Information on public speaking is available online
Minutes:
The following statement was read out on behalf of Paul Smith, a resident of Cranbrook:
I would like to draw Committee’s attention to paragraph 25 of the Planning Inspectors Final Report relating to the draught Cranbrook Plan, which I believe raises questions in respect of unaddressed environmental and potential legal issues relating to the future development of Cranbrook.
25. The Council produced their Habitats Regulations Assessment (HRA) and Appropriate Assessment Report (AA) in February 2019 [Cran020]. The Plan area is close to the Pebblebed Heaths and Exe Estuary where designations include SSSI; Special Area of Conservation (SAC); SPA; and in the case of the Exe Estuary, RAMSAR sites. The report considers the Cranbrook development and its effects on these European protected sites. Residential development schemes which are in close proximity shall only be brought forward where they can demonstrate that suitable mitigation is being made available to ensure that there is no likely significant effect upon them.
Over a considerable period members of this Committee & Cabinet have repeatedly, highlighted sewage pollutions issues, which at times of extreme weather event have negatively impacted upon the residents of Whimple, Clyst Honiton and Clyst St Mary. Verified reports of raw sewage flooding in village streets at Whimple. Dead fish seen floating in a mixture of sewage and storm water at Clyst Honiton towards the Exe Estuary, before finally arriving at Clyst St Mary. There in addition to street flooding, household toilets have been rendered unusable for up to 2 days duration. The adverse impact upon the Statutory Protected Exe Estuary wetlands, habitats, and wildlife remains unstated.
Latest data from SWW for 2021 indicates 12 occasions when raw sewage was released from the Clyst Honiton pumping station over a duration of 104.93 hours. This data confirms a 30%+ increase on 2020.The Met Office warns of future likelihood of a 7 fold increase in extreme weather events.
SWW acknowledges that climate change leading to more extreme weather events will further increase the sewage pollution problem in the areas mentioned. A resolution is further complicated due to current agricultural and land management practices which account for more than 40% of all pollutants entering the river watercourse. The Company states that without huge infrastructure investment and
major disruption, there is no option, but for continued ‘storm water release’.
Whilst Cranbrook planners and developers are to be commended for measures already introduced to manage surface water run offs, the situation remains that any additional development, as highlighted by the pending Treasbeare proposal for 1000+ homes will result in substantial daily additional domestic sewage entering a system which SWW has already acknowledged is not fit for purpose.
Further SWW data for 2021 indicates that the main sewage treatment works at Countess Wear, which services Cranbrook and surrounding communities, also released storm water on 72 combined occasions over a period of 230hrs +. An indication of capacity overwhelmed?
Plans for an additional sewage treatment works near to Mosshayne have not been progressed by SWW. Future growth at Cranbrook is indicated to involve some 4000 additional homes. Questions:-
1. Should Councillors recommend approval of the Cranbrook Plan in the light of knowledge that the sewage system to which new homes/businesses will be connected is unfit for purpose and any additional development will only exacerbate neighbouring communities sewage problems?
2. Is there an individual or Corporate liability associated with granting approval of the Plan should it be later confirmed that damaging pollution has occurred to wetlands, habitat and wildlife currently protected by Statutory Instrument.?