Travellers Site Meeting.

Well over 100 people attended the extroadinary parish council meeting called to discuss the planning issues surrounding the proposed developments at Silverdale and the proposed travellers site at Oak Meadow. Not having shorthand I will try and summerise the outcome of the travellers site meeting as best I can.

The meeting was restrained, given the heat that this issue has generated, and generally stuck to planning issues although there was some criticism of the letter that was circulated a couple of weeks ago. The objections centred on the issues of access to the site, the disposal of sewage, the nature of the work to be carried out there and the numbers that might be accomodated. Most of these issues have been raised here previously and I dont intend to go over them in detail again, but just a few points.

In response to a question from the owner of Waterleat House, the official from MDDC who had been delegated to deal with the travellers site issue stated that there had been objections by the Highways Department on possible developments in Hayne Lane on previous occasions because of the crossroads at the Silverton end and because of the width of the lane. On the issue of sewage it had been stated by the owners of the site that sewage disposal would be through reedbeds but it was pointed out by a member of the public who had photographs of the site under water, that contrary to the view of the Department Of The Environment the site was prone to flooding, with all that was implied for the disposal of sewage. concerns wee raised when it was discovered that the site owners wished to install bowsers to store water.

Inconsistancies also emerged over the purpose for which the site might be used. The original application stated that the owners were involved in supplying beer gardens to music festivals but in subsequent discussions with the owners they stated that they were producing horticultural products for flower shows such as Chelsea. Doubts were also raised by an employee of the firm that had sold the land as to whether the purchasers of the land actually met the criteria for treatment as Gypsey travellers as they appeared to be using two settled addresses. Concerns were also raised about whether the horticultural business would be subject to business rates in the normal way and that rubbish was proposed to be disposed of on the land owned by an adjoining landowner

Aftera questionit was stated that the application would be decided by the full planning committee rather then just a planning officer as our local district councillor had applied for the matter to be so decided.

Afterf a very full discussion of the planning issues the public part of the meeting ended and the Parish Council voted on the matter. The Parish Council rejected the planning application oin the following grounds.

That the application contained too many inconsistancies.

That Access to the site is too restricted

That sewage disposal was too inadequate.

The planning application will now go before Mid Devon District Council planning committee.

The planning committee can consider the views of the Parish Council, but are not bound by them.