John Burton Race makes plea for hotel

AN impassioned speech by Michelin-starred chef John Burton Race, urging Torridge councillors to approve plans for a new five-star hotel in Westward Ho!, has fallen on deaf ears.

The celebrity chef was to be part of the multi-million pound project which would have created up to 90 jobs and regenerated the seaside village.

But it was thrown out for a second time by Torridge's plans committee — despite recommendations by officers to approve.

The proposals by Well Pict European Ltd to create a 28-bedroom hotel at Duckhaven Stud, together with the redevelopment of the old Buccaneer pub and creation of a celebrity-chef led cookery school, could have injected about £2 million each year into the local economy, it was claimed.

Now the team behind the plans say a question mark hangs over the future of the Buccaneer site and redevelopment of Westward Ho!.

The council had received 36 letters of objection and 28 in support of the hotel plans.

Objectors said the site was outside the development boundary and would have an adverse impact on an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty.

They were also worried about the height of the building as well as traffic, noise, smells and light pollution.

But the proposal had the full support of Torridge District Council's officers.

Community planning manager Maria Bailey and economic regeneration officer Sean Kearney, as well as John Burton Race, spoke in support.

Officers said that although the application was contrary to planning policy, the economic benefits and regeneration outweighed the fact that the site is outside the development boundary. They said it would be possible to design a hotel on the site that would conserve and enhance the designated Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty.

But in a close vote — decided on the chairman's casting vote — Torridge district councillors refused the plans. The councillors said their reasons for refusal were the same as the previous time they considered the plan — even though officers said all previous concerns had been addressed.

Councillors Miranda Cox, Margaret Brown, Sam Robinson and plans chairman Hugo Barton all voted against the application.

They said it did not demonstrate to a sufficient degree that it would conserve and enhance the AONB and it was outside the development boundary.

Cllr Barry Parsons was not involved in the discussion or vote as he is a member of North Devon Plus, which supports the proposals.

Councillors Royston Johns, Philip Pennington, Rose Lock and Philip Pester all supported it.

With the voting locked at 4-4 chairman Cllr Barton used his casting vote to reject the scheme.

After the meeting Alan Smith, of Well Pict European Ltd, said: "We will appeal again and we will be looking for Torridge District Council to foot the costs which could be anything up to £50,000 — at a cost to the rate-payer."

Kathy Murdoch, owner of Duckhaven Stud, added: "It is so disheartening and thoroughly disappointing for everyone who has been involved in regeneration for Westward Ho! In my opinion the enormous amount of work which has been put into local employment and sustainability strategies was not given sufficient weight by the councillors who voted against this project.

"Employment was not discussed at all by the councillors for Northam, which I find incredulous as this joint development would have brought 90 jobs into the Westward Ho! area.

"In my opinion the decision made to refuse this application gives out one strong message to inward investors and anyone concerned with regenerating our Westward Ho! – don't bother, we like things as they are."