

There are very many very compelling reasons to refuse this planning application. Please do so.

Mayor’s initials ……………………..

-15-

(Councillor Bartlett returned to the Meeting at 7.49pm and took his seat at the table) 2) 15/1419/FUL Fisher Construction of single storey garage & store with associated driveway, entrance piers & retaining wall 5 Mallocks Close, Tipton St John, , EX10 OAP The Planning Committee did not support this application:  Close proximity to the boundary at the rear causing possible damage to retaining wall.  The windows in the rear of the building overlooks Chestnuts causing loss of privacy  Potentially building over infrastructure (gas pipe)

3) 15/1339/TRE Bray T1, Oak: 25% crown thin maximum Pruning cut diameter 100m. Remove two lowest limbs growing towards the rear aspect of the house, 2 pruning cuts of approx. 350mm diameter 5 Hayne Close, Tipton St John, Sidmouth, EX10 OBA The Planning Committee supported this application subject to the EDDC Tree Officers recommendations

4) 15/0220/FUL Ottery St Mary A M E N D E D P L A N S Dental Practice Amendments to Design Sunny Corner, Hind Street, Ottery St Mary, EX11 1BW The Planning Committee supports the amendment. The Council previously commented on the change of use application 13/1701.COU and requested that the gate into Piccadilly Lane be made available as pedestrian access. This request still applies.

5) 15/1122/FUL Chappel Alterations & extensions to flat 10 Broad Street, Ottery St Mary, EX11 1BZ The Planning Committee has no objection to this application

6) 15/1359/FUL Stone Construction of rear extensions to f form flat roof over existing single storey lean to & enlarge retail area 12 Mill Street, Ottery St Mary, EX11 1AD The Planning Committee supports this application

Mayor’s initials ……………………..

-16-

(15/0923/OUT) A member of the public spoke on this application with the following concerns:  Garden infilling between the Blue Cedars development and the West Hayes development  Outside of the Built Up Area Boundary  Situated in the open countryside

7) 15/0923/OUT Paul Hunt Construction of 3no detached dwellings & formation of shared vehicular access & driveway (outline application discharging details of access & layout and reserving details of scale, appearance & landscaping) West Hayes, West Hill Road, Ottery St Mary, EX11 1UZ The Planning Committee does not support this application:  Outside of the Built Up Area Boundary  Pine trees (16) to be felled with no Arboriculturist report  Contrary to the West Hill Village Design Statement  The application does not comply with the Interim Mixed Affordable and Market Statement which requires 66% affordable dwellings and evidence that there is a local need for affordable housing.

P/15/06/29 5. To Receive Councillors’ questions relating to Planning Matters Councillor Bartlett asked if the Nat West Bank building could be registered as a Community Interest Asset P/15/06/30 Councillor Harding raised concerns about the pinch point in Tipton St John which is of a danger to motorists as road signs are not visible owing to over growing hedges. The Deputy Clerk will report this upon receipt of Councillor Harding’s written report and photos

Mayor’s signature: …………………………………… Date: ……………………………..

The date of the next Planning Committee Meeting is Monday 13th July 2015 at 7pm in at the Council Offices, 8 Broad Street, Ottery St Mary, EX11 1BZ

Mayor’s initials ……………………..

Mayor’s initials ……………………..