Concern over housing plan for Chulmleigh
PEOPLE in Chulmleigh say they have been kept in the dark about plans for a controversial development in the village.
Residents of Leigh Villas have opposed plans to build 10 affordable houses in a field opposite their homes since a planning application was submitted by Devonshire Homes in June 2009.
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CONCERNED: Residents of Leigh Villas, Chulmleigh, gather near the site for possible new housing. They are: Rachel Butt, Lorna Mock, Robert and Frankie Mascall, Michael Butt, John and Wendy Beer, Debbie Dumont, Eileen Elston and Chantelle Dumont. Picture: Mike Southon 1003-51_02
The application, which has twice been recommended for refusal by the parish council, included plans to remove a hedge believed to be hundreds of years old and home to several species of wildlife.
As well as protesting against the removal of the hedge, locals also fear the development will increase traffic along nearby Leigh Road which they say is very busy and regularly used by children to walk to school.
Debbie Dumont, who has lived at Leigh Villas for 18 years, said: "They've already taken three feet off the height of the hedge without any planning permission — we're all very angry.
"There are no plans for pavements and they're also planning to site a new opening for agricultural land on Leigh Villas.
"I have a 13-year-old disabled son who currently goes out to play on the road in his mobility scooter.
"But if this goes ahead I will have to put a stop to that — it's just not safe."
Debbie, who has represented Leigh Villas residents at a number of parish council meetings, also felt they had been kept in the dark with regards to developments in the application, a view shared by Chulmleigh Parish Council chairman Simon Phillips.
Cllr Phillips said: "When the parish council first recommended these plans for refusal in July 2009, we asked if any other appropriate sites could be identified.
"However, during the nine months between the two applications, we have heard nothing from either the developer or the planning department.
"We have no clue as to whether they have taken our objections and recommendations on board. There is clearly a lack of communication which needs to be addressed."
Planning officer Don Smith told the
Journal
that the planning department was prepared to approve the application in principle, subject to an agreed section 106 arrangement.
Mr Smith said he couldn't comment on the alleged lack of communication.
Steve Russell of Devonshire Homes said: "The works we have carried out on site do not required planning approval."
Comments
by Suzanne Cline, Appledore
Sunday, March 14 2010, 12:36PM
“If our experience in Appledore is anything to go by I'm afraid you have little chance of stopping the development. Torridge District Council ignored the dozens of letters sent in to object, the developers obtained a letter from a tree surgeon saying that the beautiful healthy Hawthorn trees were rotten and ripped them out. The applicants said that the homes would be affordable but the designs (no natural light in the kitchen or bathroom, steep stairs, no garden) say otherwise. At 8.45 this morning (Mothering Sunday). the enormous concrete mixer started up, this will go on all day. The public road has been taken over by the private developer and no one has offered us any compensation. Unless you know of a really good lawyer you have no chance of being listened to by this council. The general belief is that they are corrupt, but hey! they've got secure jobs for life, so what do they care? Good Luck and much sympathy from another voiceless citizen of Torridge.”