East Devon Heritage Strategy and Local List of Heritage Assets >>> report for strategic planning cttee

The District Council's heritage planning officer has been consulting widely over their Heritage Strategy:
Futures Forum: East Devon Local List of Heritage Assets >>> process to go out to public consultation

Yesterday, the council's Strategic Planning Cttee met up to consider the results of this consultation:
Agenda for Strategic Planning Committee on Tuesday, 26th March, 2019, 10.00 am - East Devon

And the report's recommendations are as follows:

Heritage Strategy 

Purpose of report: 

To advise Members on the outcome of the public consultation on the Heritage Strategy and propose that it be adopted. 

Recommendation: 

1. The East Devon Heritage Strategy 2019 -2031 be adopted subject to amendments arising from the consultation as set out in this report. 

2. That a pilot scheme for a Conservation Area review involving the community as described in the Heritage Strategy be agreed for East Budleigh including the Otter Valley Association. 

Reason for recommendation: 

To gain formal approval for the amended Heritage Strategy 2019 – 2031 and to gain approval for a pilot scheme involving the community at East Budleigh.

Item 7 Heritage Strategy Committee Report.pdf

Congratulations to the Otter Valley Assn - who have really pushed for this strategy and listing:
Futures Forum: Community Assets @ Budleigh Salterton
Futures Forum: District Council postpones yet again its review into heritage assets
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Climate change: The Lower Otter Restoration Project >>> talk on "The challenges and opportunities of adapting to climate change" by Dr Sam Bridgewater: Friday 8th March

The Otter Estuary provides a vital eco-system:

Marshes in the Lower Otter Estuary (C) N Chadwick :: Geograph Britain and Ireland

A year and a half ago, an important project was launched by Clinton Devon Estates:
Futures Forum: Lower Otter Restoration Project launched >>> deadline for feedback on plans: 20th July

It's imaginative - and necessary:
Lower Otter Restoration Project: Preferred option for scheme announced | Latest Exmouth News - Exmouth Journal

The Estate's Nature Conservation Manager: 
Clinton Devon Estates appoints new Nature Conservation Manager for the East Devon Pebblebed Heaths a - Clinton Devon Estates

... will be giving a talk on Friday in Sidmouth, hosted by the Devonshire Association: 

The Lower Otter Restoration Project (E Devon Branch)

Fri. 8 March 2019 at 2:30 pm

A talk ‘The Lower Otter Restoration Project – the Challenges and Opportunities of adapting to Climate Change’ by Sam Bridgewater.

Details 

Date: Fri. 8 March 2019 

Time: 2:30 pm 

Event Categories: East Devon Branch events, Lecture/talk 

Event Tags:Climate change

Organiser 

Hazel Harland 

Phone: 01395 445665 

Email: hazeljharland@gmail.com 

Venue Manor Pavilion Theatre, Sidmouth Manor Road
Sidmouth, Devon EX10 8RP Website: http://www.manorpavilion.com/

The Lower Otter Restoration Project (E Devon Branch) – The Devonshire Association
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District Council postpones yet again its review into heritage assets

It is clear that heritage assets are important:
Futures Forum: Local Heritage Assets: 'making better use of the available resources to identify, protect and maintain the historic buildings and places that matter to local communities.'

In Budleigh, they have certainly been hard at work:
Futures Forum: Community Assets @ Budleigh Salterton

Working with the District Council:
Futures Forum: Locally Listed Heritage Assets: report for East Devon

Only to be told things are on hold yet again:

Hundreds of hours ‘wasted’ after heritage asset review postponed

PUBLISHED: 13:29 25 October 2018 | UPDATED: 13:30 25 October 2018

Joseph Bulmer

Watch Hill House designed by architect Charles Hatchard-Smith.

Campaigners are worried historical buildings will be left unprotected.

Hundreds of hours have been ‘wasted’ trying to protect important historical buildings after a council delayed a formal review for the third time, say a campaign group

The criticism was levelled at East Devon District Council (EDDC) by the Otter Valley Association (OVA) after a formal review into heritage assets in the area was postponed for a third time.

OVA campaigners are worried without a review planning decisions may be made which compromise important historical buildings and structures.

