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The Bradworthy Wind Turbines
Councillor
Christie's Weblog
From your Torridge District Councillor Peter Christie
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10th December '06
Bidefordians who live in East-the-Water will probably be aware of the various problems currently being experienced in the area between East Ridge and Ayres Close. Put briefly – when the two housing areas were built a recreational area dominated by a grass mound was left between them which unfortunately has become plagued by anti-social behaviour from some local youths. A police report on the situation noted ‘The most obvious problem is the lack of visibility onto the crest of the Hill Top’ – which has allowed the youths to act with impunity.
The current developers of the East Ridge site, David McLean Homes, have suggested a solution and this came to Torridge’s planning committee last week. They suggest building three bungalows over the area and offered some £41,000 ‘towards the upgrading of the Ayres Close play area in lieu of the loss of the East Ridge View play area.’ Councillors, however, thought the developers were being rather too generous to themselves as, at minimal cost, they would get three new houses to sell at around £200,000+ each. After a long and at time emotive discussion I suggested that the committee could accept the three houses (and thus solve the problems in the area) if they were all ‘affordable homes’ thus seeing a better balance between the loss and gain for the community. After a 12 – 1 vote in favour of rejecting the scheme as submitted the plans are to go back to the developers to see what can be done to meet our concerns.
So the threat to close Appledore Library has been temporarily lifted. I say temporarily as the Lib-Dem leader of Devon County Council is to talk to local people with a view to them running the library. Given the very organised nature of the FOAL group (Friends of Appledore Library) which was formed to fight the original closure proposal this local control has a strong possibility of occurring – though having been involved with other such community run services the problems will really only kick in after a few years as the original group of volunteers diminishes. Only if a continually replenished support group is in place can such an amenity prosper. This move does of course conjure up exciting possibilities. Could families dig graves for their departed relatives, should schoolchildren clean their own schools (not a bad idea that one!) and should councillors take a drop in expenses every time a service is hived off to a community organisation? Just a thought.
Most people don’t care where their rubbish goes – so long as it goes regularly. All of Bideford’s solid waste other than that put out for recycling goes to Deep Moor near Torrington which only has a few years left before it is filled. The problem facing us all is what to do with it then? New landfill sites and incinerators are always contentious – indeed even finding an acceptable site for Bideford’s new Recycling Centre was hampered by public opposition to many of the identified sites. The temporarily stalled Torridge proposal to do away with black rubbish bags highlighted the problems we face in the future. Recent moves to supply wheelie bins and green boxes for various types of recyclable waste (of which 2/3rds goes to China!) are having a large impact in reducing landfill but more needs to be done. The latest technology is being introduced into Lancashire and will see biogas and compost being produced from household waste. Unfortunately it is costing £340 million so will be far too costly for Torridge. One has to wonder, however, if a county-wide scheme could be promoted at Exeter – with special waste trains from North Devon taking our rubbish to the facility. It would cut down landfill, save on CO2 emissions and give a welcome boost to the local train service – a winning situation for everybody.
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