Confirmation that the Sidford Fields employment site is to be kept in the Local Plan, brought strong reaction,not just from local Ward members, at this morning’s Development Management Committee (DMC) meeting at Knowle. Councillor Mike Allen (Con, Honiton) was particularly incensed. Referring to EDDC’s policy of reducing outcommuting, he said that the evidence that “at least half of the workforce comes into Sidmouth to work”, “confounds” the Inspector’s comments about Sidford Fields. In Cllr Allen’s view, the conclusions were “neither democratic nor sound”. Cllr David Barratt (Ind, Sidmouth Rural) agreed, it was “absolutely undemocratic “, emphasising that “this council was against it”. “That site is not suitable from a planning point of view”, he added. Cllr Marianne Rixson (Ind, Sidmouth/ Sidford) informed by her detailed research into traffic and flooding, said the decision on Sidford Fields was “Absolutely appalling for Sidmouth”, in every aspect.