An OVA spokesman said: “For the third time since 2016, EDDC has postponed the long promised formal review of the lcal heritage assets list by the strategic planning committee.

“So, 100 hours of work wasted as the list is not legally accepted for planning purposes, as demonstrated by an inspector’s decision on a recent planning application which dismissed any idea of the ‘specialness’ to the community of a beautiful Hatchard Smith house in Budleigh Salterton.”

A spokeswoman for EDDC responded to the association’s criticisms, she said: “We very much value the hard work that the OVA has put into their list of nominations for the local list of heritage assets and are sorry that we have not been able to progress this work more quickly.

“Unfortunately, we have limited resources and, first and foremost, we have to prioritise undertaking our statutory duties in relation to listed buildings, conservation areas and other heritage assets to ensure that the nationally important heritage assets in the district are conserved.”

According to EDDC there are more than 3,000 entries on the national list in East Devon and the work involved in conserving the structures ‘leaves little time to commit to compiling a list of locally important heritage assets’.

However, work is being done on the council’s heritage strategy which will clarify the council’s position on the local list as well as provide a timeline for production of the list.

The spokeswoman added: “The heritage strategy has been delayed to enable wider engagement with the membership of the council, however this additional work will lead to a better strategy and a wider understanding of the issues among council members before it is presented to the Council’s strategic planning committee on November 27.”

Heritage Asset Review postponed for third time | Latest Exmouth News - Exmouth Journal

With comment from the EDW blog:
EDDC cannot protect heritage assets due to its “limited resources” leaving them at the mercy of developers | East Devon Watch
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Demolishing the home of several species of rare bats - with the promise of providing a new building 'designed to provide conditions more suitable for breeding bats'

Developers like 'mitigation':
Environmental mitigation - Wikipedia

Which usually means 'offsetting':
Does habitat replacement let developers off the hook? | New Scientist
'Greed trumps nature': Leaked report points to big offset savings for developers
Is biodiversity offsetting a 'license to trash nature'? | Environment | The Guardian 

See here: Futures Forum: Making space for wildlife > offsetting, rewilding or making half the planet a nature reserve

Although in some parts of the world, even these attempts to minimise impact have been scrapped:
ENDANGERED SPECIES: Trump admin torpedoes Obama-era mitigation goal -- Friday, July 27, 2018 -- www.eenews.net

Meanwhile in this part of the world, there are concerns around plans to mitigate the impact of demolishing a barn on several bat populations: 

Plan for East Budleigh barn raises fears for rare bats

PUBLISHED: 12:00 10 August 2018

Daniel Wilkins

The Pound, in East Budleigh, which is subject to a planning application to demolish a barn which is thought to be home to speciies of rare bats. Picture: Google

Landowners have defended their plan to redevelop an area of land in East Budleigh amid concerns for wildlife living on the site.

Clinton Devon Estates (CDE) has applied for permission to demolish a barn at The Pound, in Lower Budeigh, and replace it with a new dwelling.

Residents have raised concerns about the bats that have traditionally called the barn their home.

There are also concerns about access to the site; it is argued to be through the centre of The Pound, which is claimed to be in the village’s built-up area boundary.

CDE say the new building will provide ‘conditions more suitable’ for bats, including a dedicated loft area and ground floor with free flight access for the animals.

Writing in objection to the application, Mr and Mrs Moyle said: “We should be proud that we have so many rare bats, including gray long eared bats, which are very rare. Building this so-called bat house means we have no proof that the bats will use it. It is being built a long way from the barn, so we are likely to lose out rare bats.”

Another letter, from a Mrs Maynard, said: “This is an absolutely ridiculous and totally unnecessary attempt to develop what is at present is an extremely pretty corner of a very lovely village.”

A spokesman for Clinton Devon Estates said: “The new building, whilst smaller than the existing barn, has been designed to provide conditions more suitable for breeding bats in the summer; for example, it will have a slate roof to provide a warm loft, as opposed to a draughty metal shed. It will also have a cool ground floor to provide fairly stable winter temperature and high humidity, with the aim of providing a potential winter roost.

