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Sunday 18 January 2015

Save Clyst St Mary: further meeting Tuesday 20th January

The concern about the effects of the National Planning Policy Framework on local communities has been reflected in a Parliamentary report:
Futures Forum: The NPPF Report: "”Councils must do more to protect their communities against the threat of undesirable development by moving quickly to get an adopted Local Plan in place."

One such community is Clyst St Mary in the western part of the District:
Futures Forum: Save Clyst St Mary: Parish Council and campaigners ... "The infrastructure can’t cope."

The Express & Echo has shown considerable interest, providing regular information and reports:
300 homes plan for offices site at Clyst St Mary | Exeter Express and Echo
Clyst St Mary residents to hire private planning consultant to fight developments | Exeter Express and Echo
Council to discuss Clyst Honiton fears over increased planning applications | Exeter Express and Echo

Here is a report from last Friday's meeting, from independent Cllr Claire Wright - who is also standing against resident MP Hugo Swire in the upcoming general election:

Hugo visits Clyst St George and Ebford, which are under huge pressure from development

Friday, 16 January 2015 3 Comments by Claire
Yet more East Devon communities are turning out in vast numbers to express their fears over the threat of large-scale development.
This evening Clyst St George and Ebford (which are set to grow by 65 per cent and 53 per cent respectively) residents turned out to hear East Devon’s MP, Hugo Swire, talk about planning issues.
More than 100 people crammed into the Clyst St George and Ebford Parish Hall.
The meeting was chaired by Vaughan Rosser, chair of Ebford Residents Association, who started the meeting by informing everyone present that Hugo Swire had to leave dead on 7.30pm to enable him to catch a train back to London.
Hugo Swire explained that he has no influence in planning matters unless there has been some wrongdoing. But he did say that his job is to ensure that there is somewhere for children to go to school, and hospitals in which people are cared for.
In justification for building some houses (he said that there were those who did not want any houses to be built) he suggested to the audience that a significant number of them had not been born locally. However he was concerned about ribbon development along the A376 road.
Mr Swire went on to say that said that people had to hold their councillors to account. He was very keen on Neighbourhood Plans – he referred to NPs on three or four occasions – which he said, allowed communities to decide where development should or should not be.
Someone said that Clyst St George had 38 dwellings, yet faced a planning application for 25 dwellings outside the Built Up Area Boundary – an increase of 65% -in an unsustainable location with very little employment and few facilities. He said that developers were taking advantage of the situation.
Hugo Swire said that the problem was that East Devon District Council (EDDC) did not have an adopted Local Plan (LP). This was something that had concerned him for some time, however EDDC had told him that an adopted LP was not far away. He again expressed concern about the prospect of urban sprawl all the way down the estuary.
Vaughan Rosser said that Ebford faced an increase of 53% dwellings. He said there was a feeling that the National Planning Policy Framework (NPPF) favoured developers.
Hugo Swire emphasised the need for housebuilding, by saying that the average first time house buyer was now over 30.  He said that the NPPF was the first attempt ever to give communities the power to decide the level of local development.
?!
An Ebford resident said that EDDC`s lack of a five year housing land supply and the NPPF made East Devon vulnerable to developers.
Hugo said that planning was never perfect, and again said that the NPPF was a genuine attempt to ensure local engagement over planning decision-making. He suggested that he wanted to see the majority of EDDC houses go to Cranbrook.
A Woodbury Salterton resident said that there is “planning blight” everywhere. He said there is an election coming up, and asked what the government is doing about it. Hugo replied those of us lucky enough to have houses should think about those who are not so lucky.
An Ebford resident who was well informed said that the NPPF was biased towards developers and was “flawed”. He said that it had been criticised by a parliamentary select committee.
Then it was 7.30 and Hugo had to catch his train back to London, He was thanked for coming down, received polite clapping, and people went home
Hugo visits Clyst St George and Ebford, which are under huge pressure from development - Claire Wright
This message was sent out last week by the Save Clyst St Mary campaign:
As you are already aware, the outcome from The Parish Extraordinary last Wednesday resulted in Charlie Hopkins (expert planning consultant) being appointed to work for us. He is coming to talk with the Parish Council and the residents to agree representation for all of the major applications that are directly affecting us. 

The Parish Council has arranged a larger venue at the Village Hall, so hopefully no one will be left out in the cold this time! Please let’s try and once again fill the new venue – your support is all that’s required Tuesday 20th January at 7.30pm

Remember: Together, we can do this!’

Save Clyst St Mary campaign…NEW PROPOSALS AND IMPORTANT MEETING | East Devon Watch

The Save Clyst St Mary campaign contrasts the promise of developers

80 Houses already approved

with the charm of the village today:

Clyst St Mary 5

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