3rd September 2012
Dave
Chapman of Locality gave a presentation
about Neighbourhood Planning.
‘Locality
is about self-determination, community needs and building resilient economies’.
Whilst the town should avoid going ‘bananas’ (Build Absolutely Nothing Anywhere
Near Anyone), Sidmouth needs to consider where its future lies, whether under
the new community right to build under the Localism Act, or seeking to
influence the local housing market through the Sustainable Communities Act.
Citing
other local initiatives such as the Lyme Regis Development Trust, Dave stressed
the importance of working with the authorities. Firstly, EDDC planning
officers, who would welcome an eventual NP as a reference for planning policy,
should be contacted with a proposal to set up a NP process. The Town Council,
who would lead the NP process, would in turn be contacted by EDDC officers to
formally initiate proceedings.
A year
ago, central govt provided some guidelines for preparing the NP, ‘at the point
when local people will begin collecting their ideas together and drawing up
their plans’:
With a
neighbourhood plan, communities will be able to establish general planning
policies for the development and use of land in a neighbourhood. The NP will
set a vision for the future and can be detailed, or general, depending on what
local people want. However, the NP must generally be in line with local and
national planning policies: if the local planning authority says that an area
needs to grow, then communities cannot use neighbourhood planning to block the
building of new homes and businesses. They can, however, use neighbourhood
planning to influence the type, design, location and mix of new development.
A ‘Working Together’ conference was hosted by EDDC at Knowle: Weds 14th September:
reports are to follow.
STC will be considering the NP process: Monday 5th November:
“Neighbourhood Plan: Creation of a Neighbourhood Forum”: ‘STC to lead the NP
process whilst harnessing the expertise of members of the community’.
September and November
Futures Forum work on the Knowle Plans
These
documents were sent to the East Devon District Council on behalf of the VGS
Futures Forum:
Objection
to the Outline Planning Application 15th September 2012
Objection
to the Amended Outline Planning Application 15th November 2012
7th January 2013
Futures Forum to discuss cycle routes and the EDDC Local Plan:
Most of
the meeting was taken up by considering the FF submission to the Local
Plan on behalf
of the VGS:
> In
the preface there should be mention of the fact that the FF has held regular
open meetings,
with Cllrs and professionals in attendance; research conducted by members
further contributes to the authoritativeness of the FF.
> As
part of the VGS, the FF looks to the future requirements of Sidmouth, understanding
the emphasis on employment and housing; although other areas of strategic
policy-making have been taken up at FF meetings.
>
Individual comments in the FF submission should include ‘we object/we support’.
> As
submissions will be for the attention of the Inspector, comments will have to
be repeated,
as most have been largely ignored by District officers in compiling the final
draft. The VGS can ask to address the Inspector on his visit to Sidmouth later in the
year.
The Representation on the Draft Local Plan was sent to the EDDC in January.
11th March 2013
Regular Meeting Futures Forum
Port
Royal
>
next STC chair John Hollicks has offered to meet RobertCrick /Richard Eley re Port
Royal Steering
Cttee 2010 report: Sidmouth residents’ ideas for Port
Royal regeneration - News - Sidmouth Herald; Sidmouth Port Royal development hope
- News - Sidmouth Herald
>
latest proposals for Drill Hall: sidmouthdrillhall | Save Sidmouth Drill Hall
Campaign
Funding
>
Coastal Communities Fund: Coastal Communities Fund -
Supporting economic development projects in coastal and seaside areas -
Policies - Inside Government - GOV.UK; BBC News - Torbay gets £1.4m from Coastal
Communities Fund
Health
Centre/Devon NHS
>
‘Sidmouth NHS meeting fears for the future: Feb 23 2013’ notes attached: Robert's
notes from a recent meeting to
discuss NHS in Sidmouth
12th March 2013
Cash for Planning Consents: VGS Reaction
VGS
reaction to the recent Daily Telegraph investigation published on 11 March.
The revelations published in the Daily Telegraph since March 11th have come as no surprise to the Vision Group
for Sidmouth (VGS). They do not distract or deflect us from our determination
to continue exploring positive options for the solution of the many real
problems confronting the valley.
For many
years the Sid Valley has been frustrated by the persistent failure of our town
and district councils to agree a strategic plan for the town. This
lack of vision was the reason why the VGS was established by the Sidmouth Town
Council (STC) and Sid Vale Association (SVA) 8 years ago. Planning consents
given to assertive developers with powerful lobbies have been an inevitable
consequence of this strategic vacuum. Similar short-term perspectives have
bedevilled other communities across East Devon.
We hope
and believe that the current scandal, which has already led to the suspension
of one senior EDDC councillor, will serve as a wake-up call before the
de-regulated development flood gates are opened by the National Planning Policy
Framework (NPPF) later this month. The VGS continues to offer its voluntary
expertise and advice to our elected representatives and their officers, hoping
for positive outcomes for the town and valley in such areas as housing and
commercial development, employment creation, coastal defence, traffic
management, and food and energy security and energy.
We also
deprecate EDDC Cabinet's fixation on making a quick profit from the sale of our
assets. At present this appears to be a separate issue. We are however
gratified that opposition to such proposals has encouraged the whole
community to come together successfully. We hope that this unity can be
harnessed positively as soon as our local government chooses to engage with us.