“For horseshoe and long-eared bat species, a dedicated loft area and ground floor with free flight access will be provided. For crevice-dwelling bat species, roosting provision will be provided in various places within the bat barn, including bat slates, a raised ridge tile, timber cladding, a Schwegler bat tube and internal crevices.”

East Budleigh: Plan to demolish The Pound barn raises concerns for rare bats | Latest Exmouth News - Exmouth Journal

The East Devon Watch blog is certainly not impressed:

CLINTON DEVON SERVE EVICTION NOTICE ON 11 SPECIES OF BAT

9 AUG 2018

A new nature protection group has been formed in East Budleigh to try to save eleven species of bat from having their habitat destroyed. Six of these species are amongst the rarest found in Britain. The story has broken today simultaneously on BBC Radio Devon and BBC Spotlight, presented by Adrian Campbell, and in the Exmouth Journal.

Owl will comment after using the following Journal story to set the scene:

http://www.exmouthjournal.co.uk/news/east-budleigh-plan-to-demolish-the-pound-barn-raises-concerns-for-rare-bats-1-5643547 

CDE providing a brand new Des. Res. for free? There must be a catch.

Owl fears for these bats.

Are they going to be sent away for a holiday by the sea whilst their ancient barn (oldest still standing in East Budleigh) is bulldozed away and their new bat loft constructed?

Temporary social housing is a non-starter. As mentioned in one of the Spotlight interviews, what are they going to do for food. They feed on moths but the overgrown habitat of the moths is also going to be bulldozed?

And how are they going to navigate when the trees they use for echo location have also been razed to the ground as well?

Owl has many, many bat friends who join it in its nocturnal foreys and is VERY protective of them.

However, for the status of Clinton Devon Estates environmental credentials see just a few recent Owl stories here (there are many more):

https://eastdevonwatch.org/2018/02/09/clinton-devon-estates-pr-team-working-overtime-on-blackhill-quarry/

https://eastdevonwatch.org/2017/09/07/clinton-devon-estates-and-budleigh-hospital-garden-a-pr-nightmare-for-today-and-tomorrow/

https://eastdevonwatch.org/2017/03/14/eddc-local-plan-not-fit-for-purpose-as-developer-and-clinton-devon-estates-challenge-succeeds-at-newton-poppleford/

https://eastdevonwatch.org/2016/11/15/clinton-devon-estates-wants-to-make-it-easier-to-build-in-aonb/

https://eastdevonwatch.org/2016/05/09/beer-officers-recommend-refusal-of-clinton-devon-estates-development-in-aonb/

https://eastdevonwatch.org/2016/08/04/east-budleigh-clinton-devon-5-houses-with-fourteen-parking-spaces-in-aonb-on-grade-1-agricultural-land/

CLINTON DEVON SERVE EVICTION NOTICE ON 11 SPECIES OF BAT | East Devon Watch
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The new National Policy Planning Framework "is a developers' charter"

The 'new' NPPF was published yesterday:
Government’s new planning rulebook to deliver more quality, well-designed homes - GOV.UK

Not everyone is impressed, as reported by the Local Government Lawyer:
Local Government Lawyer - Councils criticise delivery test as revised National Planning Policy Framework issued

And the Telegraph:
Green belt land 'under threat because of Government's new planning policy', campaigners claim

And the Mail: 

Council chiefs claim planning overhaul is a developers' charter that could see local objections to new house building ignored to hit targets

> Housing Secretary James Brokenshire unveiled a 'housing delivery test' today
> Developers set to be allowed to override a rejection of planning permission
> Local Government Association insisted it would 'punish' communities

By TIM SCULTHORPE, DEPUTY POLITICAL EDITOR FOR MAILONLINE

PUBLISHED: 24 July 2018 |

Council chiefs today warned the Government was creating a developers' charter that could see local objections to house building ignored to hit targets.

Under new rules unveiled today, housebuilders would be able to ignore local plans for mapping areas for homes if fewer than 75 per cent of those required by Whitehall targets for 2020 are constructed. It means in some cases developers could be able to override a rejection of planning permission by appealing over local councillors.

