Conservation area proposal
COMBE Martin could have two large conservation areas which parish councillors hope will attract various grants to spruce up the village.
Combe Martin Parish Council has discussed designating new conservation areas with North Devon Council.
The advantage would be that the parish council could apply for funding from Government bodies and councils to improve the newly designated sites.
Areas of Combe Martin in the new conservation zone would also have another status to protect them from unsuitable developments.
One area in Combe Martin could encompass the sea front, including all of the beach area and another could be created around the Parish Church.
Combe Martin parish council planning committee chairman Peter Spencer said: "We are one of the last places in North Devon not to have a conservation area, despite being in an area of outstanding natural beauty and Exmoor."
5 Comments
by ex pat, Eastern Counties
Friday, March 19 2010, 7:47PM
“Since it appears that Trevor Dunkerlley is master of all issues relating to Combe Martin and it's PC, would it not be better to have him on the inside throwing stones out, rather on the outside throwing stones in?”
by ex-pat, Eastern Counties
Friday, February 05 2010, 6:35PM
“i do hope the Parish Council will carefully think through planning issues associated with planning applications in Conservation areas. Residents in these areas will find planning restrictions horrendous and is often used by planning managers to refuse the slightest change to their property. The PC will be doing no favours to residents who find themselves living in a Conservation area. There already exists more then enough planning conditions to protect sensitive area of CM. Speaking with many years experience on planning matters within Cpnservation areas I urge the PC to seek expert advice before making
their final recommendation on this very important issue”
by Name Supplied, Combe Martin
Thursday, February 04 2010, 6:39PM
“"appropriate knowledge and insight" from a Combe Martin Parish Councillor. Come on Mr Dunkerley grow up!!!! What a bizare notion.”
by Fed up, Combe
Sunday, January 31 2010, 4:58PM
“Oh my another decision to be made by CMPC, another grant.
Will the clerk running the parish be able to cope.
Please Please get expert consultation on the as CMPC are way out of their depth and not competent decision makers.”
by Trevor Dunkerley, Combe Martin
Sunday, January 31 2010, 3:33PM
“This is very welcome news.
I do hope that our parish councillors and North Devon District Council will have the appropriate knowledge and insight to ensure that any areas for new designated conservation zones are fully researched and that the designations fully encompass the need for conservation.
I do not believe that it is satisfactory to simply suggest, "One area in Combe Martin could encompass the sea front, including all of the beach area and another could be created around the Parish Church." On what evidence for conservation are these suggestions based?
Whilst the Parish Church through its recorded antiquity should clearly be within a conservation area, what about the medieval burgage plots from Adams Hay up to Spurway? Of equal antiquity, and a very rare example of their kind in the UK, are the fossilized medieval field systems. Should these be included within a designated conservation area?
Whilst these latter two were afforded protection in the North Devon Plan, Combe Martin Parish Councillors chose to completely ignore this protection in recent planning applications and it is within these latter two designations that the greatest damage has been caused in recent years through unsuitable development.
I do hope the public of Combe Martin will be offered the opportunity to comment upon any proposals made before the Parish Council and NDDC hew the decision in stone.”