Robert
Crick, Chair of the VGS Futures Forum
25th April 2013
Futures Forum Blog
A newly
created blogging opportunity for all interested in the Futures Forum activities
If you
are interested in engaging in informal online discussions about activities and
topics discussed at Futures Forum meetings, you can now do just that via the
Futures Forum blog site
18th May 2013
Coastal Communities Fund - finance for Feniton cycle route
Futures
Forum is working with representatives from local councils, Sustrans and Otter
Cycling group
The
Vision Group has been keen to help the County, together with Sustrans, in its
determination to see the Feniton to Sidmouth cycle track project get off the
ground. We are aware of DCC’s commitment and of Sustrans’ own research – and it
has been with this in mind and after consulting with DCC, Sustrans and other
players that the VGS has submitted an application to the Coastal Communities
Fund for finance towards this worthy project.
Warm
thanks to Michael Brittain and Matt Booth for their invaluable input and
guidance in putting this bid together: we will hear in June how this first
stage has gone.
20th May 2013
Futures Forum meets
Cycling Matters! Do you have any questions about cycling in Sidmouth and the Sid Valley?
Devon
County Officials will be taking questions on this topic. All Welcome to join
the debate. We are very fortunate in having several key players in
attendance:
>> DCC
Officer Zsolt Schuller will be addressing the meeting – he is responsible for
the Devon Cycling Strategy, which is out for consultation, and is currently
collating responses from all interested parties. At the FF meeting he’ll be
explaining the Strategy and hopes to obtain some feedback from us in
attendance.Futures
Forum: Cycling: Devon Cycling Strategy
>>
The Devon representative of Sustrans, Peter Grainger, will be coming along to
contribute
>>
Several members of the Otter Trail group will be attending – including students
from King’s School - as we will be considering the proposed DCC cycle route
from Feniton which they are also keen to promote. Futures Forum: Cycling: Otter Trail
>>
And newly-elected DCC Cllr Stuart Hughes, portfolio holder for Highways which
includes cycling in the county, will be in attendance too. Futures Forum: Cycling: Tour of
Britain in Devon
>>
STC Councillors have also been invited. Futures Forum: Cycling: in Sidmouth
21st June 2013
Following
Sidmouth Town Council’s call for bids for a share of the £150k sports
fund Futures Forum: Sidmouth funding for
cycling? the VGS has suggested a
contribution be made to the Sidmouth to Bowd (to Feniton) cycle track Vision Group for Sidmouth - VGS
proposal to STC for funding
26th June 2013
VGS Annual General Meeting.
Kennaway
House
The
Annual Business Meeting followed by a Public Meeting on 'Sustainable
Development'
The
agenda for the AGM:
1.
Welcome and address by the Chair
2.
Reports from Officers Action Groups
---
Treasurer, Press and Publicity, Action Groups: SVEAG and Futures
Forum
3.
Election of Officers
---
Chair, Deputy Chair and Coordinator: do we wish to fill this
role, Press and Publicity Officer, Secretary, Treasurer
Close AGM
at 7.25pm
Following
on from the VGS AGM business meeting, we will have a public discussion on the
subject of ‘Sustainable Development’, starting at 7.30 pm. The aim
is to inform and raise our understanding on what Sustainable Development means
to various organisations and individuals in practical terms.
The panel
members will give a short presentation about their own sphere of responsibility
or concern. This will be followed by a general discussion on the topics
arising.
>
Cheryl Hiles - Regen SW Regen South West - delivering sustainable energy
> Jill Elson - East Devon District Councillor, Exmouth: portfolio holder for Sustainable Communities East Devon District Council - Homepage
> Mabel Cornwell and Chris Turner - Sidmouth College Students Sidmouth College
> Keith Bennett - Otter Brewery Welcome to one of the South West's leading breweries - Otter Brewery
> Peter Endersby and Lynette Talbot - Sidmouth in Bloom Sidmouth In Bloom
> Ruth Hancock - Fresh and Green Fresh and Green
> Simon Tytherleig - Economics, Sustainable Bradninch Bradninch Climate Action Group
> Jill Elson - East Devon District Councillor, Exmouth: portfolio holder for Sustainable Communities East Devon District Council - Homepage
> Mabel Cornwell and Chris Turner - Sidmouth College Students Sidmouth College
> Keith Bennett - Otter Brewery Welcome to one of the South West's leading breweries - Otter Brewery
> Peter Endersby and Lynette Talbot - Sidmouth in Bloom Sidmouth In Bloom
> Ruth Hancock - Fresh and Green Fresh and Green
> Simon Tytherleig - Economics, Sustainable Bradninch Bradninch Climate Action Group
We are
inviting the participants to reflect and share ideas on what 'sustainability'
means to them in the contexts of work, community and social activities,
planning, education, travel, commerce, manufacture and other businesses.
The VGS
does not promote or endorse any specific position, but provides an independent
forum for the sharing of ideas and research into the issues that confront
Sidmouth.
“Sustainable
development is development that meets the needs of the present without
compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs”
.
.
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