Council chiefs today warned the Government was creating a developers' charter that could see local objections to house building ignored to hit targets (file image)

The Local Government Association (LGA) claimed the new 'housing delivery test' would 'punish communities' opposed to bad developments. The test is part of the new national policy planning framework (NPPF) announced by Communities Secretary James Brokenshire on Tuesday. Mr Brokenshire said the rules would create a planning system 'fit for the future' which married requirements for building numbers, build quality and environmental requirements.

But Lord Porter, chairman of the LGA, said the plan failed to give councils the powers they needed 'to ensure homes with planning permission are built out quickly, with the necessary infrastructure, in their local communities'. He said: 'It is hugely disappointing that the Government has not listened to our concerns about nationally set housing targets, and will introduce a delivery test that punishes communities for homes not built by private developers. Councils work hard with communities to get support for good-quality housing development locally, and there is a risk these reforms will lead to locally agreed plans being bypassed by national targets.

'Planning is not a barrier to housebuilding, and councils are approving nine out of 10 applications. To boost the supply of homes and affordability, it is vital to give councils powers to ensure homes with permission are built, enable all councils to borrow to build, keep 100 per cent of Right to Buy receipts and set discounts locally.'

In a written ministerial statement Mr Brokenshire told the Commons that the NPPF 'provides greater certainty for local authorities in the decision-making and planning appeals processes', adding: 'A new Housing Delivery Test will also measure delivery of homes, with consequences for under-delivery.'

The British Property Federation said it welcomed the test. Ian Fletcher, its director of real estate policy, said: 'This will provide a consistent measure against which different local authorities' performances can be compared. This is the way that the Government will deliver on its housing promises, and as importantly, cater for a generation that wants to have a home to call their own.'

Council chiefs claim planning overhaul is a developers' charter | Daily Mail Online

With comment from the East Devon Watch:
National Planning Policy Framework | East Devon Watch

And a depressing current example from Buddleigh:
Neighbouhood plans, conservation areas – who cares? Not EDDC | East Devon Watch

The Campaign to Protect Rural England agrees with the common response:

New ‘planning rulebook’ heavily criticised by CPRE

24 July 2018

The Campaign to Protect Rural England has labelled the revised National Planning Policy Framework (NPPF) a ‘speculative developers’ charter’, as the government published its new planning rulebook earlier today (24 July).

Despite a promise to ‘build attractive and better-designed homes in areas where they are needed’, CPRE points out that far from fulfilling this promise, the NPPF will continue to favour the delivery of any development, rather than development that meets communities’ needs, respects the environment, and adheres to policies in the NPPF other than those which deal with housing delivery.

CPRE’s key concern is the new ‘housing delivery test’. The NPPF continues to encourage councils to set high targets for housing delivery and this new policy has been produced to enforce this delivery. However, the ‘housing delivery test’ will penalise councils when house builders fail to deliver homes in their areas by removing local control over planning decisions. This in turn will leave them and the countryside open to speculative development.

CPRE have a number of other concerns, including:

• a failure to provide an effective brownfield first policy
• the continuing failure to support provision of affordable housing in rural areas
• the discouragement of neighbourhood planning because of uncertainty over the validity of plans older than two years
• continued implicit support for hydraulic fracturing for shale oil and gas, despite massive public opposition and little evidence of need

Matt Thomson, Head of Planning at the Campaign to Protect Rural England, said:

‘Rather than delivering “what communities want” as it claims to promise, the new planning rulebook and its new “housing delivery test” will result in almost all local plans becoming out of date within two years. It is a speculative developers’ charter and will lead to the death of the plan-led system.

‘Without a local plan, councils and communities have little control over the location and type of developments that take place. This results in the wrong developments in the wrong places - local communities’ needs are ignored and valued countryside destroyed for no good reason.’

Despite heavy criticism of the revised NPPF, CPRE are pleased to see that government has taken some positive actions. They include:

• National Parks and AONBs reinstated as having the ‘highest status of protection’
• maintaining Green Belt protections and an improved definition ‘exceptional circumstances’ for releasing land from Green Belts
• improved clarity and focus for policies on making better use of land
• clearer guidance for viability assessment and that price paid for land should never be a justification for viability revisions
• excluding National Parks, AONBs and Green Belts from the Entry Level Exceptions Sites policy
• ‘Social housing’ being reinstated in the definition of affordable housing.

