50p THE LYMPSTONE HERALD where Oct 2013 Volume 37, Number 2 sold They also offered to meet a small group of Councillors but this offer was made NEWS FROM THE PARISH in between meetings and so the Parish COUNCIL Council was not able to discuss this. As Cllr Rob Longhurst explained to the Courtlands Again! meeting, it is not the Parish Council’s The Parish Council moved its venue to normal practice to meet developers the Methodist Church on 7th October in once a planning application has been anticipation of a large crowd to discuss submitted. the latest Courtlands application. We There was public concern that the were not disappointed as around 60 current proposal was more dense than people turned up to give their views the previous application even though it and to hear the debate. The applicant, was on a smaller site. There was also SLP had been invited to attend to no guarantee that other applications explain the application but was not able would not be submitted to develop the to come as he was on holiday. It is, remaining land in SLP’s ownership, in perhaps, a shame that none of their the future. Consultants or Advisers were able to Cont come along either. SLP did have email correspondence Clerk to the Council: A J Le Riche, with Tony, the Clerk to give some DMS, 43 Salisbury Road, Exmouth, explanation as to their proposals and to EX8 1SL, Tel 279665/ 07866 535580 suggest that some of the information [email protected] provided on the Village website was inaccurate. ________________________________________________________ Editor: Chris Carter, Tel 274104. Copy editor – P Acca Deputy Editors - Terri Scott & Jan Teague, Advertising - Liz Griffiths Lympstone web site – www.lympstone.org Copy deadline for the next issue – Tuesday Oct 8th by 10 am Copy by e-mail, if possible to [email protected] The Editor at Hillcrest, Greenhill Ave, Lympstone, EX8 5HW Distribution by the Telfers, Tel 272275 and others 1 Cont raised by the public and voted to A member of the public asked the request that the application be refused Parish Council to show civic leadership on the following grounds:. in opposing this application and 1. National Planning Policy Framework suggested that SLP’s business model (NPPF) was to buy land at agricultural or i. The “Planning Statement” states:- similar value and then seek to develop. “6.21 The NLP is the subject of The land had fared very poorly in its significant objection in relation to sustainability assessment and the access relevant policies within the plan and was in a poor location with the land the N LP has yet to be submitted to the being approximately 3m higher than the Secretary of State for Examination. As road. such, the emerging LP is still in This would mean the loss of a development and carries little weight in considerable length of hedge in either the assessment of the current direction in order to achieve the proposal.” visibility sight lines shown on the This is untrue in two respects application. a. As the New East Devon Local Plan Public comment also emphasised that was submitted for examination on the the matter of flooding and surface 2nd August 2013 (Letter from Inspector water run-off could not be ignored. Anthony Thicket to EDDC dated 15 There was a proposed balancing pond August 2013) but this was small and shallow and b. There is also general public support would not cope with moderate rainfall, for Strategy 8, Development in Green let alone the considerable storms that Wedges with the only objections to this we have experienced in recent years. policy coming from 3 agents acting for Due to the lie of the land and proposals developers wishing to build within a for drainage across adjoining land, all green wedge. Greater weight should rainwater would find its way to Sowden therefore be given to this policy in the End adding to the problems that already NLP occur there. ii. The “Planning Statement” states:- There was a great likelihood of “2.1 ........ The application site is flooding of adjoining land and this approximately 3.7 hectares and is would make these areas and parts of the situated on the northern edge of East Devon Way impassable for most Exmouth, Devon, immediately to the of the Winter period. north of the defined Built up Area When asked by Cllr Longhurst, no one Boundary for Exmouth.” in the public gallery indicated that they This is untrue. The BuAB for Exmouth would support this application. is separated from this location by the Members of the Parish Council then houses in Lympstone Parish in discussed the points that had been Courtlands Lane, and some 450m from 2 the houses in Seafield Avenue. The 3. New EDDC Local Plan Statement also makes no mention of the This development would contravene dislocation of this location from the the following policies of the New Lympstone BuAB. EDDC Local Plan: iii. The application in quoting the Strategy 6 – Development