We are sending the following letter to local residents to help us persuade planners to reject the application.
Please help us stop the bulldozers moving into these lovely meadows.
HELP SAVE SCOTTS MEADOWS
CAVANNA HOMES have submitted an application for around 200 homes on Scotts Meadows off Riviera Way. We only have until January 27 to respond. The only way we can protect the meadows is by continuing to lobby councillors against bulldozers moving in and ripping into the flowers and wildlife.
If we as a community can’t save Scotts Meadows for our children,
then no green field in Torbay is safe from development.
THIS SITE IS NOT DESIGNATED FOR HOUSING, IT’S STILL A LANDSCAPE PROTECTION AREA AND WITH THE ELECTIONS AHEAD IN MAY, YOUR LOBBYING CAN MAKE A DIFFERENCE. IT’S NOT TOO LATE TO SAVE THIS OPEN SPACE.
The details we have obtained under Freedom of Information clearly show that Torbay Council would find delivering this site for housing “problematic”, that they are aware of residents’ “huge resistance to development”.
WHAT YOU CAN DO: Please attend
The Shiphay and Willows Ward Partnership public meeting at 7.30pm, on Monday January 24 at the Farmhouse Tavern, Newton Road when the application will be discussed.
Please send your objections to the planning department on its consultation website http://www.torbay.gov.uk/newpublicaccess/, or by email to planning@torbay.gov.uk or snail mail to Spatial Planning, Roebuck House, Abbey Road, Torquay TQ2 5DP. Please telephone councillors, particularly those on the development management committee, to let them know how strongly you object to this proposal. Their details are on the www.torbay@gov.uk website under “your council”. The Reference Number to quote is: P/2010/1388.Letters to councillors can be sent c/o Torquay Town Hall, Castle Circus, TQ1 3DR, email individual councillors whose addresses are all composed in the same way, such as Gordon.Oliver@Torbay.gov.uk or Neil.Bent@torbay.gov.uk and Mayor@torbay.gov.uk. The development management committee members are chairman Christine Scouler, Peter Addis, Roger Carter, Alan Faulkner, Terry Manning, Mike Morey, Beryl McPhail, Ruth Pentney, David Thomas. Please also write to the editor of the Herald Express, Barton Hill Road, Torquay, TQ2 8JN.
For full details of the application see http://www.torbay.gov.uk/newpublicaccess/ ( then enter application reference P/2010/1388) or you can ask to see it at Roebuck House, Abbey Road, Torquay.
Tips on writing an individual objection letter.
1. Make it clear you are lodging objections to application P/2010/1388 Area 4 South, The Willows. Please request a site visit.
2. Please keep your letter positive, polite, community focused and not too long. It will help to include the points below, but please put them in your own words. Objection letters written exactly the same but signed by different people do not carry weight! Each household member is entitled to write a letter.
3. The effect on property values and loss of view will not be considered by planners or councillors who will dismiss our efforts as NIMBYism.
Some suggested issues to include:
The application is premature because Torbay Council is still consulting on its new core strategy and the Government consulting on changes to planning law and environmental protection giving neighbourhoods a bigger voice. Scotts Meadows are still protected by landscape protection status in the existing local plan.
The main objection is the loss to the community in terms of loss of an amenity area for walking, recreational area/open space even though they have been fenced off, potential outside classroom for children/ quality of life issues and loss of the rich wildlife on a site. This will be worse when the area around Beechfield Avenue and the former Barton Tip are built on.
It is also over-development at the Willows - nearly 1,300 homes have been already been built on the green fields of Barton with 25 under construction and another 151 permitted. These remaining meadows should be left for future generations to enjoy.
Their importance in the local landscape, as a buffer between Shiphay and the Willows, was recognised in their designation in the Local Plan as an Urban Landscape Protection Area. Councillors voted 27 to 4 in 2003 to preserve the meadows with officers’ backing. This was upheld by a High Court hearing in 2004. With their important gateway position they are an asset to the resort’s International Geopark status.
The meadows are part of the Bay’s outstanding beautiful local landscape, part of the reason why tourists visit the English Riviera. They will provide a welcome buffer to the development that will take place along the new A380 South Devon Link Road if built.
Scotts Meadows are considered especially important to the community since the loss of the meadows at Edginswell Business Park, and the proposals to build 750 houses in fields alongside Hamelin Way. This is an area within the ward where housing need can be met.
There are also proposals to build up to 500 homes at White Rock, 220 at Yannons Farm Paignton (for Cavanna Homes), 365 at Great Parks, to replace holiday parks in Brixham with 230 house at Wall Park, 110 homes at Riviera Bay. Cavanna Homes also have the former B&Q building in Torre which remains an eyesore.
As they have not been farmed for two decades Scotts Meadows are species rich unimproved meadows which are increasingly rare nationally. Our councillors have a responsibility to protect our environment and quality of life for future generations.
The Government says consultation is about listening to the community so make your voice heard. Ensure the council receives your letter by January 27 and join our protests at the planning committee when it is held.
ANY DONATIONS TO THE SCOTTS MEADOW PROJECT GROUP WOULD BE GRATEFULLY RECEIVED. For further details phone chairman JIM PROWSE 615922 or email savescottsmeadow@yahoo.co.uk.
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