CPRE will be providing further analysis of the revised NPPF shortly.

New ‘planning rulebook’ heavily criticised by CPRE - Campaign to Protect Rural England
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Brexit: and an energy interconnector between France and Budleigh Salterton

There have been concerns that energy projects might be shelved due to Brexit:

Vital energy projects including the £18bn Hinkley Point C nuclear power plant and interconnectors used to import cheap electricity from Europe are under threat due to Brexit, energy experts have warned. They said the projects, which are key to efforts to keep the UK’s lights on, could be at risk if the energy sector is denied entry to Europe’s internal energy market.

Futures Forum: Brexit: and the future of energy projects

However:

Leadsom, who was in favour of leaving the EU, also said she did not believe anything would change for British energy policy following last week's vote and that nothing should change for interconnectors with the EU, which are run by companies that have commercial agreements.

Futures Forum: Brexit: and energy: nuclear, renewables and climate change

There's talk of an 'interconnector' between the UK and Iceland:
Futures Forum: The Ice Link interconnector from Iceland to the UK >>> "How much unspoiled nature should we preserve and what do we sacrifice for clean, renewable energy?"

And between the UK and the Continent:

Brexit will have no impact on project to link Budleigh Salterton to France

The Marine Management Organisation (MMO) has just approved a licence allowing the project to build and maintain the proposed subsea interconnector within UK waters

Daniel Clark

19:47, 9 JAN 2018

The team behind a project to link the British and French electricity grids is pushing ahead in spite of Brexit.

The 170-mile subsea and underground 1.4GW interconnector is due to make landfall in the UK at Budleigh Salterton in East Devon. The Marine Management Organisation (MMO) has just approved a licence allowing the project to build and maintain the proposed subsea interconnector within UK waters.

READ MORE
Plans go in for project to link Budleigh Salterton to France with an undersea cable

The FAB Project interconnector aims to increase energy security, cut consumers’ bills, and enable greater use of greener, low-carbon electricity.

A tidal turbine

Chris Jenner, the FAB Project development manager, said: “The FAB project team has worked closely with the MMO and their statutory advisors to ensure that the Marine Licence provides permission for the necessary construction and maintenance activities, together with appropriate safeguards to ensure that the FAB Project can proceed without any significant impacts on the marine environment.

“This decision is a reflection of the positive dialogue between the FAB Project and the various stakeholders who have an interest in the UK waters, particularly Lyme Bay and the Jurassic Coast World Heritage Site in East Devon."

The decision comes a few weeks after East Devon District Council gave planning permission for a section of the onshore cable route along the Otter Valley.

An undersea cable will be laid between the French and English coasts

What is the Fab project and why is it so important?

The Fab Project will link the national electricity grids of Britain and France with the aim of increasing energy security, cutting consumers' bills, and enabling greater use of greener, low-carbon electricity.

The subsea interconnector cables will be laid between the Cotentin peninsula in Normandy and Budleigh Salterton in Devon, via Alderney in the Channel Islands to provide a route to market for low-carbon electricity from proposed tidal generators.

From Budleigh Salterton, the 1,400 megawatt cables will be laid underground to the Long Lane converter station, where the High Voltage Direct Current which will be transmitted through the cables will be converted to High Voltage Alternating Current.

Further underground cables will then link the converter station to an existing National Grid substation near Broadclyst.


Brexit will have no impact on project to link Budleigh Salterton to France - Devon Live
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Ladram Bay caravan park > local business, the local community and traffic issues > report from latest meeting Tuesday 9th January

Last week, a meeting was held in Otterton to consider residents' concerns about local planning issues:
Futures Forum: Ladram Bay caravan park > local business, the local community and traffic issues > further meeting tomorrow Tuesday 9th January

This followed on from a bit of a rumpus at the previous meeting:
Holiday park boss accused of intimidating councillor in village row - Devon Live
Ladram Bay holding public meeting over Otterton traffic | Latest Exmouth News - Exmouth Journal

Here's a report of Tuesday's meeting from County Cllr Claire Wright, who called this meeting together with District Cllr Geoff Jung:

Standing room only at productive Otterton residents meeting to discuss traffic and planning

Friday, 12 January 2018 0 Comments by Claire

It was standing room only earlier this week, as over 100 Otterton residents flocked to the village hall to hear the latest situation on planning and to give their views on what might help the traffic situation in the village.

