To receive any questions relating to items on the agenda from members of the public and replies thereto.
Note: A maximum of 30 minutes is allowed for this item.
Minutes:
Mr Willan referring to Minute 85 of the Cabinet (11.12.14) congratulated the Cabinet on its decision not to include J27 in the Local Plan and requested that Full Council ratify this decision. He stated that the development would have sucked the life out of the surrounding towns and villages. He referred to the consultant’s report which had stated that the development had not passed the sequential tests set out in the NPPF, the analysis provided by the site promoters was not considered adequate, there would be adverse financial effect and general loss of vitality and viability, the supposed number of jobs and the housing required had not really been thought through. This was not a scheme in Mid Devon’s best interest and would have damaging effects locally. Therefore could the Council now suggest to the Westwood people that they give up on this and could the Council redouble its efforts to foster locally based development on what we want and not what they want and prioritise high skill employment for our young people.
Cllr Warren (Willand Parish Council) referring to Minute 85 of the Cabinet (11.12.14) asked that Members note that Willand Parish Council is opposed to any further land being identified or allocated for development at Junction 27 or between there and Willand. The reasons for objection are well documented. Will Members further recognise that such opposition is supported by a considerable number of our parishioners as evidenced by a capacity local meeting and a subsequent petition containing in excess of 1000 signatures? Do Members appreciate that proposals put forward to date have regularly changed in detail and concept and certainly Willand Parish Council have received few sustainable facts to support what is proposed? If the land is identified for development what guarantees are there that what may eventually appear will bear any resemblance to what has been brought forward to date and in the near future?
Mrs Andrews referring to Minute 71 of the Cabinet (27.11.14) stated that it was recommended by the Cabinet that an area of Local Green Space be removed from the Local Plan at Gurneys in Morchard Bishop as the land has no recreational significance. She stated that the designation had been requested by 40 local parishioners and that the Cabinet had only taken notice of the landowners wishes. The area would be bound by residential houses on three sides and would be a local amenity; she therefore requested that the Council uphold the recommendations of officers and include the Local Green Space at Morchard Bishop and Cheriton Fitzpaine in the Local Plan.
The Cabinet Member for Planning and Economic Regeneration stated that the request to delete these sites had come from local Ward Members and this would be something that would be debated and voted upon later in the meeting.
Mr Grantham referring to Minute 85 of the Cabinet (11.12.14) and speaking on behalf of residents at Leonards Moor Cross and around J27 stated that this was a greenfield site and the lives of tenants and local horticulturalists would be destroyed if the development was to go ahead. Land at Leonards Moor Cross was far more superior to that at Waterloo Cross. The developers had been asked continually about the retail and traffic issues of the development and they had never answered the question. He outlined the contents of the Consultant’s report and requested that Full Council uphold the recommendation of the Cabinet to exclude the site from the Local Plan.
Mr Disney again referring to Minute 85 of the Cabinet (11.12.14) stated that he would like to draw the Council’s attention to the points that he shared with the Cabinet; he lived at J27 and had converted redundant buildings on the site to create Swallow Court which now provided office employment space for over 100 people. These businesses have now expanded and moved on to larger premises at Exeter, Wellington and Taunton and these companies have by-passed Tiverton and Cullompton when establishing these businesses with me. Swallow Court has been fully occupied throughout the recession. J27 is an obvious place for employment and I hope that in the fullness of time Mid Devon can benefit from the opportunity that J27 offers. Please also consider land quality and Tiverton Parkway, the consultants have not drawn attention to the fact that land at J27 is agricultural grade 3 and 4 this is poor quality land, however there is Grade 1 and 2 land in the proposed land at Cullompton, if land is to be lost for development, surely land quality should be considered. The rail network is hardly mentioned in this Local Plan, this may be an oversight, I hope it is not deliberate. Tiverton Parkway will be Network Rail’s focus for the railway system. The car park at Exeter St David’s is full to capacity with no hope of expansion solutions need to be found. Therefore should the Council be encouraging network rail to give support and greater emphasis to Tiverton Parkway?
The Chairman read a written representation from Mrs Johnson which stated that: Junction 27 is a plum site – such excellent road and rail links, far too good to be wasted on giving a developer who promises hypothetical goodies, the chance of a quick buck. I feel the land should be preserved more or less as is until some proposal of essential and lasting benefit to the community comes along. This may not be for 10-20 years. For instance – both the RD&E and Musgrove Park are running out of land space. Medical advances and increased population may well demand a merging of such facilities. What could be a more suitable site than the land at J27? Other such schemes, which could provide a wide range of skilled and unskilled jobs, might also arise for consideration. Why waste irreplaceable resources.