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COUNCIL MEETING MINUTES

15th January 2007

PRESENT:

  • Cllr J Meakin (Chairman)
  • Cllrs. P. Burrows
  • R Farlow
  • L Garner
  • Mrs S Jones
  • J Knight
  • R Morgan
  • Mrs R Partridge-Hogbin
  • J Pigott
  • J Seward
415/06APOLOGIES

There were no apologies for absence

416/06DECLARATIONS OF INTEREST
There were no declarations of interest
417/06TO DISCUSS OUTLINE PLANNING APPLICATION FOR SEATON REGENERATION AREA 06/3400/MOUT

The Chairman welcomed members of the public, who numbered approximately 350. He said that the meeting had been called to enable residents to voice their views on the outline planning application 06/3400/MOUT. Their comments would then be taken into account when the Council met to agree their formal response.

On a show of hands, those present indicated that they were 100% opposed to the current plans.

The main concerns centred on:

  1. impact on the town of the enormous number of in-fill lorries over an extended period;
  2. proposal to build on a flood plain which was seen as increasing vulnerability of Harbour Road as well as increasing flooding of towns and villages further up the Axe; water levels will rise yearly;
  3. loss of employment and lack of proposals to encourage new, permanent, good quality employment;
  4. lack of affordable housing which was seen as a disincentive to young people to live in Seaton. Liatris’s/EDDC’s claim that this could not be achieved because of cost of raising the site was not accepted;
  5. major departure from EDDC Development Brief, particularly proposal to change use of holiday camp site to housing;
  6. concern that with a stated life expectancy of only 75 years, houses may be difficult to sell;
  7. loss of community facilities;
  8. lack of community facilities;
  9. concern that Liatris statements are flawed;
  10. roads too narrow to take proposed construction traffic;
  11. current condition of roads not adequate for increased traffic;
  12. damage to properties;
  13. loss of value to present properties;
  14. no community benefits;
  15. detrimental effect on current shops;
  16. risk of pollution of river;
  17. no proposals to increase any medical services, schools or dentists;
  18. who will pay for road repairs;
  19. scale of project too big and no certainty that it would ever be completed;
  20. sewage system already overloaded;
  21. 600 houses = 1,500 people = 25% increase in local population – no evidence of need;
  22. house insurance – 1st floor flats in Harbour Road already a problem;
  23. loss of facilities for tourists;
  24. lack of open space;
  25. poor retail assessment;
  26. no regeneration proposals in place;
  27. likely to suffer long-term loss of tourists;
  28. lack of evidence of need for supermarket of size proposed;
  29. concern that a casino may be built;
  30. the plan was contrary to many national, regional, county and district planning policies, as well as contrary to EDDC Planning Brief for the site;
  31. to build on a floodplain was irresponsible and contrary to government guidance

The meeting agreed that to accept this application would result in a missed opportunity to create something really special for Seaton. They also expressed the view that they would prefer the floodplain to be flooded than to accept this application but would support alternative plans that would bring fewer, higher cost houses and greater wealth. Residents agreed that any plan should provide a place that people will want to live in – sustainable development, environmentally friendly, people friendly;

The Council was requested to seek clarification on the benefit to EDDC of the sale of public land to the developer, and how much of that benefit would be passed to Seaton.

Support from Colyton Parish Council was given for refusal of the application, as it was from Axmouth Parish Council who advised the meeting that DCC Highways had declined to attend their parish meeting because they were awaiting a revised Traffic Impact Assessment. This revised assessment had not to date been received.

The Chairman thanked everyone for attending. He advised residents to make their views known to EDDC Planning Department and members of EDDC Development Control Committee who would be determining this application, whose names were available from the Town Council office.

A final point was made that if the application was called-in and it went to judicial review, there may be a need for the town to raise up to £50,000.

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