The meeting, which was organised by EDDC Cllr Geoff Jung and I, took place on Tuesday 9 January, was arranged by district councillor, Geoff Jung and I following a public meeting at Ladram Bay Holiday Park in November.  This was organised after feedback from residents to the parish council and I that residents were concerned about the relentless expansion of the caravan park and the levels and speed of traffic in the village.

The meeting also attracted five members of the East Devon District Council planning committee, including chair, Cllr Mike Howe and chair of the EDDC scrutiny committee, Cllr Roger Giles.

Planning
Cllr Geoff Jung gave a presentation about various planning issues affecting the village including the Greater Exeter Strategic Plan (more large-scale development in East Devon) and the Otterton Neighbourhood Plan. He also outlined the policies that need to form the basis of responding to a planning application.

To gasps from members of the public, Cllr Jung also showed a slide which showed how much larger the latest Ladram Bay development is, compared with the planning consent granted.  It was also built before the company - FWS Carter, had applied for planning consent.

Geoff said he was keen to hear from anyone who was aware of any unresolved planning matters at the complex.

Points and questions included:
• Feeling of the planners in respect of the new development
• Retrospective applications – how can they be prevented?
• What is the situation with the original conditions of the planning consent, much of which hadn’t been met?
• Comment about EDDC reluctance to serve enforcement notices, other authorities are keener to do so.

Cllr Howe, chair of the EDDC planning committee responded including:
- all objections are considered, but these have to be relevant to planning policy, so lawful approval or refusal is possible.
- retrospective applications are treated as any other application.
- comments with traffic to Ladram Bay have to come from Devon Highways or other traffic experts.

Cllr Jung told the meeting that better planning controls were needed and that any development should improve or enhance the area.

Traffic 
Ian Birch of the Otterton traffic group presented his findings on two sessions of traffic monitoring during August and November.

The following findings emerged:

- traffic increases in the village by around 50 per cent overall in the summer, compared to winter
- the traffic travelling up Ladram Road (no through road to Ladram Bay Holiday Park) is around 35 per cent of all traffic movements in the summer, however, this is less in the winter
- traffic has increased in the village by around 15 per cent since 2013 (NB the last DCC 2013 survey was 24 hour and not 12 hour as carried out by residents last year, so one might expect the traffic increase would be higher in reality)

I asked people for their views on which issues they found most pressing in relation to highways. A number of people contributed and I asked how many people agreed that each issue raised was one of the most pressing issues, using a show of hands approach.

A really great and positive discussion took place and 45 minutes later I (and others) had a list of actions to meet with the local highways officer about.

These are:
• Move 30mph signs to the edge of village at White Lodge, Ottery Street and to the entrance of Holiday camp in Ladram Road
• Damage to hedgerows particularly in Ladram Road (To be pursued by Otterton Parish Council
• SLOW signs in Ladram Road need repainting
-    Try to get some enforcement of large vehicle size limit in the form of signage
• Street parking , particularly Fore Street
-    Residents parking scheme in the form of a car park on the Triangle (to be pursued in the first instance under the Neighbourhood Plan)
• Highways should be commenting on planning applications
• Further traffic surveys needed (to be undertaken by the traffic residents team)
• DCC to also carry out further traffic surveys 
• A flashing speed sign to be provided as part of the 20mph zone.

I also reiterated my position on opposing further expansion of Ladram Bay Holiday Park on highways grounds.

A 20mph zone with a flashing speed sign (which I am aware has been attempted on previous occasions by the previous councillor, Christine Channon) was the intervention that the majority of residents present wished me to pursue.  I am happy to fund this from my locality budget.

I will be meeting a highways officer with members of the parish council soon to discuss things in more detail….

Pic:  Cllr Mike Howe, EDDC planning committee chair, addresses the meeting.