within NPPF:- Built-Up Area Boundaries Fails to state that within the NPPF local Strategy 7 – Development in the planning authorities should maintain Countryside the character of the undeveloped coast, Strategy 8 – Development in Green protecting and enhancing its distinctive Wedges landscapes (NPPF, 2012; paragraph Strategy 22 – Development at 114). Exmouth a. The “Planning Statement” fails to Strategy 27 – Development at the mention the “Super Appeal” which has Small Towns and Larger Villages been proposed to deal with 3 appeals on Strategy 35 – Mixed Market and sites in and around Feniton. This is Affordable Housing Outside Built-up principally to cover the matter of Area Boundaries “prematurity” and “5 year Land Strategy 44 – Undeveloped Coast and supply”. Statements from previous Coastal Preservation Area Feniton appeals are therefore unsafe 4. Lympstone Neighbourhood Plan whilst this Super Appeal is outstanding. This development would contravene b. The Planning Statement fails to make the following policies of the Lympstone reference to the latest housing number Neighbourhood Plan:- figures for East Devon as published in DMP 1 – Housing Allocations: This “Consultation on Proposed Post- development is not one of the Allocated Publication Changes to the Local Plan”. Sites within the Lympstone 2. Inspector’s Decision at 2012 Appeal Neighbourhood Plan and scored only Whilst the Planning Statement attempts 5.9 against the Sustainability Criteria. to address some of the issues raised by the Inspector it cannot overcome his DMP 3 – Location: - P7 and P8 conclusion:- 33. The proposal would DMP 5 – Density & Scale: - P10 seriously harm the character and DMP 12 – Natural Environment:- appearance of the area, including the P27 & P27 setting and identity of the village of 5. New access/egress to A376 Lympstone. This harm and the conflict Lympstone Parish Council has opposed with the saved new access and egress points to the development policies that I have found A376 within the Parish until such time lead me to conclude that in as the new Dinan Way Extension route landscape/settlement terms this site is (as detailed in the Devon Highways unsuitable for housing.” Strategy) is finalised. 3 6. Flooding Lympstone Pre-school, Pay for an Lympstone Parish Council has grave Apprentice £93 X 44 weeks - concerns on the effect that this Contribution of £279 development could have on flooding Lympstone Scouts, Camping within the vicinity. Since SLP built the equipment and works to the building - “Devon Bank” and the existing Contribution of £279 retaining pond there has been an Cliff Field increase in flooding in lower The Parish Council has secured funding Courtlands Lane – the proposed of £3,310 to provide a new surface to retention pond would seem to be the entrance to Cliff Field which is used inadequate. extensively by Lympstone FC and Although the NPPF is the overarching Lympstone Scouts. Materials have planning framework for this application been purchased and the ground works the Inspector’s Report at the 2012 have been carried out. However, appeal, the New Local Plan and the Councillors were dismayed to hear that Parish Council adopted Neighbourhood parents and young members of the Plan should all be material Football Club and the Scouts were not considerations for determining this willing to lend a hand in carrying out application. The Parish Council the simple task of laying plastic mesh strongly recommend REFUSAL. tiles and spreading topsoil over them. In brief I quote The Inspector “......in This is not an onerous task and with a landscape/settlement terms this site is few willing hands it could easily be unsuitable for housing.” completed in one short morning’s work so come on and show some true village Grants spirit. Let the Scout leaders and The Parish Council considered Football Club leaders, or Tony, the applications for financial assistance and Clerk, know that you are willing to help decided to award the following grants: and a work party will be arranged. This Lympstone Young Persons, Society will be a great help to improve the Purchase of pinball machine - £399.17 gateway into the Field and when the +VAT work is done, it will help give the Lympstone Village Hall, Cycle racks - Village some credibility in applying for £250.00 + VAT more funds for other improvements in Lympstone PCC, Cost of servicing the Village. repairing and repainting the church Neighbourhood Plan clock - Contribution of £279 The Lympstone Neighbourhood Plan Lympstone Players, Cleaning and has now been adopted by the Parish repair of stage curtains - Contribution Council but there is a long way to go. of £279 EDDC are arranging a sustainability appraisal and when this is done, the 4 Plan will be handed over to them to household waste is disposed of properly carry out their part of the formal including recycling wherever possible process.