| Join the Green Party and you'll receive our local quarterly newsletter, as well as invitations to Green Events. You'll be invited to attend meetings, join our discussion list, vote on issues, and contribute to our campaigns and policies for North Devon. |
The Bradworthy Wind Turbines
Councillor
Christie's Weblog
From your Torridge District Councillor Peter Christie
Previous entries
|
1st March '09
Last weekend I visited Westward Ho! and walked along the front. It was interesting to see that ‘Horizon View’ the massive development of 62 flats is already showing signs of wear and tear – only to be expected I suppose on such an exposed site though the effects hardly add to the appearance of the structure. I voted against the development – and would do so again as its overbearing presence really does impinge on the esplanade. Its only saving grace is that it makes the glass fronted ‘Nautilus’ flats look positively human scaled. Recent plans by a local developer to build a large hotel were turned down by Torridge’s planning committee and certainly any more large-scale developments will have to be very carefully considered if the mistakes of ‘Horizon View’ are to be avoided. The recession, of course, seems to have badly hit sales of these new flats – and with it the chance of Torridge getting any time soon the £800,000 due to it which was promised in lieu of any provision of affordable accommodation in the development – possibly one of the worst decisions the planning committee of Torridge took at the time. Incidentally the sales pitch for these flats speaks of them being set ‘amid a quiet residential community enveloped in an array of seaside amenities, quaint streets, colourful architecture and fascinating curio shops.’ Really?
If you read this column regularly you will be aware of PPS25 – a set of government guidelines which basically ban most types of building on flood plains. The introduction of these rules has effectively ‘blighted’ 4 of the 5 main development sites in Bideford which are all at serious risk from flooding. When I was last Mayor I championed redevelopment of the Brunswick Wharf site but a lack of vision by the then leadership of Torridge saw the area remain derelict. At the time existing plans for a possible ‘Oceanic’/educational centre based on extremely high level environmental standards were drawn up by Bideford architects Gale & Snowdon who wanted ‘A building that makes you think about Bideford’. At a recent meeting of the town council Tourism Committee the plans were brought out again as many of the newer councillors had not seen them. What immediately struck me was how far-sighted they had been as they were based on 5 large buildings at right-angles to the river each separate building being on stilts over a tidal ‘lagoon’. This would obviously get around PPS25 and indeed by creating a larger ‘river’ area would actually help lower the flooding problem by giving the river extra channel space. Moves are now afoot to investigate a possible financial model of how the scheme might be progressed.
Published and promoted by and on behalf of the North Devon Green Party, of 1 Taw View Terrace, Bishops Tawton, EX32 0AW
PLEASE NOTE: Not all of the material presented on this site is necessarily Green Party Policy or endorsed by The Green Party.