Standing room only at productive Otterton residents meeting to discuss traffic and planning - Claire WrightOtterton – results of meeting called by Independent councillors | East Devon Watch
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Ladram Bay caravan park > local business, the local community and traffic issues > further meeting tomorrow Tuesday 9th January

Back in November, there was a rather confrontational meeting at Otterton:
Futures Forum: Ladram Bay caravan park > local business, the local community and traffic issues

A follow-up meeting is scheduled for tomorrow:
Futures Forum: Ladram Bay caravan park > local business, the local community and traffic issues > further meeting planned for Tuesday 9th January

Here is further information for the area's County Councillor:

Public meeting TOMORROW EVENING at Otterton to discuss traffic and planning issues

Monday, 08 January 2018 1 Comment by Claire

EDDC councillor, Geoff Jung and I are holding a public meeting tomorrow evening at Otterton Village Hall, to discuss planning issues and how the current difficult traffic situation might be mitigated.

It follows an earlier controversial public meeting at Ladram Bay Holiday Park in November, attended by around 70 people - see http://www.claire-wright.org/index.php/post/director_of_ladram_bay_attempts_to_silence_me_at_public_meeting 

Following that meeting I have been asked by several members of the public for a follow up meeting to debate possible solutions particularly in relation to the traffic issues.

Tomorrow’s meeting starts at 7pm and is at Otterton Village Hall.  All residents of Otterton are welcome to attend.

Comments

1. At 03:24 pm on 08th Jan Sandra Semple wrote:

I do hope as many people as possible video and record this meeting.

Public meeting TOMORROW EVENING at Otterton to discuss traffic and planning issues - Claire Wright.
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Ladram Bay caravan park > local business, the local community and traffic issues > further meeting planned for Tuesday 9th January

Following on from a meeting last month to look at traffic issues through the village of Otterton:
Futures Forum: Ladram Bay caravan park > local business, the local community and traffic issues

... where there were unpleasant confrontations:
Holiday park boss accused of intimidating councillor in village row - Devon Live

... there will a further meeting planned for next month:

Public meeting in Otterton to discuss Ladram Bay planning issues and traffic

Monday, 11 December 2017 0 Comments by Claire

Following feedback that many residents would like another opportunity to discuss Ladram Bay’s planning issues, and the high level of traffic in the village, EDDC councillor, Geoff Jung and I have organised a public meeting for next month.

The letter below is currently winging its way around Otterton.

Many thanks to the residents who are kindly delivering it!

Dear Otterton resident

RE: PUBLIC MEETING IN OTTERTON VILLAGE HALL – TUESDAY 9 JANUARY - 7PM

Following previous letters to you relating to the volume and speed of traffic through the village and the public meeting at Ladram Bay last month, we are writing to let you know that we are holding a public meeting in Otterton Village Hall, on the above date and time.

We received feedback after the Ladram Bay meeting that many of you remain unhappy with the traffic situation and also wish to be kept informed about the ongoing planning issues at the caravan park and would like a further public meeting to discuss the issues.

The aim of the meeting will be to hear about the latest planning developments at Ladram Bay as well as to hear from you what you see as the main traffic problems and how they might be resolved.

The most recent development at the entrance to Ladram Bay has not been built to the approved planning consent and has been constructed far larger, as well as other planning irregularities that require retrospective planning consent. Geoff has made his opposition very clear on this to planning officers at East Devon District Council.

Please note that there are continuing significant budget cuts at Devon County Council and so we will need to be mindful of this when proposing potential solutions relating to traffic.

Claire will take these suggestions/proposals forward with highways officers.

Claire receives many complaints from residents right across the Otter Valley Ward relating to highways issues and some are more significant than others. Otterton, she believes, does have a very real problem and she would very much like to help with mitigating those problems.

We look forward to seeing you then.

