East Devon Issues | Save Our Sidmouth

September 7, 2016
by sidmouthsid 2 Comments

TODAY.. Sidmouth Town Council planning committee to consider Fords’ amended planning application. St Peter’s Church Hall, Sidford, 6.30pm

The site of the proposed Sidford business park is in Two Bridges Road, on land to the right in this picture (August 2016).

The following photos and illustrations sent in to SOS may help with visualising the impact of the current planning application on the landscape, designated an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty (AONB) .

The planning application is for phase 1(shown in planning application document shown below .Hard standing areas for vehicles have been highlighted for clarity, and the recent photo of a nearby business park (Honiton,Heathpark) indicate what they typically look like.

The planning application includes warehousing and storage. These photos show Fords’ present site at the Alexandria Road Industrial estate.

Resident raises concerns about possible business park ‘deal’

This letter, copied with the author’s permission, was published in today’s Sidmouth Herald:

Dear Sir,

I was delighted to read, on page 4 of last week’s Herald, that residents have got a second opportunity to voice their concerns on the proposed business park between Sidbury and Sidford. Then on page 10, I read that the County Council have withdrawn it’s proposal for a path between Sidbury and Sidford, because Ford’s have offered to pay for it, should they get permission for the business park. The proposed path is now part of a section 106 agreement between the District Council (as the planning authority) and Fords. Such an agreement is described as a ‘ a DEAL to mitigate the impact of development’. I wonder if the use of the word ‘deal’ indicates what is really happening here- that the offer to fund the path is being used as a “bargaining chip”, to quote Stuart Hughes. As the business park has yet to receive the the go ahead and another period of public consultation is in progress, I wonder how the council can justify their decision?

I have written to them to ask for an explanation and I suggest others do likewise. Meantime, may I urge readers with concerns about the proposed business park, to write or email the District Council. The reference number to quote in correspondence is: 16/0669/MOUT. The deadline for comments is 16 September and not 2 September, as is given in the EDDC website.

Yours sincerely

Alison Kerruish,
Sidford

August 31, 2016
by sidmouthsid 3 Comments

Additional documents for Fords’ Sidford Business Park plans, will be considered at Sidmouth Town Council meeting next Wednesday (7th Sept) .

Sidmouth Town Council (STC) has its next Planning Committee meeting on Wednesday 7th September 2016 at 6.30pm. The venue is St Peter’s Church Hall, Sidford, EX10 9PT.
Of the 22 items on the agenda, item 7 is of particular importance. It is the following:
Application ref. 16/0669/MOUT
Sidford Ward FORDS AND SONS LAND ADJACENT TO TWO BRIDGES,TWO BRIDGES ROAD,SIDFORD.
Outline application accompanied by an Environmental Statement (with all matters reserved except access) for the development of up to 22,800sqm of floor space for use classes B1 (Office Light Industry), B2 (General Industry) and B8 (Storage and Distribution) with details of, and associated strategic landscaping for, the access, linking cycleway and footway, and flood improvements/attenuation.
Amended plans for consultation. The amendments relate to additional information to accompany previously submitted Environmental Statement. Details in respect of site layout and positioning of footway/cycle route, drainage, landscaping, design codes and ecology.

The public is welcome to attend the STC Planning Committee meeting on 7th September. Fords’ additional documents can be viewed on the eddc website, under planning, ref 16/0669/MOUT, DOCUMENTS. Please note, any written representations received at the Town Council Offices before 9.30 a.m. on the day of the meeting will be considered by the Committee.

STC’s comments and unanimous vote against Fords’ initial planning application indicated the potential negative impact on the whole Sid Valley of the proposed Business Park, and echoed widespread public concern*.

The supplementary, more detailed documents now submitted, will be closely scrutinised. The new consultation, on the information in these extra documents, is now open for comments. Further information here: https://saveoursidmouth.com/2016/08/21/new-consultation-for-sidford-business-park-plans-deadline-for-your-comments-is-friday-16th-september-2016/

*https://saveoursidmouth.com/2016/06/17/sidmouth-town-council-votes-unanimously-against-fords-planning-application-for-sidford-business-park/