Information on public speaking is available online
Minutes:
Four members of the public and two Ward Members had registered to speak on Minute 256 – East Devon Local Plan approval for Regulation 19 Consultation 2025. All addressing issues relating to the proposed allocation Exmo_20.
The first speaker, Chrissy Howick referred to the proposed access from the A379 and said that this would have disastrous results as it had at least five treacherous turnings out onto this road and adding even more cars would cause havoc. She pleaded with the Committee to reconsider the site explaining that the proximity of this development would be very close to the Pebblebed Heaths and would cause immense light and noise pollution and have a detrimental impact to the wildlife. Mrs Howick highlighted that the site had not received adequate time allocation or representation from relevant local or national bodies to consider the site nor had Members visited the site to consider this impact and urged Members to reconsider this unsuitable site.
Councillor Melanie Martin, Ward Member for Budleigh and Raleigh had grave concerns about the site and could not understand why the access from the B3179 was being considered especially as it was a very winding rural road with a speed limit of 60mph with no paths or safe crossing places. She raised concerns about the SSSI advising that it provided a habitat for wildlife which would be significantly disturbed by the street lighting and advised that she would watch with interest to see how the Council aimed to protect the dark landscape of the SSSI and install a safe vehicular access into the site.
Thomas Shillitoe advised that because of the proximity of this site to Budleigh Salterton this could no longer be referred to as an Exmouth site which went against the settlement hierarchy. He referred to the Habitat Regulation Assessment and highlighted two concerns, the water quality for the Axe Valley, which was already restricting development and the air quality for the East Devon Heaths which would be significantly increased by the proposed access point on the B3179. He advised that the Exmo_20 allocation was contrary to Policy PB4 where development will not be permitted where there is potential for increased vehicle numbers adversely affecting the Pebblebed Heaths applying a precautionary approach and this should be rigorously assessed before the Local Plan is submitted for examination.
Councillor Horn, representing Budleigh Salterton Town Council, requested for the Town Council to be included in any decision making for the proposed allocation Exmo_20 as its main access to the development was only 2.1 miles from Budleigh Salterton compared to 4.2 miles from Exmouth. He advised that together with the proposed increase in housing numbers and the proposed access onto the B3179 would certainly add pressure on local infrastructure and services and he questioned the employment opportunities for these residents.
John Hamill referred to the meeting on 3 September 2024 when the Committee went against officer recommendation and allocated Exmo_20. As a consequence, officers advised that further work was required to ascertain the viability of the site including engagement with DCC Highways and in today’s report DCC Highways have advised that the only way was from the B3179, the already dangerous and congested road. This has opened up a series of risks, the first is the environmental risk due to the proximity to the Pebblebed Heaths in which Natural England have not yet been properly consulted. The second is the financial risk to the Council and developers as the cost to upgrade the B3179 through Ting Tong, Hulham Junction and onto Woodbury would be in the millions. The third is the political risk as if this site is not found viable the Council will fail its housing obligations that is required by government.
Mr Hamill urged the Committee to reject Exmo_20 and to revisit the sites that should have been included in the Local Plan.
A statement was read out on behalf of Councillor Charlotte Fitzgerald, Ward Member for Budleigh and Raleigh raising concerns with the B3179, the main road to the northwest which skirts the Bicton and Dalditch Commons in her ward.
The statement addressed the following concerns:
Ø the access point which would be on a dangerous stretch of road with no pedestrian access,
Ø the B3179 forms the border of the Pebblebed Heaths SSSI which has the highest level of protections of all designations.
Ø Building a major access point right beside the SSSI, and potentially laying down car parks and sports pitches in the space occupying the 400m development buffer, which would all no doubt require lights, was likely to damage it.
Councillor Fitzgerald felt taken by surprise by the late allocation of the site which she believed was an unintended consequence of rushing to allocate sites at the very end of the process. She advised she would do her best to help the Council mitigate adverse effects to nature and address the clear road safety issues posed by the site as the Council moves forward.