Yours sincerely


Claire Wright Geoff Jung

Public meeting in Otterton to discuss Ladram Bay planning issues and traffic - Claire Wright


Cllr Wright certainly received overwhelming support from constituents and members of the public at the last meeting:
Director of Ladram Bay Holiday Park attempts intimidation at public meeting - Claire Wright

Ladram Bay managers deny attempted intimidation at last week’s public meeting - Claire Wright.
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Ladram Bay caravan park > local business, the local community and traffic issues

Ladram Bay caravan park, just over Peak Hill towards Otterton, is an important, successful business in the area:
Devon park in women’s business Oscars finals – StayUKNews.co.uk
Holiday Park News: Triple Success For Ladram Bay Holiday Park | Pitched

It has just taken on a new manager:
Ladram Bay appoints new general manager - Latest Exmouth News - Exmouth Journal

The reviews on Trip Advisor tend to be very positive:
Ladram Bay Holiday Park (Otterton) - Resort Reviews, Photos & Price Comparison - TripAdvisor

And it has the strong support of its local MP:
Seaside park's £10m splash wins MP's backing | Hugo Swire

Although the EDW blog asks:
Why do Ladram Bay owners like Hugo Swire so much? | East Devon Watch

Because, there has been a bit of a rumpus at the campsite:
Ladram Bay holding public meeting over Otterton traffic - Latest Exmouth News - Exmouth Journal

With a report today from County Councillor Claire Wright:

Director of Ladram Bay Holiday Park attempts intimidation at public meeting - Claire Wright

Claire Wright: “Director of Ladram Bay Holiday Park attempts intimidation at public meeting” | East Devon Watch.
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Budleigh Salteton is the first town in East Devon to successfully complete the Neighbourhood Plan process

Budleigh Salterton's neighbourhood plan process has been in the news of late:
Futures Forum: The limits to how developers can 'outmanoevre' neighbourhood planning
Futures Forum: The limits of neighbourhood planning: how developers can 'outmanoevre'

With a very recent clash between the NP and developers:
Budleigh Hospital garden housing plan rejected at appeal - Latest Exmouth News - Exmouth Journal

News just in:

Budleigh Neighbourhood Plan gets 95 per cent approval

PUBLISHED: 06:30 12 September 2017

Daniel Wilkins

Budleigh Salterton High Street. Ref exb 18-16SH 2918. Picture: Simon Horn.

Budleigh Salterton is set to become the first town in East Devon to have their neighbourhood plan implimented after 95 per cent voted in favour of adopting the blueprint document

The Budleigh Salterton community has given its backing to a plan which lays out how the town could look in the future.

Residents went to the polls on Wednesday (September 6) on Budleigh’s Neighbourhood Plan.

Voters were asked to say yes or no to the question: ‘Do you want East Devon District Council (EDDC) to use the Neighbourhood Plan (NP) for Budleigh Salterton to help decide planning applications in the neighbourhood area?

Some 94.7 per cent of the 1,320 who voted said yes while 5.3 per cent voted no with two ballot papers spoiled. There was a turnout of 31 per cent.

The plan will now go back to EDDC cabinet to be ‘made’. This will make Budleigh the first town in East Devon to successfully complete the Neighbourhood Plan process.

When the document gets rubber-stamped by EDDC, it will have to be referred to alongside the East Devon Local Plan, when any planning applications are considered.

Town mayor Alan Dent said: “This will help control future development, will support businesses and will really help in securing a viable future for the town.

“The NP will also protect the character and history of Budleigh which is loved and admired by both residents and visitors.”

He also paid tribute to the neighbourhood plan steering group, led by Roger Sheriff, which has spent the last two years putting the document together.

Cllr Dent added: “I would like to publicly thank Roger Sherriff and his team in the neighbourhood plan steering group who put in hours of hard and detailed work which has achieved this outstanding result.”

Roger said: “We are very grateful to the residents of Budleigh Salterton for supporting the Neighbourhood Plan so positively and decisively.

“(It was) Probably one of the highest per cent votes in favour of a Neighbourhood Plan anywhere in the country, which demonstrates the commitment and desire both of the residents and the local authority to ensure that Budleigh Salterton remains a community where people want to live and work now and in the future.

“Grateful thanks to all those on the steering group and in the focus groups for there hard work in helping to produce such an excellent Plan.”

Budleigh Neighbourhood Plan referendum approval - Latest Exmouth News - Exmouth Journal
Budleigh Salterton neighbourhood plan passes final hurdle | East Devon Watch

See also:
Neighbourhood Plan - Budleigh Salterton Town Council
Budleigh Salterton Neighbourhood Plan - Home
Neighbourhood plans being produced in East Devon - Budleigh Salterton - East Devon
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