"Sid Valley under threat from developers >>> Have your say before it’s too late"

There are several controversial planning projects underway at various stages:

SIDFORD:
Futures Forum: Sidford business park > Fords planning application >>> 16/0669/MOUT >>> to be considered Weds 7th Sept
Futures Forum: Sidford business park > Fords planning application >>> 16/0669/MOUT >>> public information meeting: Monday 12th September
Futures Forum: Sidford business park > Fords planning application >>> 16/0669/MOUT >>> and the potential impact on Sidmouth's High Street

KNOWLE:
Futures Forum: Knowle relocation project: revised plans from PegasusLife >>> "Have all the many issues, not least size, scale and suitability of design, now been addressed?"
Futures Forum: Knowle relocation project: revised plans from PegasusLife >>> "the massing and bulking of the buildings hasn’t been significantly altered"

BEACH MANAGEMENT PLAN:
Futures Forum: Beach Management Plan: "More careful consideration is needed, starting with comparative modelling."
Futures Forum: Beach Management Plan: looking for funding for the 'technically preferred' option 4b

PORT ROYAL:
Futures Forum: Plans for Port Royal: anticipating a Regeneration Board >>> ‘Scoping Report for the eastern end of Sidmouth’ >>> Town Council to debate Project Brief >>> Monday 5th Sept
Futures Forum: Plans for Port Royal: anticipating a Regeneration Board >>> ‘Scoping Report for the eastern end of Sidmouth’ >>> District Council pushes for "a three month scoping exercise completed mid November" and "a decision on full planning and design approach December 2016"
Futures Forum: Plans for Port Royal and the Eastern Town >>> >>> "People don't connect the Scoping Exercise with what is in the Local Plan"

The magazine 'Sidmouth Diary' carries a piece on all of these:


'Sid Valley under threat from developers'

Have your say before it’s too late 

Our own neighbourhood could soon go the way of other places that visitors come here to escape from. With 3 major developments now proposed, at Sidford, at Knowle, and at the eastern end of Sidmouth seafront, the whole community will be affected in some way. But the developments need not be a forgone conclusion, if the public know enough about them and the ways to get their voice heard. 

That's why residents of Sidbury, Sidford and Sidmouth invite you to a PUBLIC MEETING, ‘Say NO to Sidford Business Park’, at Sidford Social Hall, Byes Lane , Sidford, EX10 9QX, on Monday 12th September 2016. Doors open 6.30pm for 7pm start. Refreshments available on arrival. 

Sidford

A planning application by Fords, for a business park on the Sidford-Sidbury road, with warehousing and ‘general industrial use’ buildings, has already run into trouble with strong objections from individuals and from official consultees’ reports, notably Natural England, and Sidford Ward members, Cllrs Marianne Rixson and Dawn Manley. Main issues are impact on the local environment, difficult access (see photos), traffic problems, and flood risk, and the lack of proven need for a large-scale employment site on the outskirts of town. See the comments on the EDDC planning website: https://planning.eastdevon.gov.uk/online-applications/ 16/0669/MOUT, Two Bridges Road, Sidford.

If you can’t attend the Public Meeting on Sep 12th, but are concerned, you can write , quoting ref no. 16/0669/MOUT, Two Bridges Road, Sidford, to:

Flooding:
-Environment Agency: e-mail steve.maddison@environment-agency.gov.uk , or write to Environment Agency, Manley House, Kestrel Way, Exeter EX2 7LQ
-Devon County Council: e-mail martin.hutchings@devon.gov.uk

Highways:
-Devon County Council: e-mail jeremy.upfield@devon.gov.uk , or write to Devon County Council, County Hall, Topsham Road, Exeter EX2 4QD
N.B. : Relevant photos or videos could be added to your message.

Knowle

Pegasus Life’s planning application for 115 flats for over-60s only, with associated buildings, entailing encroachment on prime historic parkland, has been heavily criticised in comments received, for overbearing massing, for overlooking, and for inappropriate design that is seen as being completely out of scale and character with the surrounding area and with the townscape of Sidmouth.

You can read the comments on the EDDC planning website: https://planning.eastdevon.gov.uk/online-applications/ The planning reference is 16/0872/MFUL Knowle

Sidmouth eastern town, and Beach Management Plan (BMP)

EDDC and Sidmouth Town Council (STC) are working together on a ‘scoping exercise’ for regeneration of Port Royal (most of the land owned by the District Council, though STC owns some).

More info here: https://saveoursidmouth.com/2015/12/27/jan-6th-2016-knowle-cabinet-will-hear-report-on-eastern-town-scoping-study-for-sidmouth/ .

Vision Group for Sidmouth, and Save the Drill Hall campaigners have long had their own ideas https://sidmouthdrillhall.com/

And the Beach Management Plan has been controversially dragging on for years. Will Cllr Andrew Moulding’s team now go for the cheapest option? Will it include recommendations by local people, as in Sidmouth’s Neighbourhood Plan now in preparation? Watch for reports on this and other developments, on futuresforumvgs.blogspot.com; write to the local press; support your local councillors by telling them what your views are, and attending council planning meetings whenever you can, to show you care!

Jackie Green, East Devon Alliance

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